Tuesday, March 20, 2012

And Now for Something Completely Different: Ear Infections

When I was in grad school and living with my parents, I sometimes had the thought that I really should have gone to veterinary school. 


Then I took Dizzy to the vet when he had an ear infection, and was cured of that impulse. Of all the horrifying smells dogs are capable of generating, I think the ear infection must be about the worst. 


I encountered it powerfully with some senior cocker spaniels I used to groom, and I've learned to recognize that unique aroma long before I look in a dog's ears. 


As you might imagine, though, Dizzy's ear infection was really in a class by itself.


That incredible smell is why I was so delighted when my mom gave me some of the dog stuff she's accumulated over the years, and there happened to be a bottle of Vet Solutions Ear Cleansing Solution. That stuff smells like paradise. I don't know what they put in it, but to me it smells like a romantic, sensual potpourri of ylang-ylang, jasmine, and rose. 


Ear cleansing solution? Forget it, I'm using that stuff as a parfum. 


Bring on those cocker spaniels, those Bassets, those nappy, dreaded, oozing, foul-smelling ears. I am no longer afraid. 

12 comments:

  1. Ear infections are horrid!
    Your ear solution sounds like it smells really good!lol
    Have a great week
    Big Nose Pokes
    The Thugletsx

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ear infections do have a very nasty smell. My older dog has had a permanent ear infection for about5 years now since we adopted him. When we got him that was the only history they could give us, that he clearly had surgery on his ears on a couple of occasions, and was intensely prone to them. It's sad to see that one of his ears will always have that black nasty smelling wax and bother him but management is the best tool we have. Our vet gave us a similar solution and antibiotics so we keep it clean as best we can but if it ever does clear up it's only for a week at best.

    http://www.kobipuphalifax.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Delilah has some stinky ears. She tends to get a lot of what I consider wax in them. I need to get both dogs on a schedule to clean ears and teeth and clip nails. Can you purchase this stuff:

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You can find it on Amazon :)
      http://www.amazon.com/Vet-Solutions-Ear-Cleansing-Solution/dp/B00061MOF2

      Delete
  4. Ginger Rogers' ear infections were the worst! I honestly don't know if I've ever smelled anything so disgusting...like gross bread and Guinness...it was so awful. I might have to check out that VET Solution in the future - the stuff we used didn't smell much better than her infection!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Kirsten, yup I know all about that. My mom and dad try to squirt Suroian that they get from the vet into my ears. I really, really don't like that. Once the vet did a full flush with medicines and stuff. It washed my ears out and I didn't like that either. We've tried the VET product that you have used as well and that does work...for awhile. And we're also using a laser to treat my ears too, http://mydogsam01.blogspot.ca/2012/02/laser-for-ear-infection.html

    ReplyDelete
  6. I think ylang ylang, Jasmine, and rose might be a perfume blend you can find at my preferred perfume site, the Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab. I've unfortunately found that I don't like ylang ylang in a blend, and my fiance is allergic to most flowers, though, so I stick to herby sorts of things.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Our dogs have never had an ear infection, but I'll never forget when we first discovered Hades had allergies (let me remind you I was a totally inexperienced dog owner at the time,) and we looked into his ears to find the most horrible brown goo. Poor guy! His mom and dad have learned a lot since then!
    I bought some ear wipes from Earth Bath that have witch hazel in them for some routine cleaning but haven't used them yet. I like earth bath shampoo since it's free of any irritants to our sensitive boy, but I like the good smelling stuff for our less sensitive dogs.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love witch hazel in general, for human ailments as well as animal. It seems very cooling and anti-inflammatory.

      Delete
  8. We have used the Vet Solutions Ear Cleansing Solution ins the past and it is great.

    Nina, Myshka, Sasha, Betsy, Lucy, Phoebe and Lily

    ReplyDelete
  9. we used to clean our foster basset's ears with a vinegar solution. Oy. I would have MUCH preferred the smell of the solution you now have!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Bella's prone to ear infections too... that smell really is no joke.

    ReplyDelete

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.