Expert: Dr. Louis N. Gotthelf - 5/23/2010

Question
My vet just prescribed Animax for my 20# dachsund/beagle mix who is 12 years old. He gave him drops in both ears on Tuesday at the vet and then I gave them to him on Thursday, totally missing Weds dose. By Friday morning I noticed he did not come when called and seems to be totally deaf all of a sudden. I have not put any drops in since that Thursday dose. Could this medicine have caused his deafness and will his hearing return??

Answer
Yes, the medicine can cause deafness. Neomycin is not as potent an ototoxic as some other antibiotics.  A more likely scenario is that the goo congealed and formed a plug in the ear blocking sound.  I would ask the vet to change to a water based medication that does not contain gentamycin or neomycin.