I have a question about my Dog's Ear, PLEASE HELP!?

Question

My dog is always shaking his head and scratching at his ear with his paw, I know that he does not have any fleas because he is an inside dog and he doesn't scratch anywhere else. When I get a cloth and try and clean his ear out he starts wimpering and won't let me touch it, Also when I move his ear around it makes a wierd noise like there's water in his ear. Please help me what should I do, I really don't have to money to take him to the vet.

Answer 1

Look at the discharge in the ear. If it's black and kind of crusty then most likely it's ear mites. If he's an adult dog I doubt it's ear mites. If he has ears that flop down then it's likely he has a yeast infection in his ears. Mix 50% alcohol with 50% white vinegar and pour enough to fill canals into the ears. Then massage the back of the ear before he shakes his head. Use kleenex and clean them out just where you can see without going into the ear canal. Do this a few times until you stop seeing anything come out. Do not ever put water in his ears. That is the leading cause of most yeast infections. Dogs with floppy ears get them more because that is a warm moist area for yeast to grow. You need to clean them with this solution daily and then put monistat in them. YEP that's right monistat. It is for yeast infections that women get. It's generic and chemical name is myconazole. You can buy it in any drug store. It is the same thing that is in otomax which is commonly prescribed for ear infections. Do this twice a day for 7-10 days in both ears. If is doesn't start to improve in a few days then you need to stop treatment and take him to the vet no matter what it cost so they can do a microscopic ear wax exam to be sure it isn't a bacterial infection or even pseudomonas which is a very nasty infection. While others may not agree with me telling you this I disagree because it's better to treat for yeast then not to treat at all. It won't hurt the dog either way. If you see the ear mite dischage you can buy ear mite meds in any pet store or feed store. Good luck. Now go treat your dog.

Answer 2

If the dogs' ear has a sort of sweet smell to it, it might be a yeast infection and there's probably a lot of brown gunk in there. I use a solution called K-9 Ear Solutions which you can find and buy online. It's great stuff to clean out the ear and can clear things up after a while. You just have to be careful because it has gentian violet in it which can stain things. Hope your poor guy gets better. It's no fun having that kind of pain. If he won't even let you touch it, you might need meds from the vet to clear it up fast for him!
by the way, if this is something that is chronic, you might want to look at his diet. My dogs eat a really good food now, Solid Gold is the brand and their ears typically do not get like this ever anymore. Most commerical pet food is junk especially for dogs prone to allergies!

Answer 3

A painful ear is a sign of an infection, as is fluid (that squishing sound). You can try to use a cholorhexamine solution but if it is already painful to the touch your vet can treat it better and that might irritate it more. He will probably take a sample and then give you a gel which contains an antimicrobial ingredient as well as something to reduce the itchyness/painfullness.

He really should see a vet if it is painful to the touch... if you really can't... go to petsmart or another pet store (not walmart...) and buy an ear disinfectant solution or powder... if that doesn't help things in 2 days he needs to see a vet... since tomorrow is friday you should really just take him in... if you wait till monday things could get much worse... if it (the soln/pwdr) makes it worse or he yelps when you use it, take him to the vet right away...

The SPCA's in larger cities (maybe small ones too?) will sometimes offer free or extremely discounted care, check that out too...

Answer 4

Do the dog's ears hang down? If so, he is more prone to ear infections and must see a vet. Perhaps, if you ask ahead of time, your vet will let you make a payment every week until the bill is paid. Once you take your dog there, I don't see how they'd make you take it home without looking at the ear. It is painful so you don't want to let it go.

Answer 5

I Have a Lab that has floppy ears and he does the same but his get red and infected so my vet recommend this go to the store and buy BACTINE it is in the department where the meds for cuts and scraps are. Also but LAMISIL it is a spray for Athlete's foot.
First spray a couple sprays of the Bactine in to the ear and massage the ear for a few min. then let your dog shake his or her head.
Next with a clean rag clean the inside of the dogs
ear.
Then spray in the Lamisil in to the ear and
massage it into the ear let him or her shake head.

I did this and it took 3 times every other day until it was all cleared up and he was again a happy dog.

Answer 6

OMG...Is is a big dog? If so I know exactly what the problem is. I had a rotweiller, sherpherd, king korso(he was an accident) and had the EXACT same problem. I took him to two vets, the first one said that the only way to fix it was surgery and that costs $1200.00 an ear and he would be deaf the rest of his life. Before I decided to put him to sleep I took him to another vet for a second opinion and she said that it's in his diet. Beef and dairy products gave him ear infections. Take him off all beef and dairy products. We started giving him lamb and chicken and rice based foods and stopped with the milk bones and it cleared up just fine. Good luck with this problem. Unfortunalty we had to put my puppy down cause the flies ate at his ears and everytime he would shake, blood would fly everywhere, all over my house. I was also 6 months pregnant at the time and he wasn't good with children. Don't get discouraged, give it time, and try to stay away from the vet,$$$$$$$

Answer 7

It does sound like an ear infection. The ear is frequently warm to hot to the touch with an ear infection, but not always.

If you can afford to, go to the pet supply store and buy some ear powder then go to the drug store and buy some hydrocortisone cream.

Mix 1 part water to 1 part vinegar(white or apple cider). Do this outside: Take a turkey baster(or you can put the mixture in a squirt bottle) and squirt some in the ear and grab the fur that is below the ear and squish it. It should make a sloshing sound. DO this on both ears. Follow up with the ear powder( talcum powder but it is much better to use ear powder) this will help to dry the ear. Then tomorrow start treating your dog 2x daily with the hydro cream by applying with Q-tips. And no, you cannot hurt your dogs ears with q-tips as their eardrums are not accesible like ours.

Ear infections are common with Golden Retrievers and German Shepherds, though other breeds can get them. Good Luck!

Answer 8

I know it's hard, but he's got to see a vet - call a few local animal shelters and ask if they know any low-cost clinics. Sometimes no-kill shelters will have onsite clinics on certain days of the week. You can also try the local Humane Society.

He could have ear mites, a yeast infection, an abscess ... he NEEDS to see a vet. Please try some of the resources I've suggested so he doesn't have to suffer any longer. Good luck.

(edited to add) Also, try calling Petsmart. See if their vet will work out a payment plan with you.

Answer 9

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RE:
I have a question about my Dog's Ear, PLEASE HELP!?
My dog is always shaking his head and scratching at his ear with his paw, I know that he does not have any fleas because he is an inside dog and he doesn't scratch anywhere else. When I get a cloth and try and clean his ear out he starts wimpering and won't let me touch it, Also when I move...

Answer 10

I'm not trying to be mean but if you don't have money to take him to the vet then you maybe shouldn't have a dog. He could have mites. Plus there are so many other things .You need to take him to the vet because it won't get any better it will just get worse. If you care about him you'll find a vet that will let u pay alittle every week.Good luck.