LolaLayla Posted September 16, 2012 Share Posted September 16, 2012 Lara our puppy has dark coloured ear wax. Is this ok? I have cleaned her ears with baby wipes and regularly pluck the hair inside her ears (as she is a poodle) to avoid infection. Having googled it I wondered if it is due to mites. She is not scratching her ears or at all bothered by them. They do not smell bad and there is only a bit of a hot dog smell from them. Should I put anything in her ears or do you think she needs to be seen by the vet. I would take her if she seemed irritated by them but this does not appear to be the case. Any thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zakjon-98 Posted September 16, 2012 Share Posted September 16, 2012 I would just keep doing what you are doing but take her to the vets if it smells bad. My dog is crossed with a bichon so has non shed fur. He had bad smelling ears and were very waxy and this was because the hair inside his ears was growing too long and got infected so he had to have them plucked under sedation. He has been fine since though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted September 16, 2012 Share Posted September 16, 2012 If the wax it black I would get it checked out by a vet as it could be mites. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LolaLayla Posted September 16, 2012 Author Share Posted September 16, 2012 It certainly is quite dark brown I have just checked, and her worming/flea treatment Advocate is supposed to control ear mites. Wouldn't she be scratching or shaking her head if it was that? She goes to puppy class on Tuesday so I could check with the vet nurse then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckmum6 Posted September 16, 2012 Share Posted September 16, 2012 Huh, dogs ears are a sore point in more ways than one in our house! After over £300 trying to sort out our Sprockers reoccurring ear problems, we are still no closer to sorting it. He has been back and forth with tender, dirty ears for three months, he has had at least five different antibiotics, been sedated twice for swabs, we were told it was some nasty strain that only strong antibiotics would sort out - well they haven't again!!! OH cleans his ears daily and has administered these liquid gold like antibiotics, and the dog is still uncomfortable (poking his foot in his ear) with a hot ear! (sorry to hijack this) Any suggestions as I can't see an end to this, I am getting a cone for the dog, to stop him prodding about in it and to stop our springer licking it too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted September 17, 2012 Share Posted September 17, 2012 Chuckmum6, dogs with persistent ear issues often have Atopy which is an allergic condition. It might be worth talking to your vet about it. Having said that, there are some very resistant infections that affect ears that only certain antibiotics will clear. I assume that your vet has taken swabs to check which drugs the infection is sensitive to. The use of an ear wash called Trizaural help speed things up, it helps resort the natural flora of the ear. It is usually used in combination with the antibiotics. Lolalaya, generally healthy ear wax is not black. Poodles are prone to ear issues partially because the ventilation can be impaired by the hair. I would get her checked early so that you can nip things in the bud if there is an issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 17, 2012 Share Posted September 17, 2012 You might want to try fastening her ears up with a clothes peg occasionally; my grandfather used to do that with his working spaniels to prevent them getting ear problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LolaLayla Posted September 17, 2012 Author Share Posted September 17, 2012 Thanks will certainly ask nurse if she thinks I should check it with the vet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LolaLayla Posted September 19, 2012 Author Share Posted September 19, 2012 As luck would have it the vet was at the puppy class and I asked her about the wax. She had a quick look and said to carry on with the cleaning and to let her have a look again if it continued. She suggested I use some cleaning liquid to help. She also said they were clear of hair so I must be plucking them ok, which is great as I was not too sure what I was doing. Lara is still not bothered with them so I will carry on in the hope it is nothing to be greatly worried about. chuckmum6 - what a terrible time you are having with your dog I hope you soon find a solution. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 All I would say is to keep on top of cleaning the ears. We've had months of this with Cookie. In the end they gave us syringes with Baytril in to put in her ears and it worked. She has very hairy ears that do get plucked. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LolaLayla Posted September 19, 2012 Author Share Posted September 19, 2012 Seagazer do you send her to the groomers to get the hair removed or do you do it yourself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted September 20, 2012 Share Posted September 20, 2012 The groomer does it. I've tried to do it myself but it makes me feel My DD has plucked Cookie's ears on occasion. My groomer has poodles so she knows that they can have problems with hairy ears. We have problems with Cooks as she appears to be quite sensitive. She's on steroids at the moment as she has a 'summer allergy' and is itchy as anything but has nothing creepy crawlie on her. She sneezes all the time too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LolaLayla Posted September 20, 2012 Author Share Posted September 20, 2012 I find it a bit hard to do and that's why I wondered if you plucked Cookies. I think groomers use some powder to help get a good grip but I am not sure. Hope her allergy improves soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
