Keeping Ears Cleaned

[bency]

Just curious...but how many houndsmen keep their dogs ears cleaned? What methods are you using and how often are you doing it?

Thanks,
Mike.

[007pennpal]

Mike, I'd say leave them alone. Once upon a time I had hounds in the house and wanted to clean up the ear smell and it was a really bad idea. Lots of infections caused by me trying to improve on mother nature. If you don't have a medical issue, don't cause one. The hounds are all outside now and I do nothing and have no problems.

[Lookin' Up!]

My wife is a dog groomer and she cleans my dogs ears with a ear cleaning solution, You can get it at most pet supply shops. If there is any foul smell in the ear it could be a yeast infection, in that case put a small amount of miconazole cream or monistat seven in the ear for several days. I try to do it once a month, it will also help with the tiny splits in the end of there ears. Most vets recommend that all dogs with droopy ears get it done once a month. The smell that 007pennpal is referring to is a yeast infection and it usually comes from putting to much cleaning solution in the ear, put a small amount on a cotton ball and just squeeze a few drops in the ear canal. If you have any more questions let me know.

[007pennpal]

Lookin up, I don't groom my dogs and I don't clean their ears. I just wash my hands before I touch my wife. Well, most times anyway. The smell I was referring to is ear wax. Something hounds produce pretty well. You know if there's a problem with an infection because the hound will be shaking his head and digging at his ear. I'm just saying if there isn't a problem don't start one. Some places there are ear mites and other critters that can get in there and cause issues. Some vets recommend all sorts of expensive unneeded treatments in my opinion. Gee I wonder if that's because they want to sell it to you? Maybe I'd try some of that monistat seven but I'm afraid my hounds would hunt like pushies... ha ha. Just pookin at ya lookin up couldn't help it, it probably works if there is an infection.

[Rig2Tree]

The solution I use is a 50/50 mixture of vinegar and rubbing alcohol. The vet I have used for years told told me to use this instead of buying the expensive ear cleaner. I only use it every couple months as maintenance and seems to keep all problems away. Just draw it out in a syringe and put in the ear and massage it around. Works great and is very cost effective. Mix it in a quart mason jar and you have enough for a long time. 4 cc's per ear.

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[Spokerider]

A *normal, healthy* dogs ear has it's own odor, but it is not foul smelling or obnoxoius smelling. The skin in the ear canal is very thin and friable....and for this reason, it's best to leave a normal healthy ear alone. Abraiding this skin can precipitate problems.

If an ear canal is infected, it will have a foul odor and will appear red and feel warm to the touch. In this case, cleaning with an OTC otic solution might work, and a plan B would be antibiotics.........depending on the cause and severity of the infection.

[bency]

Interesting some people believe in cleaning and others dont.

Rig2Tree,

What alcohol content are you using?

[Rig2Tree]

bency,
50% alcohol content. Like a few of the other posts I agree if the ear is healthy leave it alone. I only use it every couple months on my hounds that seem to have heavier buildup.

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[roswellhounder]

I have a four year old bloodhound that every vet I talked to said he would need his ears cleaned regularly,that being said I have cleaned his ears once because his was playing in the mud and it got in his ears. I think most dogs keep their ears clean on their own. My vet always checks my dogs ears and has always been amazed at how clean they are, even though I dont clean them. If your dog has a problem clean them if no problem leave em alone. Too clean can cause just as many problems as too dirty Ear wax is there for a reason.

[nhunter84]

Leave them alone unless the hound is messing with them by constantly scratching or shaking head. You have to be careful on what you put down an infected ear. If the ear drum is ruptured you can do more harm than good by putting things down there that are toxic to the middle/inner ear. You cant tell a yeast infection from a bacterial infection without looking under a microscope. Dogs can get bacterial or yeast in ear infections and lots of time both bacteria and yeast in an infected ear. Ear infections can lead to bigger problems such as aural hematomas or a big blood pocket between the cartilages of the ear. That is a reason to treat ear infections as this secondary problem is a surgical issue.