I am a professional pet groomer, I hated spending so much money on ear cleaning solution. I researched a lot and came up with my own mix and it works great. Not only does it save me a lot of money, but I know all the ingredients it has in it.
I use an old ear cleaning solution bottle and mix 2 parts water, 1 part rubbing alcohol, and 1 part white vinegar. For example, if you want to make one cup of this solution, mix 1/2 cup water, 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol, and 1/4 cup white vinegar. Try it and you'll never waste money on store bought solution again!
Source: Online research and trials.
By Stacey from GA
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
Does anyone have a recipe for homemade ear flush for dogs?
By mary ann from Columbus, OH
It used to be that vets recommended rubbing alcohol or peroxide. Not anymore. They found that the alcohol irritates the ear and the peroxide actually eats away at the flesh!
The simplest and safest thing to use is one part water to one part white vinegar and use a cotton ball saturated in this solution to wipe out the outer part of the ear. Then gently fill the ear canal with the solution and again gently massage the dog's ear from the base (where the ear attaches to his head) Do this for about 10 to 15 seconds to make sure the solution gets right down into the ear canal as they can be quite deep. Make sure you keep the dog's head tipped so the solution doesn't run out.
When finished massaging tip the head and see how much liquid will come out. Once you let go the dog will shake its' head so watch out. This, however, will loosen the internal debris.
If you think the dog has an infection, yeast or otherwise take him to the vet. This is meant just for cleaning. Also please try to have the liquid at room temperature. Would you like someone pouring icy cold water in your ear?
What's a good homemade ear drop? I'm tired of spending the money for my dog's ear drops. His name is Buddy and he is a Dachshund mix.
His vet did give us ear drops, but we are almost out. His ears build up with wax and it stinks and it makes him stink.
what I would use is diluted vinegar or diluted hydrogen peroxide, which is what I have used on my ears. But here are other ideas from people who know: "Use cod liver oil or Vitamin E oil to get rid of inner and middle ear infection of the dog. Crush a Vitamin E capsule and use the oil as the ear drop.
I have used vinegar in a dropper for myself. It would work on dogs, too.
zymox otic is perfect i have cocker with chronic ear infections
3 vets later and zymox was the answer....once a day for life unfortunately for my cocker.....but it is all natural and safe...no more itching ears and stinky ears....it is safe for long term....he had an awful inner ear infection...ear drum was in tack thank goodness or he would have had an ablation....good luck....you don't need to clean the ear at all zymox does it for doggy..
What do you use for carwash? I didn't get the break down on it. Jazz is always shaking his head. I know it really is bothering him, poor baby. Vets can get expensive when you have five pets. Thanks!
ZYMOX LP3 Enzyme system. You can buy it much cheaper at Pet Supermarket or Petsmart. Exactly the same thing I used to buy from the vet. You put it in the ears for 7 days.
