Recipe For Ear Cleaning Solution
Many of those ear infections end up being a yeast infection in their ear, but you need a vet to take a swab and test to see if it is yeast (fungal) or bacterial, to determine the course of treatment. I found a fantastic homemade ear yeast infection remedy, and have been using it for Dancer's ears. It works well, and quickly, and provides itch and pain relief in the interim. The recipe is for a huge batch, I divide the amounts by 4. 16 oz witch hazel 4 tablespoons boric acid powder 16 drops gentian violet solution (1% solution) Shake well before each use, use a dropper to fill the ear canal. Put a cotton ball in the ear, but don't push it right in, just at the edge to soak up the solution while you massage the base of the ear. The first time you use it you may want to reload the ear with the solution a couple of times to really flush it out, and keep cleaning out with cotton balls. Then use it twice a day for two weeks, then once a day for two weeks, then once monthly for maintenance. Swab the ear out with cotton balls, or those little make up pads work well too, to get it as dry as possible. It does stain so you might want to do it outside. |
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| Thanks Stacey!
Where does one get gentian violet solution? |
You can get it at any drug store, but you might have to ask for it. And it is gentian violet, not genetian for those that may be wondering if that's a spelling error.  |
| Hi everyone,
The head of the WV vet whatever association, a 67 ole horse doctor and vet told me years ago that dish soap such as Dawn mixed around 10 to 1 with water was the best cleaning solution because it cuts grease and wax. Rinse well with lots of water after rubbing it in from the outside of the ear. It dries quickly and completely usually bringing up any dug in stuff at the bottom ofthe ear canal. It doesn't irritate the ear and leaves zero film to collect more dirt in the ear canal afterwards and also any foreign material that may have find an allergic reaction. If there is a minor irritation (not infection) and no sour oder I add medicated powder into the ear after the ear dries. I've done this for around 30 years and haven't found anything better for general cleaning and you can't get less expensive than that. Of course if their is an infection it's a good start in getting the ear canal clean but seeing a vet for proper treatment is what needs to be done. Zach |
| Be careful with the gentian violet. Jake had to use it as a baby for thrush, and that stuff stains EVERYTHING it makes contact with, lol |
| Our vet suggested vinegar:rubbing alcohol. Equall parts. Later he also added MSM.....talk about stinky! Regular use important and good drying.
I often wanted to braid her ear hairs together so her ear canals were open all the time........she wouldn't go for it. |
zach wrote: dish soap such as Dawn mixed around 10 to 1 with water was the best cleaning solution because it cuts grease and wax. Rinse well with lots of water after rubbing it in from the outside of the ear.
Well that's interesting! How do you manage the rinsing well part? Do you do it during bathtime? With the commerical ear cleaning products, I tend to clean their ears anytime (usually in the kitchen), but sometimes I do it while they are in the tub. . . |
| I took a snapshot of the ingredients
(I use isopropyl alcohol instead of witch hazel) Boric Acid is a powder you can fine in the isles w/ ispropyl alcohol Gentian violet solution you have to ask for at the pharmacy shelf. 16 oz. bottle isopropyl alcohol (or witch hazel) 4 tablespoons Boric Acid Powder 16 drops Gentian Violet 1% Solution  |
| Hi Valerie,
I put a large towel under their head and pour water into their ear canal several times and let it drain. Their face and neck gets a little wet. I've had vets recommend the vinegar & rubbing alcohol but with some of mine it irritated their ear canals and they spent several days rubbing and shaking their heads. One had a reaction to vinager and the ear broke out and caused some problems that took a while to heal. Plus, if the ear is inflamed it's painful. I'm sure that there are a lot of different ways to clean inside ears. This is just what I do. It's quick, easy, inexpensive, mild and effective. Zach |
| I wouldn't use that ear solution for regular cleaning, just if there is an infection, in particular of yeast, in the ear. If you have a dog who is prone to yeast infections in the ear (and as I mentioned, you need a vet to diagnose this), then I would use it once monthly to prevent the yeast from getting out of control in their ear.
