ear infections - standard poodle

Question
Hi - I have a 3 year old standard poodle. Almost his whole life he has had ear infections off and on but for the last year it has been almost non-stop. The vet has given him a ottomax. I've used at least 3 bottles of that, i keep him groomed and keep his ears shaved. I don't let water get in them. I clean them as much as possible. They smell badly and have very dark wax. I need help for him. He shakes his head all the time! All the time!!!  I hate he is hurting. What else can i do??

Answer
Hello Wendy,
Give this a try first:
When you clean out the ears, you might use a Vinegar and Hydrogen Peroxide mixture to help remove the debris.   
Here is a website that tells how to make an ear cleaning solution out of ingredients that you can get from your local Pharmacy.  
http://www.zimfamilycockers.com/EarCleaner.html
It is a Cocker Spainel website, but it works great for Poodles also.

If this doesn't help your dog any, you might ask your Vet about oral antibotics and about using Cefelexin or oral prednisone.

I hope this helps you some.  If you have other questions for me, please feel free to ask.

Thanks for using AllExperts.com,
Kim