Otomax

It's clotrimazole -- just like Gyne=lotrimin the ladies anti-yeast cream?? yep same stuff except Otomax has a bit of steroid in it to reduce inflammation.

It works -- it's a decent anti-fungal.  But there's never any instruction from the vet on cleaning it out later.  My biggest problem with it is that it's often dispensed with no culture being done at all (which sounds like YOU got done -- GOOD FOR YOU!!) and because it's soothing it can 'cover up' a bacterial infection that may go undiagnosed.

I used to use tons of it when I had Muffin the Intrepid (cocker with mega bad ears).  But I've found the Blue Power Ear solution actually works far better and doesn't create a buildup of the oily residue in the ear. 

The other thing I use weekly is Zymox Otic which works awesomely on dogs with allergy-related or 'floppy ear' related ear problems.  Zymox is an enzymatic product rather than being a 'drug' and boy, it keeps the ear canals NICE.  It's not typically used to 'treat' even a yeast ear *infection* ... but it is great to use as maintenance to avoid ear problems.

In short what you heard is right -- Otomax *can* cause some buildup ... and I never liked the fact that it has quite a bit of steroid in it (and Muffin was definitely immune-suppressed so I didn't want to exacerbate that). 

However -- it *does* work. You want to finish the tube (so that hopefully the infection won't return) and *then* use some liquid ear cleaner (and this is where I love the Blue Power ear stuff altho it's messy) that you squirt in, massage the base of the ear and then let them shake their head HARD and debris will fling all over the place.  Usually you have to clean the ears a couple of time. 

I don't like using cotton or anything like that to 'clean' ears because you can actually push wax and build-up IN the ears inadvertently (even if you're careful -- but I know some folks do it that way).  I like to irrigate the ear ... massage it at the base around the cartilage and then let the dog shake it's head to get rid of debris totally.

Since I use the Blue Power Ear solution, I often follow the ear cleaning with a paper towel soaked in plain alcohol just to wipe off the 'purple' (it cuts the gentian violet -- you don't have to let your dog have purple ears unless you like it *smile*).  I do, occasionally, let Billy's stay 'purple' just because it looks cute as heck -- he looks like he's a buffy cocker with "Goth" leanings and he gets all sorts of oohs and ahhs from people who think I dyed his ears for some reason *laughing*.

No, I don't think your vet is 'bad' -- but you'll probably want to use a clear liquid cleaner of some sort AFTER treatment to get rid of that debris.

Thanx Callie - He did say that her ear problem could be allergy related, especially with all the "stuff" in the air right now. (I now my allergies have been pretty bad lately). He also gave her an allergy shot and she hasn't been itching, which is great, although I don't want her to have them regularly. I actually asked for the culture after you suggested it in response to a post of mine from last week when I was trying to determine whether to take her to the vet or not, so thank you for that! *smile* I should have the results in a couple of days. He seemed a little surprised that I would ask for it, but I told him I don't want to take any chances with her ears. Where can I find the Zymox Otic and the Blue Powder Ear Solution - are they homeopathic? Also, do you know if there is a pain-free way to remove the hair from their ears? I think it's important to do it, but they had such a horrible experience with it the first, and only, time the groomer did it that I have resorted to just trimming the hair and I don't know that it's enough.

grrr - I've edited this three times and can't get line breaks to 'stick'. 

Zymox you have to get from your vet -- and you may have to ask for them to carry it, altho my vet's results with it have been great.

The Blue Power Ear solution isn't homeopathic (that's a whole separate branch of alternative medicine and I'm not familiar with any 'in-the-ear' homeopathics) nor is it even what you'd call 'natural' or holistic. 

It originate on the old AOL Cocker Spaniel Board -- and it's just a recipe.  I haven't posted this in a while so I'll add it in here -- I'm going to leave the caution in about the potential for a bacterial infection just so it stays with the recipe -- it's important enough for lurkers to be aware of it, even tho you've already done it:

IF the Blue Power Ear Stuff doesn't totally get rid of this, then you'll have to go to the next level and have the vet do a  "culture and sensitivity" test on those ears.  Because if there is a bacterial infection deep within, you won't get the ears to heal otherwise. 

The Blue Power Ear Solution was first circulated on the AOL Cocker Spaniel Board.   This is a home-made recipe and if all you are dealing with is yeast ear infections it will really help them.  I gave it to my vets and they refer it all the time.  It's actually safer than the purply/blue stuff that the vet sells you and it's way cheaper because once you have this you can keep making new batches of it.  I often take bottles to folks I know do rescue. 

DOWNSIDE - this stuff stains.  You ***Must*** put it in their ears outside so they can shake and not stain everything because gentian violet is just like ink!!! 

RECIPE:

16 oz. bottle isoprophyl alcohol (just a cheap $.69 bottle)

4 tablespoons boric acid (use human boric acid -- it's about $2.50 at Albertsons)

15 drops gentian violet (1 or 2% , but the 1% is MUCH cheaper and is fine)medicine dropper to use to measure the gentian violet 

Add the boric acid and gentian violet to the alcohol (Yep, it will all fit in that brand new bottle of alcohol -- surprising but true).  Shake well.   

Transfer some into a squirt bottle (an old shampoo bottle or a hair dye bottle -- anything with a squirt top on it).  The boric acid never dissolves til it hits the skin so you have to shake constantly.  The boric acid soothes.  The gentian violet deals with the yeast.  It STAINS.  So do it outside, not in your kitchen!  Even 15 drops of this in a whole bottle of alcohol *does* stain.  But it sure works. 

Gentian violet is the stuff that they give human babies with "thrush" (oral yeast infection).   If the ear is inflamed use this twice a day for 2 weeks -- just squirt in and massage behind the ear.  The first day don't worry about massaging, but thereafter massage for a minute EACH EAR. 

Yes, I'm serious -- COUNT.  They'll discover this does NOT hurt, but rather it soothes, and after you are done massaging, they will shake their head violently and all sorts of yuck and junk will fling out.  THAT IS GOOD. 

After 2 weeks of twice a day, then do a week at least of once a day, then just put it on maintenance once a week. See when  dog's ears are sore ALL of the time, that cartilage surrounding the ear ossifies and becomes bone.  It literally turns sort of to the same stuff that a shell is made of!  Hard as rock.  When that happens, blood doesn't get INTO the ear. 

You can't get drugs in the bloodstream to go TO the infection in the ear and without fresh blood the ears literally putrefy.   Sorry that's so gross -- but it's what happens.  So it's important not to just let an ear infection go.  Dogs NORMALLY have ear wax but not tons and tons of black smelly wax.   

Once you make up the blue power stuff once -- that small bottle of boric acid will make several whole batches of this stuff.  It's way cheaper than chlorhexaderm and it's less likely to cause problems.  Al you have to buy is that cheap bottle of alcohol (and DO use cheap alcohol -- it actually works better than the expensive stuff!). When he shakes his head that purple stuff will sling everywhere -- so do it OUTside or you'll be wanting to kill me!!! 

 

Thanx Callie - I appreciate it!!