yeast in ears

[bcrotti]

I have an older dog who suffers from many allergies... She is prone to yeast ear infections. (& feet also) I usually clean her ears 1-2 times per week with epi-otic which has helped alot. My question- I've heard cleaning the ears with a mixture of alcohol & vinegar & water works. Has anyone ever tried or heard of this?

[Judi W]

I have found the alcohol/viniger mixture superior for yeast. (don't know how you'd use that for the feet however). It is used by swimmers to keep swimmer's ear under control and serves the same purpose with dogs. For really severe problems, the Cocker people use a boric acid flush - no one knows ear problems like Cocker people!

To get things started, use it a couple of times a day for about 10 days. Then you can go to once a week during your grooming/nail care process.

[Lady B]

I am experiencing the same thing with our recent rescue, Micah. What is the ratio of alcohol to vinegar? And the ratio of water to boric acid for the flush?

Thank you.

[spidey]

I used equal parts water, alcohol (pure ethanol is best, but rubbing alcohol will do fine) and vinegar for my Springer Spaniels. It works well and doesn't leave icky residue like Epi-Otic. Another sure-fire help for icky ears is to pin the ears up (I used a clothespeg, just make sure it's not pinching the leather too tightly, obviously) so that air can get in, you should do this for a while (at least an hour) every day at first, and then, once the infection subsides a bit, you can do it once a week or so (you don't say what kind of dog she is, so I'm assuming she's a Rottie with floppy-ish ears). Believe it or not, IME airing the ears out regularly will do more to help than any solution you can put in.

[Judi W]

I use 1/4 viniger to the water or alcohol. I don't believe the proportions are extremely critical (yeah, a Springer person will know ears too):). The alcohol is for a drying agent if used. It is the viniger that is the effective agent for yeasts and many bacterias.

[Leahjean]

Just Alcohol and Vinegar,no water...we use it in our humans ears with a syringe,but with a dog,you'd want to damper the cloth and clean...equal part,I think will check tomorrow,or is it today already,yes,it's 3am.......