Alternatives to Surolan Ear Drops for Dogs?

Japius on 21/12/2016 - 09:04

Hi all,

My dog is prone to ear infections, two or three times a year, and Surolan fixes it whenever the issue arises. My trouble is that each time it occurs we go to the vet they charge for a consult plus ear swab plus the Surolan costing $200 each time (and yes we have tried other vets with similar results), given a 30ml pack of seems to cost around $33 online I am sure the vets are simply refusing to give me a few repeats just so they keep their regular income a few times a year…

Has anyone here found a non prescription alternative to Surolan? We tried a lot of over the counter stuff, I just am loathed to keep paying the premium for the vet to give me another prescription each time….one would think after a few years of this even the vet would make it a little easier

Health & Beauty

Comments

  • dogboy on 21/12/2016 - 10:27

    I hate this - it is such a scam that you have to pay for the consultation just to get the medicine you already know you need. I have even been thinking about starting a chemist for animal medication. Why doesn't this already exist? Saying that, I hate that Surolan stuff. Always seemed really painful to my dog when I used it. I found another alternative that was a lot gentler (non-alcohol based) but can't think of the name offhand sorry - I will check tonite. Is it bacterial or yeast infection? Found some good info here: https://www.vet-organics.com/types-of-dog-ear-infections/

  • Blackfyre on 21/12/2016 - 10:47

    Ask the vet if there is a human equivalent version, which they can write a prescription for you to present to your pharmacy.
    It MAY be cheaper than veterinary-use only medications.

  • wendeh on 21/12/2016 - 10:52

    Sounds weird but i use Listerine - original (the amber colour one ONLY) to help clean my dogs gunky ears. My groomer suggested it and it seems to work. I soak a cotton ball so its damp enough to wipe and get the bulk of the stuff out and then cotton buds dipped in it to get the rest that i can see. Seems to help my two. Give it a go.

    • Japius on 21/12/2016 - 19:44

      There won't be customs issues trying to import prescription medication?

      • sparkles on 21/12/2016 - 21:30

        You won' know until you try. It's ear drops for a dog, I doubt it would be high on their radar of stuff to seize.

    • amaninaku on 20/03/2017 - 17:55

      thank you! it helps

  • OZB Al on 22/12/2016 - 07:51

    Our dog was constantly getting ear infections and the vet suggested it may be allergies, put him on a kangaroo mince and sweet potato diet for 3 months. After 3 months we started adding other foods and it turns out he's allergic to beef. No ear infections for two years now, but we do wash his ears every few weeks.

    • Japius on 22/12/2016 - 08:53
      +1

      yeah thats what happened with us, hes on a fish and potato diet now but always manages to get into other things and causes it to flare up again a few times a year

  • meegogoose on 17/03/2017 - 15:25

    Surolan is a prescription medication, so it is actually illegal for your vet to give it out over the counter - they are required by law to examine the animal just like a doctor. Unfortunately there is no medicare for pets so no bulk billing of consults like a doctor can do and therefore it also will usually not be cheaper at the human pharmacy as there is no medicare reduction if the medication is for a pet. There are veterinary pharmacies online, but these will also require a script written by a vet as they legally cannot dispense without one. It can be a different bacteria each time, the swab is so the vet can look at the shape of the bacteria and determine which type of ear drop should work best, as dogs with chronic ear infections can develop drug resistant infections, such as Pseudomonas. Also they need to check the ear drum is intact by looking down the ear canal (it is sometimes ruptured by trauma from head shaking, scratching or from the infection itself) - drops that are fine for external ear infections when the ear drum is intact can actually be toxic to the structures inside the ear and special drops are needed if the ear drum is ruptured.

    One thing that can help keep ear infections at bay is to clean the ear with a diluted mix of the medicated shampoo MALASEB. Malaseb contains antibacterial and antifungal ingredients which have a residual effect. These ingredients are great against the common bacteria in ear infections and also the yeast that overgrow. You can buy the shampoo over the counter/at a pet shop and dilute it 1:30 in room temperature/luke warm water. So 5ml malaseb to 150ml water or for a bulk batch 1/4 cup malaseb in a clean 2L cordial/soft drink bottle (shake before use). Syringe 5ml of the mix into the ear massage for 30 seconds and wipe out with cotton wool, repeat 2-3 times. Then let you dog shake it's head to remove excess water and wipe out again with cotton wool to dry. Do not use cotton buds, but a dogs ear canal is L-shaped so you can gently clean out a large ear canal by putting in a cotton wool wrapped finder as long as you direct it straight down and not in at an angle. The residual effect of the malaseb should help stop the ear infections reoccurring. Good luck!

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join