Questions about cleaning outside ear and also diet (chihuahuas, vet, skin)

[midwestmom]

Our older dog is having almost chronic ear issues, I check daily and she's fine and then suddenly there's a lot of gunky mess all over her inner ear flap the next day. I'm thinking I just need to give her the drops every day. What I'm trying to find out is a good way to clean up the waxy stuff that's stuck to the fur/skin part. I've used damp cotton pads but because its waxy it doesn't work very well. She's had this problem often over several years in diff. states and diff. diets so I don't think its related to food or other allergies.

Another is that she's been on a mega-diet per our vet - she needed to lose almost 20 lbs and has lost 10 over 2 months. She's doing fabulous on urban wolf (I do adjust the recipe so there's less oil). I've noticed such a significant improvement in her that I hesitate to change foods. I'm hoping I can tweak it so she'll start losing weight again instead of maintaining her current weight. Looking for low-calorie "bulk" to add so she feels full - which I'm hoping will cut out more calories. Eventually I'll switch over to more homemade with a vitamin supplement but for now it would be harder to keep track of calories consumed.

[luvmycat]

A lot of people here have suggested green beans for losing weight...it makes them feel full but isn't very caloric. Haven't tried it myself, but I know it's worked very well for some...

As for the gunk on the fur issue, maybe try dampening the cotton pads with some witch hazel before wiping? It may cut through the wax, but again I'm no expert...hopefully some people with more experience in these particular issues will jump on here! Good luck!!!

[phonelady61]

cook up a bunch of green beans and cook em fresh I do . no salt and no fat back or bacon or ham . and as for the ear wax issue get mega size of the baby wipes sensitive . I use those on my chihuahuas to clean their eyes especially when they tear up and leak and have also used it to clean their rears when they have had a little bit of a messy poo it works wonderfully .

[jersey224]

The vet gave us an ear solution to squirt into the dogs ears every so often...One is by Virbac Animal Health called Epi-Otic and the other one is DVM OtiCalm Ear Solution. We have these issues with our Vizsla so every so often we squirt this into his ear

[midwestmom]

Appreciate the suggestions. I tried cut and mashed green beans only she didn't seem to like the texture. It's a good idea and I'm expecting a food processor soon - hopefully if they're more pureed it will work.

I do have drops from the vet though I think I need to be more vigilant about doing it every other day to keep ahead of problems. I'll try the witch hazel and the wipes would be good for cleaning the "other end" too. She's got long fur and even when its clipped there can be poo residue - thanks phonelady