They run, they jump, they swim and they play. Your dogs love the outdoors and because of this, their ears are a magnet for parasites, dirt and infection. Discharge, a strong cheesy smell, inflammation and sensitivity are all signs that your dog could have an ear infection. Some veterinarian drops or ointments are expensive. With a few ingredients, though, you can make your own solution at home.
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Home Solutions
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If your dog has an ear infection, give him a daily treatment of a solution containing white vinegar, powdered boric acid, isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol), and betadine antiseptic solution. You can find all these ingredients in your local pharmacy. Be sure to purchase betadine solution and not betadine scrub, as the latter contains detergent and may be harmful to your pet. In an empty plastic bottle that has an applicator, pour six ounces of alcohol and add half a tablespoon of boric acid powder. Shake the solution until the powder is dissolved and add two ounces of vinegar. Shake again. Add one teaspoon of betadine and shake. The result should look like iced tea with a brownish color.
For a recipe that contains fewer ingredients, try mixing four ounces of alcohol with two tablespoons of boric acid and one tablespoon of glycerin. You can also try another solution of mixing one part of white vinegar with one part of rubbing alcohol.
Cleaning
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Chances are, your dog will not like cold liquids being poured into her ears; however, don't put the plastic bottle in the microwave. Instead, let the bottle sit in the sun for an hour or place it in a window to warm it up.
Squirt a few drops of solution into your dog's ears and massage the base of her ears for 30 seconds. After you do this, your dog is likely to shake her head, which is OK. With a cotton ball or tissue, wipe the visible part of your dog's inner ears to catch any excess solution. Don't use a Q-tip as this could be damaging to your dog's ears.
Squirt a few drops in your dog's ears once a day until he gets better.
Get in the habit of cleaning your dog's ears even if he doesn't have an infection. For dogs with long ears and long hair, such as spaniels and hounds, or for dogs that swim, clean their ears once a week. If your dog doesn't fit into one of these categories, clean his ears once a month.
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