Ear Mites or Ear Wax??? Need help!

I noticed today that my 1 year old lab has been shaking his head back and forth. I looked in his ear and found that 1 ear was filled with a dark brown gunky substance. It was a waxy texture - not liquidy or pus filled. At first he pulled his head away when I touched it but then he let me get closer. I was able to clean it out, very carefully, with some tissues and cotton balls. His other ear was perfectly clean.

Looking it up online, I think it may be ear mites. I'm not 100% sure. If it is, does it typically only affect 1 ear? Does anyone else's dog ever have this? Should I bring him to the vet or is there something I can get in a pet store to clean it out??

Message edited 4/13/2010 12:00:19 PM.

Re: Ear Mites or Ear Wax??? Need help!

I'd go to the vet, have them do a swap and check to see exactly what it is. We've had both in my house and they look the same to me. Even if it isn't ear mites, you may still need to get Mometamax to clear it up. And yes, it's very common for one ear to be infected and the other not.

Good luck! I hope it clears up soon.

Re: Ear Mites or Ear Wax??? Need help!

Thanks for the advice. I stopped over at the pet store just to see what they had. There were 2 products (same ingridents) but one was smaller than the other. The smaller one was more expensive too. So I didn't know if it was better than the other. I ask the girl who works over in the vet section. I tell her about my dilemma. You know what she says to me...."oh, dogs don't get ear mites....only cats do. He probably has an ear infection so you need to bring him to the vet". I just stared at her as BOTH medicines that I had in my hand had a picture of only a dog on the front of it and in big letters said it was for ear mites. The stupidity of some people is amazing!!

So I bought the more expensive one and will give it a try for a day or two. If it seems worse or if he seems more uncomfortable, I'll take him to the vet.

Re: Ear Mites or Ear Wax??? Need help!

My dog has had problematic ears his whole life but recently he had exactly what you are describing and when we went to the vet, he took a swab and it wasnt mites. He was exactly sure what it was but he needed strong ear cleaning solution and antibiotics. After just 2 days, it was so much better and the treatment was for 5 days. A week later and he is still 100% better. I would go to the vet. I also learned I was not cleaning his ears properly either.

Re: Ear Mites or Ear Wax??? Need help!

Katie gets an ear infection in the same ear this time every year. The vet says it's pollen. It usually has a bunch of brown wax in it, that's how we know. I would take him to the vet to be sure. It can be very uncomfortable for them!

ETA: Dogs can get both bacterial and yeast infections in there ears FYI.

Message edited 4/14/2010 12:35:45 PM.

Re: Ear Mites or Ear Wax??? Need help!

My lab has constant ear infections even when we keep on top of the cleaning. It only happens in one ear and its exactly like you described a brown gook substance. The vet gave me an antibiotic cleaner and I need to swipe with the q tips.

My vet said it was due to moisture and it was breed specific.

Re: Ear Mites or Ear Wax??? Need help!

I ended up using Gold Medal Pets "Herbal & Botanical Ear Mite & Tick Control" that I bought at PetSmart.

5 drops in the ear. I did it 2x yesterday and once this morning and there is already a HUGE difference. His ear looks 1000 times better and he is visablly not bothered by it at all. Poor guy spent most of yesterday shaking his head all day. Now the majority of the brown gook is gone (I've also been carefully cleaning it with cotton balls and such). We're still watching it though. The slightest change and I'm heading straight to the vet.

I HATE going to doctors - for anything! That's why I figured I'd try this first and if not better then we'll go. So far so good though!

Thanks for all the insight though. I really appreciate it!

Re: Ear Mites or Ear Wax??? Need help!

my dog gets ear infections often its bc of the floppy ears.
when she shakes her ear consistently usually means its bad and she needed antibiotics.

Re: Ear Mites or Ear Wax??? Need help!

Wanted to update you guys! Again, thanks for all the advice. We ended up taking Jake to the vet last week. No ear mites! However, she said that he had a bad yeast infection in his ear. Poor little boy - so he's on oral meds, ear drops and and ear flush. Thankfully, it's really cleared up. Thanks so much, again, for everyone's advice!