Expert: Dr. Louis N. Gotthelf - 4/23/2005

Question
My friend Linda has an indoor, friendly, affectionate bulldog, who is bathed about once/month. This dog has been shaking its head this morning, with some whimpering and a temperature of 102º (she heard that normal is 101º - is that true?).  

Of course, she checked the ears for bugs, but saw none.  So she used a Q-tip to remove some black wax.  But in one ear there is more of it (does this mean dirt + wax, or blood?), so she put some extra-virgin olive oil in her ear to help remove it.  She was told she could give benedryl to a dog, which is now calming her down, but she's still shaking her head and won't allow her to touch the ear again.

What's the first thing to try?  Is witch hazel good?
My friend used to have horses and still has some of their medications, in case any of them could be used.

Linda Thomas


Answer
Black stuff in the ears can indicate many different things.  Ear mites, bacterial infection, yeast infection, and a ruptured eardrum canall result in black waxy material.  So Rather than putting things in the ear that may be harmful, your friend should take the dog to a vet for a proper examination and definitive treatment.

Most dogs with ear problems also have some type of allergy, so to properly treat the ear, the allergies need treatment also.