My Golden Lab has been having a problem with yeast infections in his ears. I have been cleaning with a solution from the vet and twice I have used drops (Mometamax) that cost 20 bucks for a little bottle and you use the entire bottle each time this happens. I live where it is hot and humid in the summer. Is there other alternatives to the mometamax? Thanks!

This might help:

http://www.i-love-dogs.com/forums/do...html#post49551

Thanks Anubis... interesting.

I understand what you're going through. Disco, our Chocolate Lab/Sharpai mix has an unusual problem: Although he looks like a Lab, albeit the wrinkles on his face, his inner ears are that of a Sharpai's. Instead of the ear canal going in at an angle, they kind of curly-Q around, making ear fungus and such almost impossible to get rid of.

His ears have to flushed on occasion, plus we have to put the ear drops in as you do, same stuff, same sized bottle.

But most dogs that have ears like Labs, Setters, Pointers, etc., will always have some kind of problem with their inner ears.

I wish I had a solution to our problem because it is very costly. Also, I haven't noticed any change for the better whether it's below freezing or hotter than hell out.

Spud1254, Maybe we could clothespin their ears up so they keep dry inside. ( That was a joke) I know how awful it is if my ear is bothering me so I hate to think of them being bothered by this all the time.

Spud, I'd suggest you allergy test your dog. Abnormal ear canals or not, the most common cause of ear infections in dogs is allergy. Usually food allergies, but not always. You could try changing his food to something completely different, say a fish, venison, or rabbit based food with no grain.

If that doesn't help, ask your vet about testing for inhaled allergies, like dust, pollen, and dust mites. If he has those, you can start a program of allergy injections.

As a last resort, there's surgery. Yes, they remove the ear canals. No, the dog isn't deaf afterwards. They leave a small opening under the ear, and the dog can still hear.

Splinter, LOL@ pinning their ears back!

Vetgroomer, you have a point. I'll have to find out if he's been tested for allergies, as Disco was given to us a few months ago by a friend. He goes back to his regular vet this week, so I'll ask. Thanks for the other info on the ear canal removal.

Poor things! We worry ourselves sick over our furkids, just as if we gave birth to them, LOL! We love them!

Of course. That's why we're here.

We end up spending more money medically on them too than we did our kids!!!

This thread is of interest to me, since I have a dog with floppy ears... anyway, I was thinking about this some more today, and I remembered that when I used to get ear infections a lot the otic drops I was given were actually acetic acid-- nothing more than vinegar.

Yeast is prevalent in a high ph environment, so it can be reasoned that a mild acid like vinegar would lower the ph, making the environment inhospitable to the yeast. What I want to know is, would just a drop or two of vinegar be safe for a dog's delicate ear canal? What if the vinegar was diluted a bit?Does anyone know? Vetgroomer, what do you think?

I suffer from an ear ache about every other month (and they ARE painful!) but mine are induced by allergies and then i just dread going in for a shot, so i let it go.. and i don't take zyrtec/claritan or anything else for it.. so.

Most likely the cause of your dogs ear infections are allergies. They should be tested.

Last night we flushed out Disco's ears and I won't describe the expelled contents cos it's too close to lunch.:mrgreen:

Kobe, why aren't you on allergy shots? I had inner ear infections and had to have a drainage tube put in my left ear (it's since come out on its own) and now I'm on allergy shots, which are working great.:mrgreen:

Just noticed, Kobe, that you're from the UP (eh)! I'm down in southwestern LP on Lake Michigan.

Hey, I was a troll, too. Lived most of my life in the Kalamazoo area.

For those of you unfamiliar with Michigan, and the Uppers, those who live in the Upper Peninsula, and those who live in the Lower Peninsula who are called trolls, because we live below the bridge (Mackinac Bridge, or Big Mac, which connects the upper and lower peninsulas).

Small world, eh?

Hey, Vetgroomer!

I'm just down the beaten path (I-94) in Benton Harbor.

Yes, it is a small world.

Originally Posted by spud1254

Just noticed, Kobe, that you're from the UP (eh)! I'm down in southwestern LP on Lake Michigan.

Sorry Spud! I just came back to check out other replies. I'm not on allergy shots becuase i'm too much of a baby. I hate needles.. i really really do. I'd rather live with the pain than do shots.

And Vetgroomer, we're called Yoopers, lol. Not uppers, and yeah.. trolls are okay in my book (so far!)

Sorry it took so long!

No matter which peninsula we're parked on, we're still Michiganders, LOL!

Go Spartans! M Go Blue!

If you clean the ears with rubbing alcohol 3x a day it will kill the active yeast. Yeast is recurrent, so you have to clean them once a week or so to prevent regrowth. Some people use an alcohol/vinegar combo. I think the alcohol works better. Just lie the dog on her side, pour a capful into her ear canal, make her lie a moment then let it run out onto a tissue. Do the other side the same way. It will clear up yeast within a week or less.

It doesn't help mites. but any monthly flea spot on or monthly heartguard prevents mites.

Originally Posted by kobesescape

Sorry Spud! I just came back to check out other replies. I'm not on allergy shots becuase i'm too much of a baby. I hate needles.. i really really do. I'd rather live with the pain than do shots.

And Vetgroomer, we're called Yoopers, lol. Not uppers, and yeah.. trolls are okay in my book (so far!)

Sorry it took so long!

Yeah, I know. I spelled it wrong. My only defense is to blame it on medication. Sometimes I get a bit fuzzy, LOL.

I used to have recurring ear aches, too. Turned out to be an abscessed tooth that was draining into my sinuses. Never had a tooth ache, just an ear ache, off and on. The tooth lost a filling, my dentist did an x-ray before replacing the filling, and found the abscess. I had a root canal, and haven't had an ear ache since.