My dog has a chronic problem with itchy ear-infections. They come back 3 or 4 times a year. I took him to the Vet last year. She took a culture and sent it away for analysis. It came back totally negative.The Vet prescribed Panalog ointment and it works. The problem is that each and every time I need a little tube of it, I have to take the dog back for a Vet check. I can certainly think of better ways to spend $60.00. Does anyone else have experience with this problem, and can someone recommend an alternative; non prescription remedy that works and is most of all SAFE for my beloved dog?

-- Donna Cooper Southwestern Nevada (Sudschick@hotmail.com), November 16, 2001

Answers

I use vinegar in the ears of my dog and cats. Just a drop or two every day might be a cheap alternative for your dog. Do it for about a week and see if that helps. It cured my cat of awful stinky ears.

-- Ardie/WI (ardie54965@hotmail.com), November 16, 2001.

Look in the older messages, under Pet Care, titled Irritated Ears on Dog. I recently posted a question about our German Wirehaired Pointer's ear troubles. Our Vet also prescribes Panalog and it only seems to be a temporary fix. There were alot of great responses to my post, maybe some of it can help your dog.

-- Mary (zoots25@hotmail.com), November 16, 2001.

You might try a bit of hemerroid cream.

-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), November 16, 2001.

Please don't condemn me for bringing her up, but there's a petkeeping bulletin board at www.marthastewart.com that has come in very handy with my two dogs.

Otherwise, I might research what Panalog ointment's active ingredient is, and see if you can find an over the counter substitute?

Good luck, Deanna

-- Deanna (dksanborn@netzero.net), November 16, 2001.

Does your dog possibly have allergies? I have a husky/german shepard/spaniel mix that has allergies.She scratches her ears and chews her paws constantly when her allergies are acting up. It seems to be seasonal--spring and fall. I put a supplement called biotin on her food and clean her ears weekly with oticleanse. You could also check the Foster and Smith catalog to see if they have your pets medication. I believe they also have a website.

-- Colleen (bean@northwoods.net), November 16, 2001.

This has always worked for my six dogs' ears: In a small dropper bottle, put one-half witch hazel, one-half aloe vera juice, and about six or eight drops of tea tree oil. Put a few drops in the dog's ear morning and night until you don't need to any more. I usually don't need to after two days. This mixture works as well as Panalog for me. Lots cheaper, too.

-- Catherine (CathDV@AOL.com), November 17, 2001.

I have found the use of Ivomec to be very good at preventing heartworms in dogs and also ear mites and infections in the ear. One bottle will last two years for me and I have 15 dogs. Put a couple of drops in the ear and massage it in real thoroughly. Once a week for a couple of weeks should do the job. I am not a vet but have found it to work for me in the past. Available at most farm supply stores for $50.00 or so for 50ml bottle.

-- jim phillips (jhphillips@ccrtc.com), November 19, 2001.