Dogs itchy ears

[Odyssey]

My dog is sometimes scratching his ears and rubbing his head on things. As far as I can see down his ears, they look perfectly clean. He saw the vet in the summer when I thought he had a grass seed in one. He said he had an infection in both, and I used the ear cleaner and drops that he gave me. They seemed to improve, but a while later he started scratching them again. I don't want to keep using drops regularly, as they only seem to be a temporary solution and don't really address the problem. From doing some research, it seems that often it's not an actual infection that makes them itchy, but yeast and general irritation that's most often down to feeding kibble, and/or food intolerances. He's a big dog and unfortunately I can't afford to feed raw.

The things that I've read about that can apparently help include Thornit powder, Stinky Stuff for ears, turmeric (as it's anti inflammatory) and cleaning them with diluted apple cider vinegar. Have people used these, or any other treatments with success?

 

[skinnydipper]

You could try a hydrolysed protein kibble.

Hydrolysation is a process which breaks down the protein molecules so that the dog's immune system is less likely to react to them. Some dogs may be so sensitive to a protein that they still react but worth a try.

Generally when pet food manufacturers describe a food as hypoallergenic it is nonsense. For instance they could describe chicken and rice as hypoallergenic but obviously it isn't if your dog is allergic to chicken or rice, or both.

I would suggest trying to find the cause and eliminate that if you can, rather than treat the symptoms.

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

Thornit powder is the stuff to use. I have used it for many years now with different dogs from time to time. Wonderful stuff.

 

[Clodagh]

I’ve never been game to use anything non prescription on my ear skank dog. The vet gives me canaural cleaner or if she is bad I have malacetic aural. I use them weekly. They last for months.
If she swims in dirty water she needs doing.
As SD has said food is her main trigger, mine cannot have beet pulp. She also gets smelly lips and mouth creases if her diet is poor.
Now she is on a good food all year round and the water is pretty clean round here, less standing ditches, she?has been fine for a long time.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

Zak was a trauma for itchy ears sometimes. We used cotton pads to wipe inside if they were damp after swimming/wet days in cover. I used Thornit too as a maintenance tool. He had drops from the vet once which helped.

Is he possibly allergic to something?

 

[maddielove]

I've had great success with Zymox https://www.fureverproducts.co.uk/product-page/zymox-otic-1-25oz-with-hydrocortisone-1-0
Ears were awful and nothing would touch them (steroids, diet, thornit, stinky stuff, ACV, god knows what else) vet wanted to put under GA to fully pluck and clean out the ears but was insistent it was an allergy and may not even help, the Zymox cleared it up in a week and then used Tropiclean for maintenance afterwards and never an issue again.

 

[Bellasophia]

First you have to diagnose the cause of the itch..
if the ears are waxy,a good clean with a liquid ear cleaner should help.
I use boric acid (animal use)on cotton wool if it’s a generalwipe clean.…..chlorexyderm is another reputable ear cleaner sold in pet shops.

If the ears have a yeast infection..the vet will swab,look at the sample
using a stain ,and give a specific ear drops..we used easotic,and it resolved .It's a strong medication so only use under vet advice.

if your dog has ear hair in the canals,I pluck the hair with an ear powder-on my fingers( thornit or ear Kleer).
With my poodles,and schnauzer,I regularly check the ears and pluckthe hair out…we’ve only once had a yeast ear infection ( in over 20 yrs)..and used the easotic.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Thornit ear powder! As above its amazing stuff.