re post#3
obsessive licking of the ears generally indicates an ear-infection with yeast -
sniff near both ears (individually, of course! LOL...) - if there is any whiff of old-sox or cheese, its a yeast critter.
IF and only if! there is no redness or any break whatever in the skin, acidfying her or his ears will knock-down the yeast-popn - but first U must keep the other dog from licking them after the process, the extra moisture + bacteria in the other dogs saliva only fuel the critters growth.
so have a plan to keep the 2nd dog from licking the pups ears -
baby-gates when U are at home, and a crate or an X-pen with a ROOF that the adult dog cannot jump into, or any such barriers or separation. letting them play together is fine, so long as U supervise and ** immediately ** interrupt any attempt to ear-wash.
if the visible ear-canal is ANY color but a light pink, it is Vet Time -
broken skin, redness, any swelling, etc. U do not want to risk any sort of serious infection inside the ear, so close to the brain + with the dogs hearing at possible risk.
** but if it is intact skin and only pink, U can safely try to home-treat. **
i am relying on Ur own good judgement to assess this! (grin)
= so proceed at Ur own risk - if in doubt, always go to the vet. =
the acidification of the ear is just adding 1 part Cider-vinegar to 1 part plain water, Distilled preferred or no-chlorine spring-water (the chlorine stings pores, and ears are more delicate than say, forelegs, etc).
before U begin, have the pup in the bathtub or outside or some area where shaking his head + throwing the wash out of his ear will not make a mess. i would leash the dog first, to make sure they do not take off after ear Number 1 - and U can stand on the leash, rather than trying to grow a 3rd arm to hold it while manipulating dog, eyedropper and vinegar-solution!
hold their head firmly (they will want to pull away + shake their heads INSTANTLY when the liquid goes in the ear, so be prepared - it is a very startling sensation!).
put a SMALL amount in one ear, perhaps a half-teaspoon, then smush the pinna (external ear flap) flat against the dogs skull, and rotate Ur thumb gently against the dogs head - the flap of the ear covers the entire opening, to keep the liquid inside, and U will hear the liquid moving - then let go and stand back!
U can then do the other ear, let them down to shake it out, and wipe inside each ear with a cotton-ball or gauze-pad or some such, One Per Each Ear -
no cross-contamination, just in case one ear has nasties and one does Not!!
do not stick anything into the ear-canal any further than U can SEE into it -
no Q-tips, etc. Dogs have L-shaped ear-canals, and U may push unseen goop INTO the ear against or closer-to the EAR-drum... a very bad thing, indeed.
so visible areas only, to be safe. :--)
doing this once per day or every-other day will knock the yeast down within 5 to 10 days time to a reasonable popn, at which time the funky-sox or old-cheese smell will no longer be detectable. (wait 12-hrs minimum after the vinegar-treatment to sniff the ear, or all U will smell is vinegar, LOL).
if it does NOT clear-up within 10-days, seek a vet!
Maintenance Ear-Solutions
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some folks who rear + show Labs, who of course here spend LOTS of time playing in the ocean, gave me their version of a preventive to keep ears free of critters.
they use it 2x per week, but their dogs are in the water daily - i would think once per week or every 10 - 14 days is plenty, for dogs who are mostly wet by rain, not jumping into surf!
they have TWO versions - one for treating a funky or irritated ear,
the second for normal maintenance. the *transition* one is for any swelling or pink color; if there is any visible irritation, that one is more-mild.
for mildly-irritated ears:
======================
1 part Cider-vinegar (not distilled-White vinegar),
1 part H2O2 / 1st-Aid Hydrogen Peroxide,
TWO Parts distilled-water or non-chlorine spring-water.
make only enuf to use immediately - it Does Not Keep.
to express it in another way,
1/4 Cider-vinegar
1/4 H2O2
1/2 Distilled water/spring-water
for ears that are *Not* irritated
========================
1 part Cider-vinegar
1 part H2O2
mix a tiny amount, to be used immediately, and discard all leftovers -
it cannot be kept, once mixed.
i have used this for many years, and it has proven very helpful.
if there is any part that is too difficult, if Ur dog or pup shows any PAIN or struggles violently during the process, either get an experienced dog-handler to help, or go directly to the vet. *** This Should NOT Hurt - ***
it feels very strange to the dog/pup, and the bubbling of the peroxide in their ears is downright bizarre, but it should be no more than mild upset over the restraint and not liking LIQUIDS in ones ear - which we do not enjoy, either!
i am a certified Veterinary Assistant, have had advanced First-Aid, and have many years as a practical-nurse to family members and as an aide, plus wildlife-rehab. assessing a wound, looking for infection, etc, is something i am familiar with, and i am comfortable doing that.
but if i see so much as a single CRACK however minute inside an ear, or ANY swelling and puffing at the opening to the Inner-Ear, i go immediately to my vet!
safe trumps sorry, every time. i never attempt to do home-care on something that is out of my depth;
risking my pets health is not worth it.