I've just ordered a bottle of 1% gentian violet for bathing things like the occasional sore spot etc, or tear stains (not a white coat). I thought of it because we keep a bottle of Quistel ear cleaner in which I find very good, but a bit expensive for using a lot (well I would if their ears needed cleaning a lot). Also the Quistel ear cleaner includes Boric Acid which I think tackles ear mites. So I wouldn't need that for spots etc. But the bottle of gentian violet I've just got looks a bit thicker than the Quistel. So now I'm not sure if I should be diluting it? What does anyone think?

16oz bottle  witch hazel. 4 tablespoons boric  acid powder .16 drops Gentian violet 1%. Shake well before use . Use an eye dropper to apply  in the ear as it will stain .Few drops , then massage , then wipe outer ear . Careful around their eyes.

Sounds quite like the Purple Spray you get from equine stores, in a handy bottle.

TBH I would look into other antiseptics as GV is known to be toxic to some animal species. Unless there is a reason you need to mark the wound with colour, I would prefer something like Savlon liquid or Hibiscrub.

Thanks Stevensonsign, I knew there was a recipe for ear cleaner somewhere, that will be very helpful.

I might just use the gentian violet for the odd few spots though as they only need cleaning really.

> TBH I would look into other antiseptics as GV is known to be toxic to some animal species. Unless there is a reason you need to mark the wound with colour, I would prefer something like Savlon liquid or Hibiscrub.

I know what you mean about toxicity, I've read that too. But I think gentian violet is really just an old remedy that has fallen out of fashion in favour of some of the other things you mention. Probably elf & safety at work.  I still believe it has its place in my kit. I once cured a seemingly intractable ear problem with Quistel and now swear by it, though it looks like I could make up my own ear cleaner according to an earlier post on this thread. I will use my bottle of gentian violet on my boy's spotty legs that afflict him from time to time. Nothing else seems to clear them up (veterinary or otherwise) so it seems worth a go.

Just wondered what strength to use, the bottle is 1% gv, I could have got 2% though.

gentian violet was used on leg ulcers at the dermatology unit , Oxford, in the early 70's ...painted on , reduced the ulcer by healing the edges inwards very successfully, but its considered old fashioned now

And in various other hospital settings too :)

Karen

My daughter was very poorly as a baby, she is 26 now tho she had pemphegus neonatorum I had to paint her with gentian violet several times a day, it was very embarrassing at the clinic but it did the trick