Friday, July 31, 2009

Any over the counter medicine for a dog ear infection?

My dog is very prone to ear infections because of his floppy ears (so the vet tellsme) and eveytime I take him to the vet, it costs about $200. Is there an over the counter cleanser that cures ear infections? or only to prevent them?
Thanks for any response!!!
Answers:
You can use this simple, affordable homemade solution to prevent problems, once the current infection is cleared up: http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/ears.html...
It's very gentle and effective. I can't use OTC or even prescription ear washes on my dog because they irritate her ears. This doesn't irritate her at all yet it prevents ear infections quite effectively.

Any time you suspect your dog has an ear infection, it's best to go ahead %26 take the dog to the vet, because only the vet can look carefully inside the ear to determine if the eardrum is intact or has been ruptured by the infection. If you use an earwash, homemade product, or even leftover medicine from a previous infection in a dog whose eardrum has ruptured, it can cause permanent damage to the ear and possibly deafness. It's possible for your dog to have a ruptured ear drum and not really act like it's in pain - my dog's ear drum ruptured once from a deep infection without any visible symptoms, and the only clue she ever gave that there was a problem was to begin shaking her head occasionally.

I would suggest that you go ahead %26 take your dog to the vet for this infection, and then after the ears are cleared up, begin using the purple power ear solution from the link above. My dog used to cost me a small fortune for ear infection vet bills on a regular basis until I started using the purple power solution. But she hasn't had a single infection since I started using it a couple of years ago.

Another thing you might want to consider: ear infections are often associated with allergies. Check your dog food ingredients: does it contain soy, corn, wheat, or artificial coloring? Those ingredients often cause allergy issues for dogs - try to find a food without those ingredients. My dog does well on Chicken Soup for the Dog Lovers Soul. Canidae and Wellness are also both excellent brands that are less likely to cause allergy problems.

If the ear problems continue even after starting the purple solution and changing your dog's diet, you might want to see a veterinary dermatologist for allergy testing.
http://www.acvd.org/

Hope this helps!
your vet is correct. Dog with down ears are prone to yeast infections because air can't get in there to circulate. You must clean the weekly - some more often - %26 be sure to get them dry.

Here is an excellent fix. http://www.bichonfriseusa.com/ref/earsol...
Ear infections require antibiotics, which are only available at vets.

Your vet is the best person to tell you how to prevent ear infections so you don't have to keep forking out $200. You can buy cleaners to use regularly - non prescription )over the counter) stuff is available at vets. It is true that dogs with floppy ears are more prone to ear infections - it's because the air can't circulate properly and bacteria gets clogged up in there, unlike with natural pointy ears.

Chalice
There are natural herbal tablets called "Earache Tablets" sold at most drug stores. These should be safe to give your dog and they are about $8 a box. Since it is made from all natural herbs, and is safe to give even babies, it should be safe to give your dog. They are very small, so just stick it in with a little dogfood...I have a Basset Hound and I have done this when she was a puppy. I also clean her ears regularly with diluted hydrogen peroxide on cotton swab.
There are many ear washes you can by at any local store that sells animal products. I have used Ear Wash from Four paws. It not only cleans but soothes and cools the ear so they dont scratch. Also clean your dogs ears weekly with a paper towel. Very easy to do.
Get your cleanser at the vet - you don't have to take the dog in - just get the things you need. Unless of course he already has an ear infection - then you could ask for the antibiotic cream to place in the ear after it's clean. Dog ear drums are really far inside, so using cotton balls is no problem. And keeping the ears cleaned out is important. Be sure to dry out the ear canal with your cotton balls. Prevention is the key!
You know, I used to get ear infections alot when I was younger, and it got to the point I would just take care of it myself. The doc had given me a good plan that seemed to work good, but I dont know how easy it would be for a dog.. But I put about two to three drops of warm Olive oil in my ears when I was on my side. The oil would pull the plugged wax, or whatever the infection was, out and allow it to drain. It was quite affective. But dog ears are alot differnt than our own, so I don tknow if that would fly or not?

Good luck!
There is an ear wash that you can use called Epi-otic Advanced. If you use this on a regular basis then it will cut down on the number of ear infections your dog has. Call your current vet to see if they will sell you some without having to bring your dog in, Your vet should carry it if they don't then get a copy of your records and find a vet who is more reasonable. The key to a vet visit is to tell them what you want don't let them tell you what you need. I work for a vet and that is one of the main complaints we get from new clients.
Katherine

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