My Dog seems to have an ear infection...

[Landshark44]

i'm not cheap, but everytime i take him to the local vet i feel like i'm getting ripped off. i think they charged me $350, the last time i was there for a few shots and a checkup.....

so, i wanted to ask if any of you know something i could try myself, before i take him. something at petsmart, perhaps...? or over the counter?

thanks in advance.....

[DanGarion]

Do they smell like Fritos?

[Airhog]

Dog with Chronic Ear Infection (http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf157336.tip.html)

[cougarfreak]

Mine had some black/brown goop coming out of his ear, so I bucked up and took him last week. Cost me about $75 including the medicine. Said it was some time of yeast infection in his ear.:confused: Seems to be getting better.

[M GO BLUE!!!]

I have a Labrador who gets them about once a year. The cleaning solution is available online, but the meds to kill the infection is only available by prescription.

[Landshark44]

thanks, mine is a labrador, as well.....

[DanGarion]

I'm not kidding about the Fritos, that is what my wife says it smells like.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Tell your dog to stop being a wussy!!!

[Scoobz0202]

Mine had some black/brown goop coming out of his ear, so I bucked up and took him last week. Cost me about $75 including the medicine. Said it was some time of yeast infection in his ear.:confused: Seems to be getting better.

Weird. I had never heard of this until yesterday when my cousin was telling me about her golden retriever who had developed a yeast infection in his ear. She was telling me about this horrible smelling solution that she had to put in his ear and then cover his ear up and shake his head around to mix the solution around. :confused:

[SackAttack]

My black lab used to get them on a pretty regular basis. He hated having the medicine in his ears, but he sure enjoyed having his ears rubbed.

[MCK]

My German Shepherd has had this before. There is a liquid solution you can squirt in their ears and then wipe it out with cotton balls. Cost us $27 for the vet to do it and then a another $20 to take a bottle home and do it ourselves. It works. Whenever his ears start smelling bad, we wash them out and he is fine.

It can get nasty. He would shake his head and stuff would be flying across the room on to the wall. Best to do it outside.

[DanGarion]

We own a dog grooming shop so my wife has lots of experience with dogs and helping owners out. These are her suggestions.

According to my wife, if it's already infected you need to get it treated, since it can spread. Just like a human infection the dog needs antibiotics no over the counter treatment will usually help with an infection. Find a new vet that won't rip you off like the one you have.

As for a preventative you can use swimmers ear (peroxide and vinegar) a couple drops a day to make sure the ear keeps dry. Also every time you wash the dog put cotton in it's ears during the washing. Then wipe them out after.