I know I should really take Ava to the vet for him to examine her ear, but I'm in a bit of an awkward position at the moment because Ava is mid-way through her season (thinks she's just about "ripe" if you know what I mean) - and I think we may cause all hell to break loose if I take her to the vets right now.  I've noticed that Ava has been flapping her ears about a lot today and one of her ears looks a bit pink inside, although it looks clean and free from any dirt/wax.  Just wondered if there is anything I can buy to treat it myself - or do you think the vet would prescribe something without even seeing her? :)

Take her to the vets, tell them that she is in full season and they will probably ask you to leave her in the car until the vet is ready to see her.

Thanks will do that then, but I'll have to take her to the vets tomorrow.....hubby has gone to work in the car and won't be home till 11 tonight.  I usually keep their ears clean by wiping them with witch hazel but I don't think I'll mess with it tonight until the vet has seen her.

I have a 4 and a half year old cocker spaniel who has had endless ear infections and had an operation last march to correct the problem and it didn't !!!Long story...I can suggest thornit it's an old fashioned remedy (canker powder) you can buy this from www.championpetsonline.co.uk excellent site and very informative Good luck with avas ears

I remember my sister-in-laws Cocker had bad ear problems, and they were really smelly too - I can't detect any unpleasant smell coming from Avas ears......just looks pink and she keeps on flapping them :)  That was the name I was trying to remember "Thornit" -  I've heard that stuff mentioned on here before for treating ears.......is it used for cleaning ears? what exactly is it?  I think I'll get the vet to have a look for me tomorrow in case it's an ear infection.
Thanks for the advice
Mair

Update on Avas ear:-
It wasn't an ear infection, but she has some wax down there so the vet prescribed some "Epi-Otic ear cleanser" to use which will hopefully clear it up for her ;)

Glad to hear ava hasn't gotan ear infection!! hope she gets better soon

Thanks :)

Hi Mair, my puppy is flapping her ears as well, and sometimes, it looks like she is trying to scratch them with her rear paws, and she kind of making this funny noise like it makes her feel good when she does that (I scratch her ears as well, she likes it, on the outside of course, not that I stick anything inside her ears or anything). I asked our vet top check both of her ears and she said there is nothing in there, but I did see some black stuff in it, not too deep inside. So I was wondering, if I should ask my vet to prescribe some wax cleaner as well. And how did you clean your dogs ears? I have witch hazel, but I am afraid to hurt my pup, and would rather ask my vet to clean her ears instead of me. And how do you have to use that "Epi-Otic ear cleanser" to clean your dogs ears?
Alina D.

When Scarlet was a pup my vet showed me how to clean the ears.  I use a pad of cotton wool (I buy the type that are like a tube or stack of flat circles of cotton wool).  He told me to put some witch hazel on the cotton wool and have a good clean inside the ear and to keep changing for clean pads, clean right to the tips of the ears.  My dogs have fairly thin floppy ears that are not very hairy so they are not too bad to keep clean, in fact they seem to enjoy having their ears cleaned! -  but Ava has always had one waxy ear (I wouldn't have said it was excessively waxy though - but obviously it was, so I'm afraid I'm no expert on ear cleaning).  I'd be interested to read how others on here keep their dogs ears clear from wax too.
The "Epi-Otic ear cleanser" (I'll copy off the bottle for you):-
(It's a 125ml plastic bottle with a nozzle type despenser)
EPI-OTIC is a non-irritant ear cleanser formulated to remove crusts and excessive cerumen.  Epi-Otic represents a breakthrough in skin care technology, using SPHERULITES and Chitosanide.
* SPHERULITES: an exclusive encapsulation system developed by Allerderm which provides slow release of ingredients long after product application.
* Chitosanide: a natural biopolymer which creates a protective film on the skin and hair.
This technology increases the effectiveness and duration of product's action.

USES: May be used for routine ear cleansing in dogs and cats to maintain a healthy auditory canal or prior to administration of medicines for the treatment of otitis externa.
DIRECTIONS FOR USE: Shake well before use. Turn the white nozzle to open the product and then apply into the ear canal.  Gently rub the base of the ear and then wipe the interior of the ear flap with cotton wool moistened with Epi-Otic.
Frequency of use: once or twice weekly, or before each topical treatment, or as directed by your veterinary surgeron.
Avoid contact with eyes and store below 30 degrees C.

