granted, there are better products on the market, but if youre going to use something that you have on the shelf at home.......vinegar is better than peroxide.

I was making reference to a home remedy in my earlier post as well.

I want to add that I did use a script from the vet initially (don't remember the name, but it was a glossy white liquid) and then maybe 1 or 2 times a month there after.

All through out though I did use 50/50 water peroxide solution up to 3 times a week. My vet told me that was fine and it worked very well with my dog.

However, keep in mind, each dog, like humans likely have differing ph balances and of course the type of infection your dog has will affect what tx approach you take.

Good luck.

 Quote:

I was making reference to a home remedy in my earlier post as well.

I want to add that I did use a script from the vet initially (don't remember the name, but it was a glossy white liquid) and then maybe 1 or 2 times a month there after.

All through out though I did use 50/50 water peroxide solution up to 3 times a week. My vet told me that was fine and it worked very well with my dog.

However, keep in mind, each dog, like humans likely have differing ph balances and of course the type of infection your dog has will affect what tx approach you take.

Good luck.

About the glossy white liquid: I believe you might mean Otomax or similar. That's an RX yeast-and-bacteria topical med which is dropped into the infected ear and which you follow the RX with (as to number of day, number of applications, etc.), but that wasn't what I meant for maintenance when necessary for inflammation or gunk, pre-fullblown infection.

I meant the "Flush"-type products...... a much larger squirt bottle to be applied generously, squished around, and shaken out by the dog.

I'm posting a link that will explain why only the maintenance of an *already-diagnosed* condition is safe to manage 100% at home.

http://animalpetdoctor.homestead.com/Ears.html

Vinegar does kill yeast, but yeast is rarely the only culprit. Unless you already know (from the vet's tests) that it's yeast alone, I'd hesitate to rely on it.

That URL explains the common combos in ear infections and mentions some good routines for all of them.

Ear infections are usually (in my own experience, anyway) secondary to allergies/sensitivities. Along with treating the ear infection, which can make the dog miserable and cause serious pain, we need to address the underlying cause.

For me and my own allergic dogs, grain-heavy foods are out, and have been for a long time. I feed raw, but THK (sold here) makes two grain-free versions, Nature's Variety has several....... there are choices.

But it's *not* just food allergies that cause ear infections....... other allergies do too. If you read through the linked web page, you'll have a good overview of ear problems.

I'm not a health professional.

Our male pup has very waxy, ears! He has also had ear infections that we treated with Otomax. For cleaning we use Gentle Cleanse-its a wash for the ears. I put it on a soft cloth and clean the ears with it. Then just dry them out. It works great <img src="http://www.leerburgkennels.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />The Gentle Cleanse is just for maintance. I wouldn't take a chance on an "undiagnosed" ear problem. We go to the vet immediately if there is a question in our minds about the discharge-color, smell, or pain.

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Our male pup has very waxy, ears! He has also had ear infections that we treated with Otomax. For cleaning we use Gentle Cleanse-its a wash for the ears. I put it on a soft cloth and clean the ears with it. Then just dry them out. It works great <img src="http://www.leerburgkennels.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />The Gentle Cleanse is just for maintance. I wouldn't take a chance on an "undiagnosed" ear problem. We go to the vet immediately if there is a question in our minds about the discharge-color, smell, or pain.

Great post, Beth, IMHO. If you squirt it in and fold the ear down and swoosh it around (gently), the dog will then shake the gunk out to the outer folds.

Also, general thing: Don't use anything if the ear is clean. If we don't have to introduce moisture, it's best not to (especially when yeast is the main offender). At the first sign that the balance is off, that's when to intervene.

I have found that "Blue Power Ear Treatment" works the very best. Supposedly their are yeast infections and fungal infections. The Boric Acid works on the yeast and the Gentian Violet works on the fungal. If you follow the directions and do it as explained (2 times a day for a week, then once a day for a week then...) I now only have to do it once a month on my girl who tends to get ear infections. I had an older dog who was at the vet contantly and we tried many conconctions and medications when I found this on the internet I tried it and after treatment she only needed once a month and never had another ear infection. So its worth a try. You can read about it on many web pages I just found this page
http://www.finographics.com/schutzhund/health/yeasty-ears.htm

Hope it helps.

The only problem we had with the Boric Acid is if you use it on an infected ear it will burn very badly and cause more irritation. So we don't use it.

Don't know if its because its diluted or not but it doesn't seem to bother my dogs. I tried the apple cider vinegar and my dog SCREAMED so I quit that one. Did you have it diulted in the alcohol when you tried it?? I have also heard that the Gentian Violet soothes (you use it with infants so it must be gentle) maybe its the combo. All I know is I have used it for about 7 years now with good results. I use it as my general purpose cleaner for all their ears.

The stuff we used was 2% acetic acid and 2% boric acid in normal saline. It set my dog's ears on fire <img src="http://www.leerburgkennels.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />Never used it again.