Dog ear cleaners have two purposes, no matter what ingredients are in them: to clean the ear and protect against ear infections. If your dog has been prescribed medication to treat an existing ear infection, be sure to read labels on cleansers and medications, and talk to your veterinarian before using any ear cleaner.
Veterinarian Prescribed Ear Cleaner
The most common type of ear cleaner for dogs comes in liquid form. Veterinarians often prescribe Epi-Otic Ear Cleanser, from Virbac Animal Health, Inc. The ingredients are water, propylene glycol, lactic acid, Spherulites, docusate sodium, salicyclic acid, PCMX, dimethicone, fragrance and FD&C blue #1. This solution is antiseptic, non-irritating, and compatible with other ear medications. Similar cleaners are 1-800-PetMeds Ear Cleansing Solution, Oti Clens Cleaning Solution, Otiderm Ear Cleanser and Zymox Ear Cleanser.
All Natural Ear Cleaners
Many people prefer all-natural non-prescription ear cleansers for their dogs. Ear Wash by NaturVet, contains tea tree oil (antimicrobial, good for disinfecting skin and fungal infections), witch hazel (natural astringent with anti-inflammatory properties), boric acid (antiseptic, antibacterial, antifungal astringent), glycerine (loosens ear wax) and echinacea extract (immunostimulating, anti-inflammatory.
Ears All Right by Ark Naturals, is a lotion for removing wax and foreign debris from your dogs' ears. Ingredients are aloe vera gel whole leaf, isopropanol USP, glycerine 99.5 percent USP, de-ionized water, calendula extract, rosemary extract, myrrh extract and cinnamon leaf oil. The natural herbal extracts clean and heal ears without drying, burning or causing allergies, inhibit growth of ear bacteria, virus and fungi, soothe wounds and bites and relieve and heal infected, inflamed, itching ears.
Dermapet MalAcetic Otic is a pH balancing ear cleanser and drier containing acetic acid, boric acid, surfactants and natural hydrocortisone, ingredients that clean the dogs' ears and kill staphloccocus, pseudomonas and yeast.
Homemade Ear Cleaner
Homemade ear cleaners produce results similar to those obtained with over-the-counter or veterinary cleansers. The ingredients clean dirt out of the ears and ear canal, prevent wax build-up, destroy fungi and bacteria, and cut down on odor and inflammation in your dog's ears. These remedies are ear cleaners, not medications for infections, but cleaning a dog's ears regularly can help prevent infections and other ear-related issues.
The most complex home remedy's ingredients are: white vinegar, powdered boric acid, isopropyl alcohol, and Betadine antiseptic solution (not Betadine scrub). Do not use this solution on dogs with ruptured ear drums, or with open sores in or around the ears.
Simpler homemade ear cleaning recipes and their ingredients include:
Recipe 1 - Mix one part white vinegar with one part rubbing alcohol (50/50 mixture) in a squirt bottle. Shake well.
Recipe 2 - Vinegar rinse has 1/3 apple organic cider vinegar and 2/3 water. Using a dropper, gently flush dog's ear canal with 1 to 5 ml of the solution. Good for normal weekly cleaning, but don't use on inflamed ears.
Recipe 3 - Pour a small amount of almond oil into a container; immerse in a bowl of hot water; put ½ tsp. warmed almond oil into your dog's ear using a plastic or glass dropper. This recipe is good to use If you can see a build-up of oil or wax inside the ear.
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