COMPOSITION: Salicylic acid and lactic acid in encapsulated (SPHERULITES) and free form - PCMX and Chitodanide.

Hope that helps......some of it is double dutch to me!! LOL ;)

Hi, yes, it was very informative, but after you aplly the liquid, how does the wax come out? Or you still have to clean the inside of the dogs ear as the wax comes up from the inside?

Hello again

It says on the front of the bottle:-

Ear Cleansing
Eliminates Cellular debris
Drying dissolves wax

:) - So the way I read it, I think it's supposed to actually dissolve the wax.....maybe someone on here whose more in the know than me could help us out with this? ;)

Hi Mair, I just tried cleaning my pups ears with cotton rounds and witch hazel, I could not do this, she would just not sit straight. She would bite/mouth me in a puppy way, she thought I was playing, would wiggle out of my arms and run away from me. I give up. She has a mild smell in her ears as well. We have  vet apntmnt next sunday so I will ask my vet to clean her ears. Thanks anyways. I am still confused with the medicine for your dog. I just cannot understand if there is some wax in the ear it has to come out, right ?, but how can it be dissolved? Through ear skin? It just does not make any sense for me. Hopefully somebopdy on this forum knows, and lets us know. Good luck with your dog and wish you the problem with the ear goes away.
Alina D.

epi-otic is a good cleaner but if it is a bad infection (yeast) then it must be used in conjunction with a prescription ear drop (otomax is the best i found) and some anti biotics.thornit is good in mild cases and ear mites and canker but i have found is no use against a yeast infection.

Hi Cooper, the epi-otic seems to have helped very quickly because she stopped the ear flapping really quickly.  I've been told about getting "thornit" so I'm going to get some of that too.  Scarlets ears hardly get dirty at all but I think Ava must just make more wax in hers. 

Alina, when you go to the vet ask him to give you a demonstration of how to clean your pups ears.  Your vet is open on Sundays? - thats really good, wish mine opened on Sundays too ;) - Saturday morning is the only weekend clinic at my vets.

Yeah we are so lucky we have a clinique here that is open 7 days a week (sat and sun walk ins), and I have found a fab. vet. The first vet we went to was a young guy who did not have much experience, and did not seem to care about pets much, only about money and his "handsome" appearance :). My husband and I noticed that right away. And he did not seem very comfortable when I was asking him tons of questions, aslo questioning his practice, since he gave my Marta dewormer with the combo vaccine in the same time, which made her bottom get all sore. Was not happy with him. The other vet we found, was a senior vet, and she is great, she even remembers her pets names and the problems occured in pets before (I was impressed). She is the one who works in the emergency cases and  does surgeries. It is a big clinique with a separate emergency building for pets. It is not cheap, but it is worth every cent, and I am very pleased with the service and clean atmosphere inside.
I will definitely ask her to show me how to clean my pup's ears.
Thanks, Alina D.

Hi Alina

If I remember correctly, you have a german shepherd, right?

My friend has a german shepherd, almost 8 months old, she also has problems with her ears. We boought some ear cleaner for dogs, put a squirt in the ear, and massaged it (from the out side), and cleaned with a piece of cotton. Just don't go all the way to the bottom!

I keep Bella, the gsd; pinned between my knees, while I do this, but she seems to enjoy it though!

Good luck
¨¨
Jeanette

If the ears look dirty and have a smell,then he may have ear mites.

Hi Alina the best way I found to clean my cockers ears is to stand him on a table like they do at the vets get someone to hold the rear end and his/hers muzzle and as long as you keep a firm hold you will be successful(a few bribes with the odd treat helps) thornit is good to have to keep things "at bay" thornit is a powder and is so very simple to use I use it when I groom scoobie he is calm and relaxed and lying where I want him to be and trickle some thornit in and a massage and thats it!! hope this helps

I have a shepherd who suffers with waxy ears and I now use Liquid Parrafin and Benzyl Benzoate, both available from chemists at a cost of aprox. £4 total, for a years supply!!  Mix 50/50 and pour small amount carefully into ear canal, all the wax then softens and is then wiped away with cotton wool. No more troublesome ears and a happy dog. Often dogs with narrow ear canals suffer with wax build up, I do his ears about once a month.
:)