Ear Gunk

Hi Everyone,

I noticed yesterday Hank had a lot of dark brown icky stuff and blood in just in left ear, his right ear is completely clear. I hadn't noticed him scratching it but it appears he has been and has cut his left ear were all the stuff is, that's what I'm hoping anyway, as this morning the blood is gone.

Safe to say as Hank being my first pup I went into meltdown. I have since calmed down as my partner said as he doesn't seem in pain and is carry on as his normal crazy puppy self it wont be anything serious, he has had dogs before so I trust his judgement.

Could he have an ear infection or is it just a build up of wax I could clear myself?

If it's causing him to scratch till it bleeds then it might be worth a vet visit, however, if he isn't constantly scratching then mention it to your vet at the next scheduled visit.

I always go to the vet with ears, mainly because I've had ear infections myself & was in agony. Some dogs have a high pain tolerance & don't show obvious pain signs till its quite bad. My Jack Russell Saxon has had 2 ear infections in the past. I hope Hank is ok

I use Johnson's ear cleaner on Katy, she only has 1 ear that builds up the brown icky stuff Katy is so bad at scratching herself that she does it way too hard on that ear & makes her yelp as she gets a claw caught

I've just TRIED to have another look then but he was thinking I was wanting to play haha and there doesn't seem to be as much as yesterday but still a little bit in there, he's just scratched like mad after I was trying to look but hasn't hurt himself, but he's hard as nails I think I've cried more when I've thought he's hurt himself than him

it's probably best for me to try look properly when he's sleeping, I thought to go the vets just to double check as I'd hate for him to have an ear infection and I don't know, I had one myself last week

It can be hard on your own doing it, my oh sits with her as I get her to lay on her side while he strokes & talks to her. Pop the drops in, then you do need to hold them otherwise they will shake their head & the drops are all over you Then I have a wipe round with a tissue, it's amazing how much comes out!

Thank you Jen! I will try that, he listens to my OH over me so he could probably get him to lie still

If it's gunk in the ear I'd get it checked as well. At the rescue centre we get dogs with ear yeast infections and the like and they can become dreadful if not treated. Also, you need to be really careful cleaning ears, so as not to cause damage.

All of the big build up has seemed to have disappeared on its own, but it was very thick dark brown the other morning which was shocked me especially with the blood being there, Might see if we can get him checked just to be on the safe side

That's a lovely picture of Hank on your profile

Thank you Laura I took it this morning he has shot up over night! Rebel wont be far behind him looking at your photos the other day he still thinks he's tiny though and climbs all over us

I think they will still climb over us as adults haha

haha indeed they will, He isn't half getting heavy now though

Every staff I know has to be touching their human, so cute

Id only agree with the above get drops from the vets use cotton wool and clean the ear every couple of days depending what the vet prescribes . Rinsed out baby wipes are also good . Make the association with ear cleaning good make a fuss i used to use fish skins when cleaning mias ears she hated it . Id still clean ears everyday not necessarily using anything just cotton wool or rinsed out baby wipes.

Well Hank is booked in at the vets shortly as I've come back from work and its seeping down his face when he jumped up to say omg hello! I felt the wet on my hand and it smells like puss so I think it could be infected, he won't stop scratching and shaking his head and you can hear how wet is it when he shakes so the saying it gets better before it gets worse is true in this case. He doesn't seem out of character but I can't imagine this to be pleasant for him

Yep my little baby has a nasty ear infection it broke my heart him crying when the vet was trying to look into his ear, never heard him cry like that we've been given some steroid tablets to give him over the weekend and drops to start Tuesday, does any one know how's the best way to give him the tablets? They are like human tabs and can't imagine it being easy for me to try get him to have them

Poor little Hank. I'm sure the treatment will kick in soon and he'll be feeling better.

The best way to give tablets for me is to get some really smelly soft cheese, Brie or something like that, and first of all get him really interested in it. You only want to give him tiny bits, just so he can taste it and want more. Make it into a huge game, yum yum yum! Then in the middle of it all you take a bit that you've prepared earlier that's got the tablet in. Make sure the tablet's completely coated in cheese. He should be so into gobbling up Brie after a few bits that the tablet one is just one more yummy mouthful. Give him at least one non-tablet bit afterwards.

Thanks Liz Brie sounds perfect! Then I can have the rest of the block out of sympathy for him

Poor Hank, hope the tablets do the job quickly. He looks a lovely boy.

Thanks James me too! Currently getting the best snuggles of the wee guy, he hasn't changed in character of gone of his food so glad about. It just looks so awful in his ear

That's great, they really are little toughies aren't they.

Low fat cheese triangles laughing cow used them for mias worming tablets you'll be surprised what a staffy can cope with hard as nails they are

I know! He's ran into every bit of furniture and door in this house full on and not made a peep, but to hear him crying on the vets must mean it's really sore for him

I don't know if it has anything to do with it but his bites have been harder today, usually they just nip and don't bother me but they have been painful today

Poor Hank, he will feel better soon. I also use cheese to get tablets into my dogs. Saxon is tough but he also cried when vet checked his ears. Ear ache is hideous

Well the wet sound has gone today, still a lot of brown sticky but he isn't scratching either so looks like they are working