What do you use to clean dogs ears?

[gritsar]

I'm obsessed with keeping Jax's ears clean. We've run out of the ear cleaner I bought. DH says there must be a cheaper alternative. What do you use?

 

[jerseygirl1]

Someone posted about tea tree oil and something else.............

 

[Wildsky]

A cat?

 

[Fay at Frizzled Feathers]

we use 1 capful Apple cider vinegar to two capfuls of water to clean dog or cat ears.

For mites in ears we use vegetable oil or baby oil whatever one we grab first.

Fay

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
Around here it's the other way around. Jax keeps KiKi's ears clean, but KiKi doesn't return the favor. She's more into head butts.

ETA: Maybe KiKi is simply overwhelmed by the size of Jax's ears?

 

[BarkerChickens]

I use Q-tips with hyrdrogen peroxide to clean out the wax buildup. I sometimes use witch hazel since it is an astringent and her ears get get pretty nasty on one side (one ear is upright, the other is floppy...the floppy one always gets more wax buildup).

 

[Buff Hooligans]

Quote:
Funny post.

 

[TerriLaChicks]

For over the counter solutions, I like Otirinse or Otisoothe once a week after their baths, because these contain a drying solution. I also like Best Shot or Kelco Zap, both which have gentle, natural ingredients in them. You can google a search for them--many online pet supply places carry them & frequently you can catch them on sale--a gallon will last you a long time.

This is a homemade one I've used with good results: (just be careful as it will stain clothes)

Ingredients:

White vinegar
Powdered boric acid
Isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol)
Betadine antiseptic (or the generic version, known as Povidone-Iodine Solution)
Please note: do not use "Betadine Scrub", use "Betadine Solution"


Directions for mixing the solution together:

Pour 6 ounces of isopropyl alcohol in to a plastic applicator bottle. Add 1/2 tablespoon of boric acid powder. Be careful not to get any boric acid on your skin or clothes. If you do, wash it off immediately.

Shake the solution extremely well, until the boric acid powder is dissolved, or for five minutes, whichever comes first.

Add 2 ounces of white vinegar. Shake the solution some more, until the boric acid powder is dissolved, or for another five minutes, whichever comes first.

Add one teaspoon of the Betadine antiseptic, and shake it up some more. Be careful not to get any Betadine on your skin or clothes. If you do, wash it off immediately.

The ear cleaning solution is now ready to use.



To use the ear cleaning solution:

It is recommended that you use the ear cleaning solution in your garage or outdoors, as the dog will shake it out of his ears and it will fly in to the air and stain things.

Squirt the solution inside your dog's ear until the ear canal is completely full. Massage the outside of the ear to help slosh the cleaning solution around inside. Release the dog and let him shake out the ear cleaning solution from his ears.

If you get any of the ear cleaning solution on your skin, wash it off as soon as possible.

Be sure to shake the solution up really well before each and every time you use it. The boric acid has a tendency to settle at the bottom of the bottle. Store at room temperature.

Use the cleaning solution daily until you start to see some improvement. Gradually cut back to once per week when you are happy with the condition of the ear. When the ear seems completely free of infection, you can go two weeks between treatments.




Warning: Do not use this ear cleaning solution on dogs with ruptured ear drums, or on dogs with open sores or wounds in the ear area. An ear exam by a veterinarian is recommended
prior to beginning treatment with this ear cleaning solution.

 

[gritsar]

Thanks y'all. I knew I could count on you.

 

[CMV]

TerriLaChicks how long can the solution be stored?