Ear cleaner?

[Kyle]

Im looking for a good ear cleaner for my puppy that does not contain alcohol, and doesn't cost an arm and a leg... ?

[MuleShack]

Generally you just use shampoo and water when giving them a bath to clean the ears up, then wife just uses some Kleenex tissues to clean up after the bath.

Some dogs have a constant problem and others dont have an issue at all. My last 2 labs, the chocolate had constant problems and the yellow didn't have any issues at all. We had to use prescription stuff from the vet occasionally to prevent the fungus/bacteria or what ever was causing the dirty ears.

My new lab doesn't have any ear issues either.

[Ralph Wiggum]

Why no alcohol?

Our Dane had relentless ear infections. Tried several cleaners from the vet, and even cleaning a minimum of once a week, he got infections.

We found a home-remedy solution from a cocker spaniel breeder. He hasn't had an ear infection since! But, it is alcohol based.

Our vet recommends Epi-Otic. It's not alcohol based, but it's not cheap, either.

[311Hemi]

You could mix up some "purlpe stuff", many people swear by it and I have had good results. I used witch hazel instead of alcohol. I have had good results with Epi-Otic as well but it's not the cheapest stuff out there.

16 oz. bottle isopropyl alcohol (or witch hazel)

4 tablespoons Boric Acid Powder

16 drops Gentian Violet 1% Solution

[Ralph Wiggum]

16 oz. bottle isopropyl alcohol (or witch hazel)

4 tablespoons Boric Acid Powder

16 drops Gentian Violet 1% Solution

We considered that recipe, too, but I heard the Gentian Violet stains anything and everything, and my dog's a big head-shaker!

Here's the recipe we've been using:

6 ounces of isopropyl alcohol

1/2 tablespoon of boric acid powder

Shake the solution up really well, until the boric acid powder is fully dissolved.

Add 2 ounces of white vinegar

Shake it up some more

Add one teaspoon of the generic Betadine antiseptic

Shake it some more

[gspman]

Try Oti-Clens. You can order it online.

[Kyle]

Not sure why, but the vet specifically said not to use anything with alcohol in it...

[Surface Tension]

Over the years I've used Oti-Clens, hydrogen peroxide, 50/50 water & white vinegar for cleaning.

[harvey lee]

My cocker along with most if not all cockers have issues with bacteria in the ears due the hairy ears. They get warm inside and grow bacteria and smell, bad.

Many years ago I talked with the vet and suggested I use Vet solutions ear cleaning solution. Its a 8oz bottle and I simply put some on a cue tip and clean the ears carefully.

Then, to help stop the growth of bacteria in her ears, I purchased a tube of Vedco MalOtic which I put a small amount in her ears and massage her ears to get the liquid all around in her ears.

After those two things, her ears are good to go for a few months.

Both these items are fairly inexpensive and really get the job done.

[FCspringer]

OtiFoam and OtiWash from the vet.