For all you floppy-eared dog owners...

[luckypenny]

...how do you clean their ears?? Penny's our first floppy and I have such a hard time doing her ears. First of all, I've only tried using Vet Solutions but the smell . I've squirted it in her ear, massaged, and let her shake it out. I've also just tried squirting it on sterile gauze and going in with my finger to clean all out. But I can never seem to get it cleaned properly. And she's got so much goop in there! The vet says I'm doing it right by filling up her ears with it but it just doesn't seem to do the trick . Any suggestions please?

[mummummum]

I do the squirt and massage followed by a going in with cotton balls or a finger wrapped in gauze but it takes a few tries with the cotton/gauze before they're clean. I use a flashlight to see if I've missed any spots as I go along.

I use Vitamin E oil in their ears during the summer to protect them from swimming ~ i wonder if that might work any better for you ?

[luckypenny]

Any particular product you use? The solution we have has such a sweet/sickly odor to it, yuck!

[mummummum]

The same as you "Vet Solutions" ~ it's smell reminds me of hairspray.

[mummummum]

If you don't have any Vitamin E oil you could also try Mineral Oil.

[JanM]

I use "Oti Calm" and it doesn't smell bad at all. I got it from the vet. I fill up the ear then go in with cotton balls - lots of cotton balls and they seem to be fine. I don't have to use it very often either.

[luckypenny]

Great . Thanks MMM & JanM. Vitamin E as in the capsule/supplement? I do have some that I add to their breakfast meals.

[mummummum]

You can buy it by the bottle (liquid).

[otter]

LP, I use Professional Pet Products Ear Cleaner - just from the pet store, not too smelly - I can't stand the really smelly stuff. Generally I don't squirt any in her ear I just douse a cotton pad (like the ones for makeup removal) or paper towel and wipe all I can. It's not easy and takes many wipes to get them clean. at the end I use a clean dry paper towel to clear out all the dregs.
Molly's ears are always gooey. I think i'm going to try the vit.e thing next summer

[Purpledomino]

I actually got this information right here on this forum. I use a solution of warm water with apple cider vinegar..about half and half. Those cosmetic pads (about a buck or two at Walmart for a roll) are perfect for getting the goo out, and soft for your pup. I actually have a full unused bottle of "ear cleaner" from the vet that I haven't used, since discovering the apple cider solution. The vinegar is helpful to prevent yeast ear infections, and doesn't smell bad at all. I just dry the ear out with a clean pad after cleaning, and adding warm water to the vinegar makes it more comfortable on your dog.

My vet also recommended this...and I could tell she was doing it on the sly, as they sell quite a few ear cleaners on their shelves!

[luckypenny]

That sounds like a great idea too. Never thought of ACV. The first time I used the vet solution, I forgot to warm it up . Couldn't have felt so good for Penny.

Did I mention I'm dying for a pic fix of your dogs, Purpledomino ?

[Ford Girl]

I use the vet solution, but Dazy's had yeast for months, so we gave drops twice a day every day for 4 months, and cleaned them weekly with vet solution. It does smell eh? I dont find it bad, just smelly. We filled her ears once, and it made her so upset, she would run and hide after that, so we had to soak cotton balls and drip it in that way, if you do it a few days in a row, it will work, and keep the goop at bay, weekly afteer that. We check her ears every night thos, cuz of the infection she had for so long, so we maintain it by doing it often.

I might try acv, good idea.

[shredy]

The solution I used actually smells good, it called epi-otic ear cleaner/dryer. If you use some of the solution on a gauze wrapped around your finger to moisten and loosen the gunk. Then hold the ear straight up squirt some of the solution in to the ear and massage the base of the ear making a squishing sound. Let her shake her head (best done outside) and then use the gauze to clean out the ear again. If there is still dirt in the creases you can clean them with a Qtip, but DO NOT go down into the ear canal because you will push it down and create an infection. If you do this regularly it should help. If the gunk is foul smelling, black, and the ear is red, you have an infection and need antibiotics. Hope this helps!