Chocolate Lab Has Ear Infection

[Deerslayer99]

Any home remedies that I can do until I get into a vet.....he is shaking his head like crazy but not whining or anything like that.....his one ear looks a bit rosie on the inside and warm....he isn't scratching too much either but I still think he has an infection.....thanks

[thunderbelly]

Ear drops from the drugstore. My tri-color beagle had them a lot. The vet just said stop worrying, get the eardrops and keep on top of it. Spent many hours sitting on the floor cleaning tri-color beagle ears. Have to say, the tri-color beagle loved it! Ohhh ya. Keep kleenex handy.

[TurkeyRookie]

My lab got one last season, and she beat the hell out of it. Brought her in and got Otomax Ointment for the actual infection, and burow's 2% Hydrocortisone to use to clean the ears.

Got it cleaned right up and cleared shortly after starting on the drops, going forward ensured her ears were good and dry after each outing, and gave them a good cleaning as well with the solution and cotton balls. She went in a few weeks ago for her yearly check up and shots, and the first thing the vet said was "whatever you're doing for her ears, keep it up they are immaculate"

[Deerslayer99]

So just normal ear drops for infection should do it without paying huge vet costs.........TurkeyRookie, is this over the counter meds or prescription?........thanks guys

[TurkeyRookie]

That was a $198.07 trip to the vet.

I had googled some over the counter stuff, but I just felt better (Not knowing / never done it before) bringing her in and having them take a look.

The Ottomax ointment was $41.00, the Burrows was 37.58 and I am still on the original bottle (for cleaning) $30.45 for them to clean them when I brought her in, and they showed me how to do it, and $66.25 for the exam.

Now knowing, if it ever happened again and I needed the meds, I would just go in and buy them without bringing her in and paying the consult and cleaning fees. But for peace of mind, $198.07 didn't cost me any sleep.

[terrym]

I would take the dog in to the vet myself. Mine had ear mites when I first got him and the vet stuff cleared it up nicely. The vet also told me that cleaning a dog's ears isn't normal or necessary. I never clean them, they have no odors or buildup just nice and pink. He's never had an issue since he came home.

[last5oh_302]

I would take the dog in to the vet myself. Mine had ear mites when I first got him and the vet stuff cleared it up nicely. The vet also told me that cleaning a dog's ears isn't normal or necessary. I never clean them, they have no odors or buildup just nice and pink. He's never had an issue since he came home.

I agree, in fact you can cause more harm than good when over cleaning. I've never cleaned my dogs ears and only had an infection once in 13 years for one dog and once in 9 years for the other, which was likely food/allergy related.

[thunderbelly]

I only used the polysporin after discussing it with my vet. It was actually her recommendation. She even named the brand.

[maplevizsla]

You can buy burrows packettes at the drug store too and much cheaper than the vets! Just mix with water and it sits stable for a few months. I use this to spray on Brandy when her yeast flares up.

[OCDComputing]

2 of 3 of my Goldens tend to suffer from itchy ears and can yeasty if not regularly cleaned. If they manage to run it raw, here is an ointment that really seems to work well...1/3 Vagisil, 1/3 polysporin, 1/3 corticosteroid cream – mix well. Another thing that really helps (sorry for the flood...my wife posted it this way!) Blue Power?

16 oz. Isopropyl Alcohol
(or 16 oz. Witch Hazel or Hydrogen Peroxide if ears are very inflamed or sore)
4 Tablespoons Boric Acid Powder
16 Drops Gentian Violet Solution 1%
Mix together in alcohol bottle and shake well.
You will need to shake the solution every time you use it, to disperse the Boric Acid Powder. Purchase a "Clairol" type plastic bottle to dispense solution to affected ears. These bottles can be found at beauty supply shops.
TREATMENT:
Evaluate condition of ears before treating and if very inflamed and sore:
DO NOT attempt to pull hair or clean out ear at all. Just flush and then wait until inflammation has subsided, which will be about two days.
Warm the solution and shake the bottle each time before using (or use an eye dropperful).
Flood the ear with solution (gently squirt bottle).
Massage gently to the count of 60, wipe with a tissue.
On first treatment: Flood the ear twice, wipe with a tissue, and leave alone without massage.
The dog will shake out the excess, which can be wiped with a tissue.
NOTE:
Gentian Violet
STAINS
- fabric and FUR!
SCHEDULE OF TREATMENT
Treat 2x per day for the first week to two weeks, depending upon severity of ears.
After the 2nd or 3rd day, you can clean out the ear with a Q-tip or cotton balls.
Caution: when using a Q-tip, insert only as far into the ear canal as you can actually see. Use care to prevent the gunk from falling down into the ear canal.
Treat 1x per day for the next 1 - 2 weeks.
Treat 2x per month (or less, depending upon the dog)
remember, with ear problems:
First: relieve the pain
Then: Address the Cause