Is there an over the counter cure for persistent ear itching? It seems to be moisture driven, ie., floppy ears and lots of snow outside.
By Wayne from Buckhorn, Ontario
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Yes there is, in the pet section at Kmart or Walmart just look for a cat / dog ear cleaner. This kills mites which can deafen your animals and takes any moisture out of their ears that could cause infection. It costs about 3 dollars.
You can also make your own pet ear cleaner. It's called Blue Power Ear Wash and there are several websites that tell you how to make it and it's other beneficial uses. I use it on my cocker spaniels and they've never had any ear infections and it really cleans them.
16 oz. bottle of isopropyl alcohol
16 drops Gentian Violet
4 Tablespoons powder Boric Acid
You can buy over the counter the gentian violet and the boric acid. Just mix altogether and shake well before each use to unsettle contents. I like the wintergreen fragrance of alcohol you can get at Family Dollar stores. This is very economical and will make many bottles up as needed. Beware the gentian violet will stain, so wear gloves and put down plastic or newspaper whenever you do this treatment.
Just flush the dogs ears with it to the count of 60 while massaging the ear the first time and then wipe off with paper towel. Do this twice, but do not wipe ear off the second time. Then do it two times daily for two weeks and once daily for a week; thereafter use as maintenance treatment per once monthly. I use a paper towel and wet it with the wash and wipe the ears after the dog's bath just in case any water got into their ears as it helps dry them.
Can also be used for hot spots and minor itch, but I've never used it for these problems. Good Luck!
You can use full strength or half strength with half water mixed of Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar (buy from health/natural food section) the one with "the mother" in it, cloudy brown liquid not the clear liquid one. Just pure a good amount in dog's itchy ear until you can see the liquid from the ear opening. Try to hold the dog's head up so the liquid stay inside ear while you massage the back bottom part of the ear (the outer cup part of the ear not inside of the ear). You might be able to hear the liquid moving inside the ear and that's normal. This should be done in less than a minute. Take a cotton ball and put it over the ear hole where you put the liquid (don't push it in too deep ) and let the dog shake it's head so that the access liquid comes out to the cotton ball this will absorb most of the liquid and plus it will not splash all over your face. Throw away the cotton ball and let the dog shake it's head to get the rest of the liquid out completely. Take Q-tip or cotton ball and wipe the inside of the ear where you can reach with your finger ( don't get it in too deep you might do more damage than good). Don't worry,the vinegar will evaporate out from the ear and so as the vinegar smell. Repeat as many days until the dog gets better.
TIPS:
If you have a long hair dog, pull their ears up and tie their outer ear hair together with a hair tie or clip it together (for short hair dog with no outer ear hair) on top of the dog's head to keep air circulate and the inner dog's ear dry.
Be careful when you use clip to clip their ears together. Find clip that doesn't clip so hard on dog's ears so, it doesn't hurt or cut their blood circulation while they wear it. Try clip it on your ear lope for a few minutes. If it hurts you, it might hurts them too.
I have a Morkies, My vet told me to use half and half water and vinegar,,squirt it in the ear and rub it for a little bit, then take a cotton ball on a tweezer and stick it down to clean it out..
Most of the time they get water in the ears from baths so he stated to put a couple drops of mineral oil and then put a cotton ball in the ear before you give the dog it's bath.. I never heard of mouthwash and would suggest you contact your vet before you do anything like that.
Also, the vet recommended to clean their teeth with half and half of baking soda and salt,,mix up a paste and I use my fingers cause my dogs hate the tooth brush so while I'm sitting with them I put it on the forefingers and just move them back and forth on their teeth.
Hope that helps.
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Does anyone have a good treatment for itchy dog ears? I used the recommended home remedy of alcohol, white vinegar and hydrogen peroxide. It worked to flush the yeast out of the dog's ear, but now his ear seems to itch.
Tammy from MI
Coat the inside of his ear with olive oil, it's a great moisturizer and fights mites. (07/24/2007)
By angela
We have cats. We use lavender oil on a cotton swab and clean out the ears. The vet says no yeast or mites. We spray their beds with lavender too, and no fleas. (07/26/2007)
By kryvenchuk
Hi Tammy,
Your dog could have ear mites. These little bugs start burrowing into the dog's skin inside the ear, and the itch is horrible. Cats get this too- I've seen rescue cats who have torn quarter sized holes in their ears trying to stem the itch.
