Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Source for vetrinary supplies

I used to use Otomax as well for ear infections with one Springer that I had and it never really seemed to clear it up. I switched to using a solution of rubbing alcohol, genetin violet and boric acid. I fought ear infections with her for years, and after doing the treatment for 2 weeks like is recommended, no more problems. I still shaved the hair inside the ears to help with air circulation, but this stuff works and is CHEAP! Plus no perscription is required.

Do it outside, as it DOES stain. Don't use Q-tips, you want them to shake the stuff out. I just poured the stuff in her ears, massaged them and got the heck out of the way.

Here's what I copied off of the internet years ago:

The Blue Power Ear Solution was first circulated on the AOL Cocker Spaniel Board. This is a home-made recipe and if all you are dealing with is yeast ear infections it will really help them. I gave it to my vets and they refer it all the time. It's actually safer than the purply/blue stuff that the vet sells you and it's way cheaper because once you have this you can keep making new batches of it. I often take bottles to folks I know do rescue. DOWNSIDE - this stuff stains. You ***Must*** put it in their ears outside so they can shake and not stain everything because gentian violet is just like ink!!! 16 oz. bottle isoprophyl alcohol (just a cheap $.69 bottle)4 tablespoons boric acid (use human boric acid -- it's about $2.50 at Albertsons)17 drops gentian violet (1 or 2% , but the 1% is MUCH cheaper and is fine)medicine dropper to use to measure the gentian violet Add the boric acid and gentian violet to the alcohol (Yep, it will all fit in that brand new bottle of alcohol -- surprising but true). Shake well. Transfer some into a squirt bottle (an old shampoo bottle or a hair dye bottle -- anything with a squirt top on it). The boric acid never dissolves til it hits the skin so you have to shake constantly. The boric acid soothes. The gentian violet deals with the yeast. It STAINS. So do it outside, not in your kitchen! Even 15 drops of this in a whole bottle of alcohol *does* stain. But it sure works. Gentian violet is the stuff that they give human babies with "thrush" (oral yeast infection). If the ear is inflamed use this twice a day for 2 weeks -- just squirt in and massage behind the ear. The first day don't worry about massaging, but thereafter massage for a minute EACH EAR. Yes, I'm serious -- COUNT. They'll discover this does NOT hurt, but rather it soothes, and after you are done massaging, they will shake their head violently and all sorts of yuck and junk will fling out. THAT IS GOOD. After 2 weeks of twice a day, then do a week at least of once a day, then just put it on maintenance once a week.