For regular every day (which is actually once a week) cleaning I just use a bit of baby oil. Also, in regards to someone using rubbing alcohol instead of witch hazel, that's fine if the ear is not sore, but rubbing alcohol will hurt if it is inflamed, witch hazel won't. |
| Willowsprite, I have been using this solution for the past couple of years with my dogs. I read about it on the Golden Retreiver board and I am very glad I tried it. I have not had an ear infection or any ear problems since using it. My dogs are bathed about every two to three weeks and before their bath I use the solution to clean out their ears. They have the healthiest looking and smelling ears. My vet has even commented about them. I used every solution out there to clean their ears, and every ointment out there to help get rid of ear infections. Nothing comes close to this solution in results. |
| Tell you what I use, hypo-allergenic, non perfumed face wipes - I OK'd it with the vet and it works a treat ! |
Willowsprite wrote: The recipe is for a huge batch, I divide the amounts by 4.
16 oz witch hazel 4 tablespoons boric acid powder 16 drops gentian violet solution (1% solution) Boric acid is quite a disinfectant. They used it even on babies. But now it is proved to be highly poisonous ( as a slow poison)and it is forbidden in some countries to be used as a medication. Is the recipe for diluting in water or you use it as discribed? |
| Does anyone know how to get the stain from the gentian violet off human skin? LOL
I did Bree's ears today and got some on my hands, it's not coming off.  |
Maybe dip your hand in bleach? 
Hey, have you tried that Mystic Ear from Chris Christensen? I bought some and it's really nice. It's actually more soapy than alcohol-y. It's very mild and I know it doesn't burn or feel weird to the dogs because they don't even seem to care that I put it in their ear. Plus, it doesn't stink! |
Would this solution hurt my dog's ears if it was a bacterial infection and not a yeast infection? I have a lab that has lots of trouble with her ears. I've taken her to two different vets and have been through all kinds of meds, washes, cleansers, etc. and none have worked. It's not near as bad as it has been in the past, but she still shakes her head a lot and I know at times it must be miserable. I would really like to try this recipe on her. Both vets treated her for staph infection, but if it was staph, then all my efforts and her treatments should have worked. She loves water, which is probably working against her for this cause. Thank you for any information you can give me on whether it would be ok for me to try this ear cleansing recipe.[/quote] |
| If there are open wounds in the ear, I would only use what the vet gives. And if your dog has had these constant ear infections and they are not going away, get the ear cultured. My dog had similiar symptoms, got cultured and he had the MRSA in his ears. Antibiotics will not clear it up. MRSA can be very serious. I would get the ear cultured. |
| I would get it cultured too, they need to know what kind of bacteria it is so they can target it specifically with the right antibiotic.
If it is a resistant staph that can be very dangerous, even deadly. That solution is geared specifically toward yeast infections in the ear, I don't think it would help at all for a bacterial infection and may make it worse. Good luck. |
| I know some top handlers who use regular Listerine mouthwash as an ear rinse, I haven't tried it yet. Has anybody used it? |
| I have heard of this BUT I would caution. If your dog has any kind of infection or open sores - and you may not be able to see thm if they're deep inside the ear - Listerine or anything with alcohol, vinegar, etc will cause severe pain to your dog if you use it. Imagine how your open woud feels when you pour peroxide into it times ten. OUCH!!!!
Be careful what you use in your dog's ears please. Some things you read on the interent and some things you hear, are not in your dog's best interest and can do more harm than good. |
| Wow - I haven't thought of gentian violet in years - Ever since my oldest son had his last thrush infection when he was 2. I remember painting his mouth, BRIGHT purple, and people looking at me as though I'd poisoned my child, or at least needed to limit his access to grape popsicles.
As far as I know, there is no way on earth to remove the purple stain. When I had to give it to Alex, I'd put him on an old sheet in the middle of a tile floor and paint away. He didn't like it and would squirm all over the place. I have an old rug that still bears the purple stain - Steam cleaned multiple times and still purple. Bleach, peroxide, I even tried CLR and no go. It's meant to stick, and it certainly does, but it really works. Trade-off, I guess. |
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