Epiotic Ear Cleaner Whats A Better Alternative

[mokhahouse]

Oh no, should I put my credit card in the freezer now.

[Bully]

Oh no, should I put my credit card in the freezer now.

Absolutely

I also buy Pele's heartworm monthlies on-line - much cheaper Can usually slip in a dog toy for the same postage

[outatime]

Sorry if I have been confusing. I have Dermotic to clear up the yeast infection but my vet wants me to clean the ears with Epiotic every time they swim and weekly if they are not swimming. Now you are supposed to squirt it down the ear I believe and then I wipe with a cotton wool ball but they seem to shake most of it all over me. While initially I wonder that it is drowning the ear I dont think much stays in but if it has alcohol I would think weekly or twice weekly use would be drying and irritating. Any opinions on this. Seems to me the vets just recommend whatever brand they stock which does not mean it is the best. For example my vet said feed Science Diet to my very grain intolerant dog. Would she have recommended this if her clinic stocked something else?

My vet stocks both epiotic and PAW and said to try PAW as its much more gentle.

Also, they said not to squirt it into the ears!! - Use something like one of those round cotton wool wipes (not cotton wool balls) - put some on there and then use your finger to kind of swirl it around inside the dogs ear wiping the inside of the ear...that way the dog doesn't get a blast of liquid in his ear so he wont shake it all out, and you use much less of it so no drowning!

Give that a go with the epiotic (just because you already have it) and if it works then try a bottle of PAW.

Edit: definitely buy online - much much cheaper!!

Edited March 21, 2009 by outatime

[Rappie]

There's lots of different opinions and it really depends on whether the ear is a 'problem' ear that needs cleaning or its just for maintenance, and whether its a hairy ear or not.

For maintenance cleaning, wiping out with ear cleaning solution is fine. If one notices more debris than usual it is worth investigation. It is possible to over clean ears as I said, it depends on the ear. I don't recommend cleaning normal ears for the sake of it.

For a problem ear, I think 'flushing' is much more effective. In clinic I will use saline for very sore, ulcerated ears or the Bayer Clean Ear solution. Rather than squirt in the ear, I soak a cotton ball in solution, then squeeze this against the bottom of the ear flap so that the fluid dribbles down the ear canal and you can use it to block the ear canal off. Then massage the ear canal for a good 30 seconds or so then wipe debris out with a dry cotton ball. If it's mucky, repeat till it starts to clear. If not, stand back and let the dog have a good shake (outside is a good place to clean ears).

The PAW ear cleaner is very good, but the recommendation from the manufacturers is to no use it more frequently than once weekly, so it is often not suitable for really gooey ears that need medicating and cleaning twice daily.

Edit to add: Before putting any liquid down an ear canal it's important to know what state the ear drum is in. Although some cleaners are safe even in the absence of a tympanic membrane, I wouldn't recommend any of the alcohol based cleaners for any abnormal ear (hence using sterile saline for the initial clean of any dodgy looking ear).

Edited March 21, 2009 by Rappie

[Crisovar]

Sorry if I have been confusing. I have Dermotic to clear up the yeast infection but my vet wants me to clean the ears with Epiotic every time they swim and weekly if they are not swimming. Now you are supposed to squirt it down the ear I believe and then I wipe with a cotton wool ball but they seem to shake most of it all over me. While initially I wonder that it is drowning the ear I dont think much stays in but if it has alcohol I would think weekly or twice weekly use would be drying and irritating. Any opinions on this. Seems to me the vets just recommend whatever brand they stock which does not mean it is the best. For example my vet said feed Science Diet to my very grain intolerant dog. Would she have recommended this if her clinic stocked something else?

Do you think that just maybe they stock what they believe works.

That's how we work, we use and stock the products that do what we want them to do, products that we have good results with.

[mokhahouse]

Do you think that just maybe they stock what they believe works.

That's how we work, we use and stock the products that do what we want them to do, products that we have good results with.

I would like to believe that my vet does stock what they believe is a good product. I do have great faith in my vet, she is great.I just wondered when your vet works in a situation where there is several vets working from the same clinic that they might not have a choice in what they recommend. Thanks Rappie for your explanation of a better way to clean the ears. I will definitely try this way as I am sure it is pouring the solution in the ear that Molly hates. Both my dogs have had yeast infections, Mokha possibly from the swimming and Molly had a grass seed in her ear.

[borzoimom]

I was just reading on another thread and some mentioned this ear cleaner and that it is no good. My vet has me use it on both my dogs who have both had yeast infection in the ear recently. If this is no good can you please recommend an alternative. My dogs are labs and love to swim so I do want to keep their ears clean and dry.

I have found just simple hydrogen peroxide to be the best. It evaporates, great for ear wax when applied to a cotton ball and wipe the ear. As I said what I like the most about it, is that since it evaporates, you know you have not left any liquid in the ear canal. Give it a try.( Just remember to not let the dog lick the hydrogen or get the dirty cotton ball. I do one dog at a time, keeping seperate until dry, etc. ) Hydrogen peroxide will make a dog vomit if injested. Harmless and great for ear wax and cleaning.

[RubyStar]

I have Labs that always have mucky ears and one has been treated with Dermotic twice now (she's the one who likes to swim of course!)

I use the Bayer Clean Ear Solution and as I use it several times a week to maintain clean ears, I was finding that the bottle was going quickly and costing me a bit to keep replacing. The vet offered me a cheaper, DIY solution:

20% white vinegar and

80% sterile normal saline (0.90% NaCl)

Makes the girls ears smell a little like vinegar but it does the trick and dirt cheap!

[Twinkletoes]

I thought the complaint about Epiotic was that it kept ears too wet?

I used to use Leo's ear cleaner but they stopped making it.

I used Leo ear cleaner for years too, and never had any ear problems with my dogs ears during this time ( over 7 year period). I used it after every bath, which was probably every 3 or 4 weeks, and if ever I thought the dogs ears seemed a bit smelly. Since not being able to get it my older dog has had regular ear problems.

The closest thing I have been able to get to Leo is the Aristopet ear cleaner.