Holistic remedy for dog's ears (vet, cleaning, black, surgery)

[pirate girl]

My dog has "down" ears that are inclined to build up with goopy black stuff. It's not an infection but summertime seems to be worse than the rest of the year. Does anyone know of something natural that can be used to treat his ears?

[vetegnc]

Does it smell like an old basement?

1/2 white vinegar and 1/2 water is an excellent way to clean them, as long as the ears aren't painful, red, inflamed, swollen, etc.

[yellowsnow]

I use vinegar and water too. I fill up the ear and massage. Wait an hour or so and clean out with qtips.

[Turtle]

Vinegar and water is fine for cleaning ears, but PLEASE don't use q-tips. You can go in too far and really damage your dogs ears. Use cotton balls or gauze and your finger. Your finger is big enough that it cannot go too far and cause damage.

[Keeper]

sounds like a yeast infection. Floppy ear dogs are the ones who get this. After spending $$$$ at the vet for our dog we found this online and tried it. It works great although be careful it will stain so don't wear your good clothes.
http://www.itsfortheanimals.com/Adob...0Treatment.pdf

[pirate girl]

Thanks everyone. It's a little smelly but no redness or inflamation. It's just goopy. I've used the ear cleanser but it doesn't solve the problem- just cleans the ear out.

I'll try the treatment with vinegar and will also get the product keeper recommended.

[Keeper]

The smell is the give a way of a yeast infection. My part beagle dog had a yeast infection and she would yelp when she scratched her ear. She had black yucky stuff in her ear too. The vets usually smell the ear to tell if it is a yeast infection..
You are right the ear wash doesn't treat a yeast infection.
Let us know...how it goes

[Sam I Am]

yeast. mine has hound dog ears and started getting infections when we lived in the Caribbean, now we can't get rid of it.

I use an ear wash and then a med by my vet that is an antibiotic, anti-fungal, and cortisone all rolled into one. Reduces the swelling almost immediately....and sometimes the ears are very inflamed down where you can't see them. If it's bad enough it can cause serious problems. I'd get it diagnosed before trying anything at all....and my dog's ears smell somewhat like bittersweet chocolate, only not that nice...

[Turtle]

No ear wash will clear up any kind of infection. The purpose is only to clean the ear. If the ear is infected with yeast or something else, you need to go to the vet and get it taken care of with medication. They can do an ear swab to check and see what's growin' in there and treat it appropriately. Infections that go too long without treatment can end up causing more serious problems including a painful hematoma from all the shaking and requires surgery to repair.

[DreamWeavin]

I went through that tar gooky stuff in my Maltipoo's ear for a year. Tried everything. A vet,bless his heart, just diagnosed her with allergies. She's now taking a pill for that and within 3 days her ears are all pink and clear-finallllly!!!I would check with a vet about possible allergies.