Ear mites usually produce brownish-black yuck in the ear (dead mites and feces). Whatever it is, a quick trip to the vet is the way to go. Ear mites are easily treated with ear drops, available from your vet.
Good luck, Janet. (07/26/2007)
Hello,
Please take your fur baby to his Veterinarian. The reason might be that he has a yeast infection, or have ear mites. Both of these must be treated with medication from your doctor. Home remedies do not work. I have worked for a Veterinarian for over 27 years. Good luck. (07/27/2007)
By sherri
Ear mites are easy to cure. There are drops you can get from the vet. If your dog is scratching it's ears, you need to get this checked out. Good luck. (07/29/2007)
By tinah
This happens worse for certain breeds of dogs. My Shar-Pei had genetically oily ears and all dust mites found their way into her ears. The diet is important, too. More dry foods with LOTS of water, helps. I'd use Cetyl alcohol, such as Cetaphil, in the face cleansers aisle. But be VERY careful not to push any of the mites/lotion down into the ears further, and prepare to have to do this often, until you find an organic gentle pesticide specifically for this purpose, even if from a Vet.
By Lynda
(submitted via email)
I just found this wonderful home made recipe online which sounds as if she knows:
REGULAR PET EAR CARE:
I make a mix of lemon or vinegar, crushed fresh garlic, tea tree oil, black walnuts (picked green, sliced, soaked in vodka), which is so pesticidal since it's alcohol, that it's amazing with other ingredients. And Neem Oil from any Hindu/India grocery. Doesn't matter. I roll cotton onto twigs from my tree, making a bigger q-tip than is available. Dip in this acidic potion, clean ears. Any black in a cat's ear is mite poop indicating mites. Do it regularly, even daily .
I know my magic medicine works even though the cat/dog/rabbit, etc., will not be too happy with the odors until the ear stops itching/being deaf. Wear plastic gloves (not rubber because it will pull the animal's hair and cause them to be combative). Wrap them in a large towel, except for the head, with the neck area snug, but not so tight that it chokes them, and use paper towels or a rag to toss after wiping up any drips. If you have any left over, refrigerate for other applications, as needed.
This should bring instant relief. If the animal shows no signs of healing/comfort in three-four days, see a vet because it could be something more serious.
Lynda from TX (08/02/2007)
By Jess
If your pet has ear mites, olive oil will NOT rid their ears of them. As for ear issues, other than mites, most are caused by food allergies. Try a food without wheat, grain or soy.
Peroxide eats away at healthy tissue. It is no longer encouraged for injuries, let alone ear issues. The most important issue is finding what is causing the itchy ear. (02/05/2008)
By Amy
If the problem isn't ear mites, then if you haven't already, check the ear canal for hair, this will cause some itching. I have a non-casting breed, in which the hair growth in the ear is quite bad. I tease any hair out of the ear (very gently and a small amount at a time), then use some Hydrogen Peroxide (the lowest form you can get - so it's not too strong) and then use cotton wool to wipe the ear.
The itching may also be caused by using the Alcohol and White vinegar. I certainly wouldn't use them but the key when using Hydrogen Peroxide is to find the lowest percentage you can - if its too strong then, yes, it will strip the ear.
Good Luck! (10/23/2008)
By Holly
My Rottweiler puppy has really itchy ears and because he is scratching they are all red, sore, and scabby. We had him to the vet's and they gave him a good examination and cleaned his ears out, but the problem returned 1 week later. We think it could possibly be an allergic reaction so we changed his food and it's still the same. The problem is only in his ears and nowhere else on his body. Does anyone have any ideas what this problem could be please?
By VEnglish from United Kingdom
I would get a second opinion. Did they do a skin scrape of his ear tissue to check for fungus, etc.? (11/05/2010)
By ilovesophie
Please have you Vet check for a yeast infection (this is very common) and he can give him mediation to clear it up. Good luck. (11/06/2010)
By Sherri
My Yorkie poo keeps scratching her ears. I cleaned them, but need an over the counter treatment or natural remedy. I have no money to go to the vet's office. Any suggestions?
