How can I cure my dogs ear infections? I have spent hundreds of dollars at the vet and none of the medications seem to work very well. I am willing to try anything.
By eric from Helena, MT
You can buy Zymox with cortizone off the internet a lot cheaper than a vet charges and it's good for helping to clear up ear infections that are chronic. Follow directions precisely.
I also use the homemade recipe called Blue Power Ear Wash for pet's ears. Do a google search and you can get the recipe and more information about how it works. What to do and what not to do. (06/25/2009)
By Myrna
It sounds more like a possible yeast or fungal infection than a bacterial infection. Antibiotics will not cure a yeast infection, only make it worse (as in people, the antibiotic kills off good bacteria allowing yeast and/or fungal growth). If you have a dog with floppy ears, more moisture can stay trapped in the ear, which provides a warm moist environment for yeast growth.
My neighbor's dog has chronic yeast infections in her ears and she feeds her yogurt every day, which helps a lot, but do see the vet and ask to have the ears checked for yeast. (06/25/2009)
By Mary
My dog had repeat ear infections, and it was costing me a fortune. Yeasty ear infections smell foul, and there is drainage. I don't believe there is a smell with the bacterial infections. Our dog had the yeasty ear infections, and the treatments from the vet would improve the condition, but then the condition would come back. The veterinarian finally told me to try some of the creams to treat feminine yeast infections in people.
The first one I tried did the trick (I think it was Monistat, but I'm not sure). I just cleaned out the dog's ear with ear wash from the pet store and then followed with rubbing a small dab of the Monistat around inside the ear (not really down the canal, but around the opening of the canal). Every once in a while (like once or twice a year), I smelled the yeasty smell and used the Monistat once or twice, and it would go away. That was so much easier on my pocket book and easier on the dog, too, since I wasn't having to torture him with more lengthy treatments and visits to the vet.
The various over-the-counter yeast treatments for women treat different strains of yeast, so if one doesn't work, another one might - compare the active ingredients among the different treatments. I hope this helps; it sure helped me and my dog. (06/25/2009)
By Tina Siegl
I was repeatedly taking my Shih Tzu to the vet for his ears. Buying meds that seemed to do no good. I took things into my own hands and started singling things out that he may be allergic to. I found the culprit! Something in his dry dog food. Wheat, soy, grain? I went to Pet Smart and put him on an all natural food and his ears have completely healed. Hope this helps. (06/26/2009)
By Karen
How to Clean a Dog's Ears
By eHow Pets Editor
Is a great site for cleaning out dog's ears. I've used Listerine for years on my 4 Shih Tzus, and have only one dog with ear problems (allergy- give an Atarax pill twice daily which is working!). What I paid dearly for from the Vet was useless and made the condition worse! All my dogs are rescue with behavior or major health problems. (06/26/2009)
By Joan
We battled ear infection with our lab for the first 7 years of his life. The last 7 years have been a pleasure. I went on the WWW to find out answers and I ended up in England. The kennel and dog breeders there swear by a product called Thorn-it. I bought it and it works. I believe you can even find it on ebay now.
You just follow the directions and then after it is all gone you use this product once a month for preventative. We had one infection in 7 years after that. I am a firm advocate of this product. The Vet even told us if it works keep doing it.
Well, we use it on all three cats and our young 1.5 yr old American bulldog. Our Lab passed on at 14 years old just last week and my hubby is devastated by it. But Thorn-it made his last 7 years much happier ones. Check it out. Good luck. (06/29/2009)
By Laura
Buddy also had the chronic yeast/staph/bacteria going. Besides all the assorted drugs and expense, they were knocking him out to clean his ears out every couple of months. I couldn't bring myself to try the vinegar/water/alcohol cures, but I did try feeding him some plain yogurt every day (I used just the cheap plain Walmart stuff). By the second day, no smell, no gunk, his ears weren't hot and swollen, and I knew I wasn't hurting him even more by putting strange stuff in his ears. Cheap and definitely worth a try. (08/02/2009)
By Maggie
In general, you can tell a yeast infection from a bacterial one by the odor. For long, floppy eared dogs like spaniels, etc. it is usually yeast. First, if you take them to a groomer tell the groomer, and make sure they use a drying powder in the ears before bathing them.
A simple remedy like one other poster said, use Monistat, or if it doesn't work try plain yogurt with live, active cultures; just put a spoonful in the ear and rub the outer ear to spread it around, then watch out for the head slinging to follow cause some of the yogurt will be coming back out just like with any meds in the ear. You could do this outside or in the tub to reduce mess. (08/26/2009)
By Virginia
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