dog licking other dogs ears

Question
Kristen I noticed in one of your responses about dogs licking others ears. We are dealing with this prob. our vet said is is causing an infection (thickening of the ears) we are afraid of the irritation and eventual deafness. is there something we can put in her ears to stop our other dog from licking them?

Answer
Sometimes dogs will lick each others' ears because there is *already* an infection there. Infections smell, which can encourage other dogs to lick the area.

One thing you can do is to mix up a solution of 1 part white vinegar and 3-4 parts warm water. Fill an eye dropper full of the solution, and squirt it into the dog's ear canal. Then, rub the ear canal area as best you can (you should hear a squishing sound), and then let the dog shake its head (which will expel the solution and built-up earwax, so you might want to consider doing this outdoors). Repeat with the other ear and do this every other day for a week, and then once a week after that.

Or, after the first week of the vinegar/water solution, you can use 5 parts rubbing alcohol to 1 part mineral oil. For two dogs, mix 5 tablespoons of alcohol to 1 tablespoon of mineral oil. Soak a small wash cloth in it and wring it out so it's not dripping wet. Then cover your index finger with the rag and clean their ears. You might consider using a baby washcloth because it is thin and can get into the folds and crevices of the ear. Do this once a week.