What's the best ear cleaning solution for my dog's ear care routine?

I really like the Douxo Micellar Solution. It is great at breaking up waxy debris in the ears, it is gentle, and safe if the eardrum is not intact. Here is the link to purchase it on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00G3DN3ZW/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1515718924&sr=8-1&keywords=douxo+micellar+solution&dpPl=1&dpID=318m8cDzvCL&ref=plSrch Thank you for using PetCoach!

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your question. I would not recommend formulating your own ear cleaner and instead purchase a commercial ear cleaner. I would recommend using Zymox otic cleanser or Epi Otic ear cleanser. Both of these can be found online quite easily. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further. Please take the time to mark this question as helpful or not as it helps us to improve on the quality of our answers to other pet owners. Thank you kindly!

You can purchase an over-the-counter ear flush solution such as Epi-Otic at most pet stores - this is safe to clean the ear with, to remove any wax or other debris from the ear. If the ear seems red, itchy, or painful, then these are signs that Lucy may have an ear infection. In that case, you will need to take her to the vet because prescription ear drops are required to treat the infection - these cannot be purchased over the counter.

It is possible that he is flapping his ears due to the cold, but it's always worth having his ears checked out by a vet to be safe. As for ear cleaners, I recommend Epi-Otic. It's an excellent ear cleaner, and you can get it from your vet's clinic or a pet shop :-)

I would ideally recommend a veterinary visit as ear infections are often times a mixed population of yeast and different bacteria. Or ear mites may play a role as well. You can try using an over-the-counter ear cleaner every other day for a few days but if that does not cleared up a veterinary visit for ear cytology and medication is recommended. Epi Otic is a good general ear cleaner. . https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0056EAKSM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apis_1501590855840 The home remedies that use vinegar or alcohol tend to be very irritating or painful with infected ear so I don't recommend those.

There are a number of ear cleaners on the market, both OTC and prescription-based. For heavy wax buildup I like Cerúmenes, which should be available from your vet. I’m not familiar with cases of dogs that have so much wax they need surgery to remove it, so I wonder if your dog actually has recurring ear infections. If this is the case it’s not unusual for them to need deep cleanings under anesthesia. In these cases usually allergies are he underlying cause and these must be controlled in order to get the amount of debris in the ears under control.

If she will allow, use an ear cleaner, such as Epi-Otic, to clean the ear(s). Place an e-collar (cone) on her to prevent pawing or rubbing until she sees the doctor. Other medications, even OTC ones, cannot be legally recommended without a physical exam. They may also be the incorrect medication to treat whatever the underlying cause may be.