Bad Lab ears

My male labs ears just freaking stink! He doesn't hunt and lives inside most of the time. What can I use to knock it down. The OTC ear washes haven't impressed me at all.

PURPLE STUFF

16 Oz. Witch Hazel

4 Tablespoons Boric Acid Powder

16 Drops Gentian Violet Solution 1%

Mix well in spray bottle.

Be careful, it will stain everything.

Ear mites?

Add a tablespoon of plain yogurt daily to your dogs food. My lab had countless ear infections until I started adding yogurt. We still clean their ears after swimming but we also did before. Judd, told me about this years ago. It worked.

Im not sure, they are just a big problem and I know he doesn't feel good.

ear cleaner from the store doesn't seem to do much.

Vet time, let him look inside closely, he will have a better drop than the regular Epi-Otic

I'm picking up my black lab puppy tomorrow. I've owned two, I guess I'm a glutton for punishment...

If it looks like he has brown sugar in his ear and smells, my dog had the same issue when he was around 1 years old. It was a food allergy - chicken. Switched to an alternative protein and it hasn't been an issue.

It also could be ear mites, but I've read those are high contagious to other pets, so I imagine it would have spread to other dogs or cats at your place, if you have them and they interact.

Same thing happened to my pup. There my be a thread on here from a fews years back about it. We changed from chicken and rice to non grain and venison blend. I would get some ear wash from the vet to keep around the house.

Interesting as chicken is the main part of his food and the ears have been noticeably worse since the food change. Maybe this is it.