Best Ear Cleaner

I've been using this with our "houndies" for about a year. Our vet says that our dogs have the cleanest ears she's ever seen on a basset hound!

All the ingredients should be available at your local pharmacy. You'll need a plastic squirt type bottle. (I use a ketchup or mustard "picnic" type bottle but one designed for coloring hair would be good, too). Then you'll need Isopropyl Alcohol (rubbing alcohol), boric acid powder, Gentian Violet 1% solution (available without a prescription but may not be usual stock in some pharmacies so need to be ordered. You might want to call a head) Betadine may also be used instead of the Gentian Violet, but I prefer the Gentian Violet.

The Boric Acid Powder soothes the ear. The Gentian Violet or Betadine works as an anti-infection/antifungal agent. This seems to work well on all types of ear problems from mites to ear wax to cankers. If used long enough and regularly the success rate is said to be 95-99%.

Pour 16 oz of rubbing alcohol into your applicator bottle. Add 4 Tablespoons of boric acid powder. (An easy way to do this is to measure the powder onto a piece of paper. Fold the paper in 1/2 and pour it into the bottle) Shake the soulution really well til the powder is totally dissolved. Then add 16 drops of Gentian Violet (or one teaspoon of Betadine) and shake it some more.

It's important to shake well just before using as the boric acid tends to settle to the bottom of the bottle.

"Wash" the outside of the dog's ear with cloth dampened by water and baby shampoo.

Flood the ear with solution (gently squirt bottle), massage gently to the count of 60, wipe with a tissue. On first treatment flood again, wipe with tissue, without massaging. The dog will shake its head expelling any excess which can then be wiped with a tissue.

GENTIAN VIOLET AND BETADINE DO STAIN FABRIC

Apply this solution to your dog's ears 2X per day for the first week or two depending on how severely dirty or infected the ears are. Treat 1X per day for the next 1-2 weeks and 1X per month or less depending on your dog.

IMPORTANT NOTE:  Rubbing alcohol may sting or be too irritating if your dog's ears are raw or extremely sensitive.

A couple of my dogs did seem to have stinging the first couple of times I tried this, but within a couple of days the dogs who had the worst problems with their ears in the past sat still and seemed not at all bothered by the solution.