My dog has an ear infection, out of drops. Vet booked, what to do?

Poor DDuang! Ear infections are very uncomfortable. I would not recommend using ophthalmic ointment in the ear, as these medications are not designed for this and could damage his eardrum or the nerves in his middle ear. It's fine to use a regular ear cleaner labeled for dogs to help clean the discharge out of the ear - this won't treat the underlying infection, but may make Dduang a bit more comfortable until he can get treatment. An ear infection is not an emergency, per se, but it's certainly uncomfortable and unpleasant for both of you! Personally, I would probably go ahead and take your pup to the emergency clinic tonight or tomorrow rather than waiting until next week for treatment. You could also call some other vets locally to see if they have any appointments available tomorrow, since this would probably be cheaper than an emergency visit. The vet will take a sample of the discharge for analysis under the microscope and prescribe appropriate medication to treat the infection depending on what is found.

Unfortunately it's illegal for us to prescribe medications without seeing Rockey in person first. This sounds really bad, and it isn't something that can be treated at home. He needs to see a vet now for treatment, please take him into one immediately.

Poor Scout! If he is really lethargic or walking in circles then I would have him seen today as it could be an inner ear infection. But if he is otherwise acting okay except for shaking his head or pawing at it then yes, it can wait until tomorrow. Your vet will be able to determine the type of infection and put him on the proper ear meds if needed. I hope this helps!

If ear infections are left untreated, they can lead to hearing loss. Unfortunately this cannot be treated at home without prescription medication, but a vet should see you for this problem. Give your vet a call.

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! Poor Snickers! Ultimately he will be okay until tomorrow, I am glad he is getting seen in the short term. I wouldn't recommend giving him any human medications because your Vet may prescribe steroids which can not be combined with things like aspirin. You can try some benadryl to see if it relieves the itch and calms him. Otherwise I would hold tight for a day. You could purchase an ear cleaner but your Vet will give you one tomorrow. https://www.petcoach.co/canigive/dog/benadryl/ I wish Snickers a speedy recovery!

Unfortunately if he won't let you near his ears you may have to wait until tomorrow when you can get Wrigley in to see your veterinarian. If you can pick up an ear cleaner from a pet store you can try flushing them out between now and tomorrow morning. If he is walking with a head tilt I would be worried that his inner or middle ear may also be affected, if this is truly the case, I wouldn't recommend putting anything more in his ears until you see your vet. If you feel he is really uncomfortable and you don't want to wait, an emergency vet should be able to evaluate him today.

Unfortunately for bad ear infections that often involve bacteria and sometimes yeast, you will need a topical ear medication that contains an antibiotic. Antibiotics require a prescription. This is because antibiotics (whether oral or topical) have to be used judiciously to avoid creating resistant bacteria. You can try researching low cost clinics in your area through this website: www.mypet.com/vet-finder.aspx Or you can try applying for financial assistance through carecredit.com or redrover.org. Best of luck. Ear infections can get worse fairly quickly and are relatively easy to treat with proper medications, so hopefully you can get your dog to the vet soon.