So Kasey kept shaking his head like crazy all day Tuesday, so I had to cough up some vet money and get him looked at. I knew there wasn't an infection - I know those signs well enough - but I was concerned there might be a foreign object.

Turns out it's a wad of wax right up next to the ear drum, and it's really bugging him. Vet gives me two choices and recommends the later - one, sedate him and go in after it (and spend $250), or two, put Ottomax (which I hate!) in 2x a day for 10 days. She says that the Ottomax will help break up the wax, and then she wants to see him back in 2 weeks to make sure it's breaking up.

I have never heard of doing it this way! But I'm assuming she knows what's she doing. But she didn't say anything about flushing it out a couple times and I didn't think to ask until now. Has anyone else had this problem, and if so, did your vet tell you to flush them out in addition to the Ottomax? Just seems to me that the wax won't just come out on their own? Vet's closed till Monday, but he's scratching at it now more than before the drops and I'm just thinking that some ear wash may help unclog things faster. Could it hurt?

It can work but do it outside. After you put the Ottomax in and massage the ear (did the vet tell you how?) the dog is going to shake like crazy. That stuff can sling a bit then.

I'd just get some witch hazel and fill up the entire ear canal a couple times a day and see if that softens it up.It works on my grubby eared cocker spaniel who constantly is shoving crap in her ears..

*do this outside*

I wouldnt put anything else in there with the ottomax. Ears are sensitive, stick to one thing at a time. Also, I don't think it would make sense to flush away the ottomax, give it a chance to work.

Mineral oil works on kids' ears, why not a dog? Just put some in and massage the ear, it should loosen up the wax.

ETA: I agree with Steve, don't do too much at one time...See if Ottomax works first.

Hi Lori, Monty had similar problem recently. Noticed dark discharge from one of the ears, tried to flush it out with medicated flush, did not work. At the vet they said there is a wax buildup with just the tip of a foxtail sticking out right next to the ear drum. The vet wanted to send us home with meds to dissolve the wax over the next weeks and come back when it's done. When pressed she said there is an option of sedating Monty and clearing it up right away. We did that and he was fine by the end of the day. It was milder sedation, said to be less dangerous.

Somewhere in my reading on ear problems it was mentioned that the vet must make sure that the ear drum is not punctured before prescribing meds, otherwise inner ear could become infected. That's why I insisted on the vet taking a good look at that drum and removing the foreign body right away before any damage occurs.

Our ear, nose, and throat doctor recommended a drop of olive oil once a week to prevent ear wax from building up. My mother-in-law's floppy eared dog has a terrible build-up and no money to take the pooch in, so I was thinking I would try our people doctor's recommendation on her. I know when I've used it myself that it does sooth the itching right away. We'll see how it goes.

Good luck on a quick solution for Kasey!

Olive Oil??? I don't know about that. That sure seems like it would help things grow in there.

Ear wax way in there by the eardrum isn't something I'd fool around with (and no olive oil).

No one is covering for the vet on the phone? I'd want to ask the vet about the additional step because of the comment about where the buildup is.