Ear Drops for Dogs

Whether treating a bacterial ear infection, eliminating ear mites, or simply keeping your dog’s ears clean and preventing wax buildup, our ear drops for dogs will help keep your dogs ears healthy and perky.

Frequently asked questions

No, you should never use human ear drops on dogs unless directed to by a trusted veterinarian. Due to differences in dog physiology, ingredient toxicity, and ear canal shape, human ear drops are largely ineffective and potentially harmful to your dog.

Dutch carries a variety of prescription and non-prescription ear drops for dogs, and can connect you to an online vet, same-day. Once the right treatment plan has been created, Dutch members enjoy free shipping on pharmacy orders.

Working with an online vet, you can find the right plan to treat your dog’s ear infection, mite infestation, or wax blockage quickly and safely by using the best ear medicine for the job. 

Some drops help eradicate infestations of highly contagious ear mites, which can cause irritation and lead to bacterial infections if left untreated. Examples include:

Other ear drops aim to treat bacterial infections of the ear. These infections are common, but can worsen without treatment so it’s important to treat quickly with dog ear infection drops like:

Lastly, there are preventative ear drops for dogs that prevent infections by maintaining clean, healthy ear canals. For example:

EpiOtic Advanced Ear Cleanser (non-prescription)

  • Gather the dog ear drops, along with some dog treats. Choose a calm, quiet area. It may help to get a helper to gently hold the dog while you administer the drops
  • Position the dog to sit or lie down comfortably. Gently lift the flap of the ear upward and slightly to the rear; this helps to straighten the ear canal
  • Administer the drops, aiming toward the center of the canal. Gently massage the base of your dog’s ear for about 30 seconds to help distribute the ear drops throughout the canal. Allow your dog to shake their head afterwards – it’ll help distribute the drops
  • Reward the pup with a treat and some praise for being such a great patient!

Dog ear mites, most commonly “Otodectes Cynotis,” are microscopic, parasitic mites that feed on the wax and oils that occur naturally in a dog’s ear. They aren’t usually visible without special lighting or a microscope. You can, however, easily see the signs of dog ear mites:

  • Dark, waxy discharge around the ears that resembles coffee grounds
  • Redness and swelling of the skin around their ears
  • Excessive scratching and shaking of the head from your dog

These symptoms are very similar to other common ear infections in dogs. Dutch offers ear infection testing kits to help identify the issue and help get the right ear drops for dog ear infection.

Regardless of whether it’s an ear mite or bacterial infection, your dog will usually exhibit telltale signs that something’s bothering them:

  • Excessive ear scratching, rubbing, or head shaking
  • Ear discharge. Depending on the infection, discharge may be yellow, dark brown, or bloody
  • Odor. A strong, musty odor may indicate an infection
  • Redness, swelling, or “hot spots” on the ear skin

Dutch also offers ear infection testing kits to help identify the issue.

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