How do I clean my older Boxer dog's ears and what solution to use?

I really like Virbac's line of dermatologic products, and their Epi-Otic is a great all-purpose ear cleanser for dogs. It is available over the counter, and you can order it from DrsFosterandSmith.com or Amazon.

It looks like Murphy has an infection on his ear. If he plays with another animal, it may be possible he got a bite wound or scrape that has become infected. A scratch or splinter from a plant could also be a possibility. If he has allergies or an ear infection, he may have scratched himself. I think a vet visit is a good idea. In the meantime try to keep the lesion clean and dry. If he allows you, you can use warm water on a washcloth to clean it twice daily.

If Booker's ear seems bothersome or has discharge coming from it, having your vet take another look is a good idea. Taking pictures of the ear before cleaning it, or bringing in a sample of the debris you find in the ear can help your vet determine if any additional treatment is needed.

That is a mild amount of discharge that can easily cleaned with a some wet cotton (do not use cotton buds) ONLY on the outside of the ear canal (basically the bit you have taken the pics of). You can use a cleaning solution for the ears (Sancerum or Cleanaural) but only once a week or every two weeks. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

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 :-)

You can use an over the counter dog ear cleaner to clean the discharge from Cujo's ears. Apple some to,a cotton ball and squeeze it into the ear. Squish it around and then wipe outward to remove the discharge. Then take a dry cotton ball to remove the excess fluid. To determine the cause of the infection I recommend and exam and they can look at the ear discharge under the microscope to determine if he has a yeast or bacterial infection or if there are ear mites. Once they have a diagnosis they can prescribe the correct medication. Often ear infections are painful so they may prescribe an anti inflammatory or pain medication also. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Cujo.

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.