Smelly ears.. - Page 2 - YorkieTalk.com Forums

howie_wowie · 11-27-2006, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BLowry

I usually put Oti clean on a cotton ball and wipe the ear out. sometimes I use a q-tip if I can see gunk in their ears...I have only had to do this once and it's when Lillie had a yeast infection in her ears other than that I just use a cotton ball.

Thank you! Also, do you just clean "inside" or just the flap part? Sorry, I'm a bit confused because I would think the smell would come from inside if it did.

Peaches591 · 11-27-2006, 04:43 PM

My dogs have had earmites and my little boy has had them multiple times. We have the ointment stocked up. We now go to a groomer that plucks the hair out of their ears so well, that the vet even compliments us when we go in for visits! I really suggest plucking the hair out of the ears. Check with your vet, but I am pretty sure I remember mine telling me to get the ear hair plucked even when he had an infection as it would help it clearup faster. Also note that they make a special powder to help make it easier to pluck. Most groomers will do it when asked. I prefer the groomer to do mine.

Goodluck! Let us know how you make out!

Peaches591 · 11-27-2006, 04:44 PM

Yes, the inside in the inner ear, not just the flap. Q Tips help and as long as you're not shoving it down too far into the dog's ear, they are probably faking that it hurts!

howie_wowie · 11-27-2006, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peaches591

Yes, the inside in the inner ear, not just the flap. Q Tips help and as long as you're not shoving it down too far into the dog's ear, they are probably faking that it hurts!

faking that it hurts! heheheeh, i can see our yorkies doing that.

howie_wowie · 11-27-2006, 04:53 PM

but then again, hmmm....?!?! hopefully it doesn't.

LunasMomma · 11-27-2006, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paddys mom

My 5mo old baby Paddington has had the same problem for about a week or so now.
I try really hard not to wet his ears when I bathe him but I guess I still got some in there. I have tried to clean his ears out too but he is REALLY bad about letting me do that. He nips me and the q-tip! From what I can tell there is no discharge coming out, he just scratches each ear for ~10 min upon waking up and then every once in awhile. He doesn't scratch all day or shake his head really but he did rub his right ear against a wall while we were walking yesterday and today. Otherwise he acts like a totally normal happy puppy. But from the looks of peoples comments here, funky smell is a pretty clear sign of infection so we're goin to the vet on Wed instead of to his first professional grooming.

For future reference, is it ok to let groomers pluck ear hairs or does that lead to more infection?

I just fill the ear wit OtiSoothe (you can use any ear-drying product) and massage the base of the ear, then let the dog shake it's head. Then I dry with a cotton ball. The product finds water and helps it to evaporate.

I prefer the plucked ear, it's easier for me to see if there is any problem. Plus their ears seem to get stinky with all that hair in there, yuck! It's a matter of personal preference, I think. Someone else here may know more about that

cchu · 11-27-2006, 05:00 PM

I was told not to put anything in a dog's ear, all I do is massage the inner ear witha cotton ball after a bath and thats it.

Its been working for a year.

bellaismybaby · 11-27-2006, 05:02 PM

Good news..Bella just has a little bacterial infection. No fungus and no mites!!

Just drops a couple times a day. I'm glad I caught it early though. The first sign was smell though because she always scratches her ears from time to time. She is sleeping soundly now...she is not a fan of the vet since she hurt her leg and she had to be sedated for x rays

(off the subject).
I guess I will have to be more careful about water in her ears. I'm going to ask my groomer how she does it. I think the ear plug idea is good. I tried cotton, but she just shook it out.

paddys mom · 11-27-2006, 05:37 PM

yay for Bella!!

I hope I get similar good news for Paddy on Wednesday. He doesn't scratch *that* much either. But, better safe than sorry right?!

yorkieluvr2 · 12-03-2006, 07:59 AM

Apparently there are conflicting opinions on using q-tips in dogs' ears! My furboy had a yeast infection as well as earmites when I brought him home. Unfortunately the examining vet didn't discover the mites and didn't even mention the fact I needed to keep the hair plucked out of his ears. Teddy began the head shaking the very day this vet checked his ears which makes me think the mites were there and he stirred them up! I was visiting in another state the next week or so and noticed Teddy shaking his head quite often and he had a funky smell about his ears...which was yeast. I took him to a vet and she showed me how to pluck his ear hair as well as clean them with a fairly long q-tip. She really got down in there deep! She gave me a drawing of a dogs ear showing how it curves..she said I should not be afraid to get in there with a q-tip as it would be impossible to reach the eardrum with it. She also said I should not need to do that very often if I keep the hair plucked, which by the way, a curved hemostat works really well to get the hair out.

bellaismybaby · 12-03-2006, 08:20 AM

So you just pluck in the opening?? I'm confused as to how much to pluck. Not all the way up the ear, right? Did it hurt him at first??

yorkieluvr2 · 12-04-2006, 07:24 AM

Quote:

So you just pluck in the opening?? I'm confused as to how much to pluck. Not all the way up the ear, right? Did it hurt him at first??

