How to treat my dog's red, itchy, dirty ears with black gunk at home?

If the q-tip comes out black, then there is an excess of ear wax and likely an infection. The infection can be caused by bacteria, yeast, or even mites. Ear infections in dogs are very itchy, and often require prescription medications to help clear them quickly and manage the itch. The first step in treating an ear infection is breaking down the large chunks of wax and getting them out of the way so that medications can get to the surface of the ear. I like ear cleaners like Dechra Malacetic Ultra Otic that are antibacterial and antifungal. If you clean Remington's ears twice a day for a couple of days and he is still itching, he will need to go to the vet for prescription medications.

They appear swollen and rough on the ear margins. Those are signs of an infection. You will need a prescription from the vet for medication to completely treat it. Until then the best thing is actually use an ear wash to keep it clean. I would not use Q tips anymore. But if you can get an ear cleaner from a pet store, just rinsing them daily will help dilute out the bacteria/yeast causing the problem and soften the edges to help. This will also help loosen up whatever is inside so every time he shakes, it will wash more debris out. It is best to wipe it with a clean tissue or cotton ball.

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.

Fill Reggie's ear canal to over flowing and massage the base of the ear. Allow him to shake his head. I agree not to stick q-tips down in the ear where you can't see it. Just get out what you can with the cotton ball. This link will also help: https://www.petcoach.co/article/7-steps-to-clean-your-dog-s-ears-properly/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/ear-infections-otitis-externa-ear-cleaning-in-dogs/ I recommend to call you vet and ask about when Reggie can be examined. The reddness is likely indicating an infection that needs medication. An untreated infection can get worse and spread to the inner ear and it can be painful as well. I hope this helps!

Pus is usually a sign of either a bacterial or fungal infection. If you pour vinegar and water into the ear now, this will cause immense pain to your dog as there is severe inflammation as well. Please do not try to clean the ear with apple cider vinegar and water now. This needs to be seen by a veterinarian who will examine the ear canal closely, ensures that the ear drum is not damaged, and will determine the cause of the infection and the prescribe medication an pain medicine as indicated by the diagnosis.

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.

This is an abrasion/laceration on his ear. I would recommend visiting your vet for antibiotics to get this to heal properly. You can clean it for now with Betadine diluted 50:50 with warm water if he will let you. But if not, then let your vet take care of the cleaning process and a topical ointment likely will be prescribed. Best wishes with your pet Chester and his ear. Take care!