Flowerofthefen
Well-Known Member
Our lab has a mucky ear. It's not irritating her but we would like to get it cleaned up. Do we need to use dog ear cleaner or is there another way to do it?
Cleaning dogs ear
- Thread starter Flowerofthefen
- Start date
Red-1
I used to be decisive, now I'm not so sure...
Heck sometimes gets this. I got him a simple wash from Amazon - that works better than the stuff the vet gave me.
Sparky Lily
Well-Known Member
We use Vet’sBest finger pads. Fairly expensive, but convenient and even the dog who does not like her ears done will tolerate them.
Clodagh
Well-Known Member
I would use a dog specific ear cleaner.
CorvusCorax
'It's only a laugh, no harm done'
There's a wash that the vet can prescribe that you just skoosh in and they shake out, for me better than drops or hoking with a pad/finger.
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AmyMay
Situation normal
Can you wipe with a moist cotton pad. It’s what I do once a week.
Clodagh
Well-Known Member
I use that but do wipe it every few days. I have labs though, you could probably cut their legs off if you had enough biscuits.
I'm Dun
Well-Known Member
One of mine is obsessed with me cleaning his ears with cotton buds that he then likes to chew! Hes got lovely clean ears, so I usually humour him by wiggling it around the outer bit then letting him sniff it. Hes always licking and bothering the other dogs ears. Hes such a clean and neat little dog so I have no idea what this gross thing is he has about ears! Hes clearly got an ear fetish 
CorvusCorax
'It's only a laugh, no harm done'
It's not even that, we're told not to hoke in our own ears as it can be damaging/can push stuff back down into the canal, so I feel the same about dogs. I have used the finger pads before and cotton wool, but given a choice I'd personally rather just use a wash.
skinnydipper
Well-Known Member
I think before before you start sloshing stuff into the dog's ear it would be a good idea to have her seen by a vet who can check if her tympanic membrane is intact and if she has an infection can prescribe something like Easotic or Surolan. Then keep her ears clean with whatever ear cleaning solution your vet recommends.
Barton Bounty
Just simply loving life with Orbi 🥰
I use doggy ear cleaner 
skinnydipper
Well-Known Member
Clodagh
Well-Known Member
I was going to say that, and also embark on a probably caused by other factors like diet but then decided just to say dog ear cleaner.
Glitter's fun
Well-Known Member
Our vets do free nurses' appointments for things like ear cleaning & nail trims.
Birker2020
Well-Known Member
We use cleaner that you put in the ear and then use cotton wool to clean it out followed by ear drops, both prescribed from the vet.
We tried the 'stinky stuff' brand specifically for ears as it came recommended to us by a friend and vet said it caused more problems than it had solved, so don't use that.
We tried the 'stinky stuff' brand specifically for ears as it came recommended to us by a friend and vet said it caused more problems than it had solved, so don't use that.
Highmileagecob
Well-Known Member
Soak a pad of cotton wool in vegetable oil and wipe away the gunge. Wipe off the excess oil with kitchen roll. If you see any inflammation, or the dog strongly objects, then off to the vet.
skinnydipper
Well-Known Member
As Clodagh said, there will be something causing the problem. Diet and allergies commonly cause ear problems but could be something like a grass seed or polyp.
Please see a vet and follow their advice.
Please see a vet and follow their advice.
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poiuytrewq
Well-Known Member
My old Lab Doug used to get slightly manky ears sometimes. The vet gave me a bottle of ear wash that you dripped in, squished round then wiped out. He used to really love having it done, then Spud, his brother would wait his turn and present me with his (clean) ears. I had to humour him and used to pretend to do his too!
Vet also said a little warmed coconut or olive oil would do the job.
Vet also said a little warmed coconut or olive oil would do the job.
Follysmum
Well-Known Member
Epiotic is good
If black gunk still keeps building up try Thornit powder it’s brill.
I spent over £1500 on my JR, vets kept giving me stuff which helped for a while but came back. Thornit worked £12 a bottle
If black gunk still keeps building up try Thornit powder it’s brill.
I spent over £1500 on my JR, vets kept giving me stuff which helped for a while but came back. Thornit worked £12 a bottle
Flowerofthefen
Well-Known Member
Thank you all for your suggestions. We took the dogs to the beach on Saturday. The lab, who's ear is dirty, likes to snorkel!! It's cleaned her ear up a treat. There is a tiny bit of muck left deep down but the ear isn't hot and it's not bothering her at all. I will just keep an eye on it fir the moment.
Shoei
Well-Known Member
My cat used to clean our old great danes ears 
she used to get her whole face in there and they both loved it!!!
She's not got to that stage with the new 10 week old one though so I have ordered some ear cleaner from the Herbal Dog Company, it's not arrived yet but I'll respond once I have tested it!
she used to get her whole face in there and they both loved it!!!She's not got to that stage with the new 10 week old one though so I have ordered some ear cleaner from the Herbal Dog Company, it's not arrived yet but I'll respond once I have tested it!
skinnydipper
Well-Known Member
Do you think getting water in her ear could have caused the problem in the first place? Swimmer's ear?
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Flowerofthefen
Well-Known Member
Yes, water could well have caused it in the first place. Never heard of swimmers ear, only swimmers tail, so thank you for that. Will Google it.
Clodagh
Well-Known Member
Tawny used to improve hugely with salt water swimming and get (as she has now) skanky ears if she goes in fresh.