The vet plucked all the hair around those little crevices you see as well as the hair in the tiny opening which is the ear canal. Unfortunately Teddy had a lot of hair in all those places as I didn't know it needed to be plucked..and yes, I would imagine it did itch and hurt a bit sort of like when we pluck our eyebrows but it has to be done and is a whole lot less painful than an ear infection. You should have seen the flaky crusty stuff flying out with the hair as she plucked and the yeasty smell was very noticeable too. She did pluck all she could using just her fingers then got the rest with the hemostat...it gets greasy and slick quickly and hard to handle with your fingers. She did tell me that after a few times of plucking they get used to it just like in other areas of their grooming but until he gets used to it better have someone help hold him still!

I massage a little cool aloe vera gel (I keep in the refrigerator) around inside the earflap once I am done and he seems to like the feel of it. Hope this helps!

northcalimomma · 12-04-2006, 09:36 PM

I hope it is okay if I jump in here! I have a Cocker Spaniel and as you know they have the biggest floppy ears. Well my boy has never had any problems because I clean them out after every bath with a special "miracle" ear cleaner. Here is the link that will tell you how to make it!

http://www.zimfamilycockers.com/EarCleaner.html

I hope it helps and good luck!

11-27-2006, 04:43 PM	#17
Peaches591 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: NJ Posts: 144	Pluck My dogs have had earmites and my little boy has had them multiple times. We have the ointment stocked up. We now go to a groomer that plucks the hair out of their ears so well, that the vet even compliments us when we go in for visits! I really suggest plucking the hair out of the ears. Check with your vet, but I am pretty sure I remember mine telling me to get the ear hair plucked even when he had an infection as it would help it clearup faster. Also note that they make a special powder to help make it easier to pluck. Most groomers will do it when asked. I prefer the groomer to do mine. Goodluck! Let us know how you make out!

11-27-2006, 04:44 PM	#18
Peaches591 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: NJ Posts: 144	Yes Yes, the inside in the inner ear, not just the flap. Q Tips help and as long as you're not shoving it down too far into the dog's ear, they are probably faking that it hurts!

11-27-2006, 05:00 PM	#22
cchu Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 1,485	I was told not to put anything in a dog's ear, all I do is massage the inner ear witha cotton ball after a bath and thats it. Its been working for a year. __________________ Christine and Zoe www.dogster.com/?269135 Yes guys...Zoe is a BOY!! He finally forgave me.

11-27-2006, 05:02 PM	#23
bellaismybaby Donating Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: California Posts: 829	Good news..Bella just has a little bacterial infection. No fungus and no mites!! Just drops a couple times a day. I'm glad I caught it early though. The first sign was smell though because she always scratches her ears from time to time. She is sleeping soundly now...she is not a fan of the vet since she hurt her leg and she had to be sedated for x rays (off the subject). I guess I will have to be more careful about water in her ears. I'm going to ask my groomer how she does it. I think the ear plug idea is good. I tried cotton, but she just shook it out. __________________ Bella Izzie Julie

12-03-2006, 07:59 AM	#25
yorkieluvr2 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Kansas Posts: 54	Using q-tips Apparently there are conflicting opinions on using q-tips in dogs' ears! My furboy had a yeast infection as well as earmites when I brought him home. Unfortunately the examining vet didn't discover the mites and didn't even mention the fact I needed to keep the hair plucked out of his ears. Teddy began the head shaking the very day this vet checked his ears which makes me think the mites were there and he stirred them up! I was visiting in another state the next week or so and noticed Teddy shaking his head quite often and he had a funky smell about his ears...which was yeast. I took him to a vet and she showed me how to pluck his ear hair as well as clean them with a fairly long q-tip. She really got down in there deep! She gave me a drawing of a dogs ear showing how it curves..she said I should not be afraid to get in there with a q-tip as it would be impossible to reach the eardrum with it. She also said I should not need to do that very often if I keep the hair plucked, which by the way, a curved hemostat works really well to get the hair out. __________________ Teddy's Mom Yorkies leave on their Mommy's

11-27-2006, 04:53 PM	#20
howie_wowie Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 93	but then again, hmmm....?!?! hopefully it doesn't.

11-27-2006, 05:37 PM	#24
paddys mom Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: evanston, IL Posts: 206	yay for Bella!! I hope I get similar good news for Paddy on Wednesday. He doesn't scratch that much either. But, better safe than sorry right?!

12-03-2006, 08:20 AM	#26
bellaismybaby Donating Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: California Posts: 829	So you just pluck in the opening?? I'm confused as to how much to pluck. Not all the way up the ear, right? Did it hurt him at first?? __________________ Bella Izzie Julie

12-04-2006, 09:36 PM	#28
northcalimomma Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: California Posts: 32	I hope it is okay if I jump in here! I have a Cocker Spaniel and as you know they have the biggest floppy ears. Well my boy has never had any problems because I clean them out after every bath with a special "miracle" ear cleaner. Here is the link that will tell you how to make it! http://www.zimfamilycockers.com/EarCleaner.html I hope it helps and good luck! __________________ Lisa Weasley (Cocker) 4/15/06 Harry (Yorkie) 9/19/06 Who Says Bows Aren't Manly??!!