Ear odor

Question
My Lhasa Apso has stinky ears.  I keep them clean, free from hair and have used Zymox several times to treat her.  The odor goes away for a period of time and then returns.  There is no dark buildup or dirt but occasionally there is a small amount of soft yellow wax.

Any suggestions?

Answer
Zymox is good for SOME ears, but I would not use that as a maintenance solution.  Instead, I would use something like vinegar and boric acid (Malacetic Otic, Dermapet).  If there is an infection that is causing the odor, then it needs to be treated.  If there is an infection, then there may also be a skin problem, like allergies, allowing it to continue after you stop the medication.  So it is important for your vet to do cytology on the stuff inthe ears to see if there is an infection or not.