Otics 1

OTIC PREPARATIONS
Note: While not a complete list, the following examples are representative of the types of topical otic preparations
available to the veterinarian. For more information on treating diseases of the ear, including the use of systemic therapy,
refer to the chapter by Rosychuck and Luttgen in the Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 5th Ed. by Ettinger and
Feldman. W.B. Saunders, Publisher. Most of the doses come from this reference (noted by a *). Additional information
was provided by Sheila Torres, DVM, PhD, DACVD and Karyn Beningo, DVM, DACVD from the University of
Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine.

Ear Cleaners/Flushes/Antiseptic/Disinfectant Preparations

Trade Name Active Ingredients Dose Notes*
(Manufacturer)
Advanced pHormula Alkyl benzoate, citric Apply liberally into Cleans and reduces
Ear Cleanser acid, sodium citrate, ear canal and pH to less than 5 for
(Evsco) glycerin, glycerol massage up to 18 hours
distearate, allantoin
Alocetic Ear Rinse Acetic Acid, Fill ear canal, May be irritating if
(DVM) Nonoxynol 12 massage and remove using in the higher
concentrations
Betadine Solution Povidone Iodine 10% *Dilute 1:10 - 1:50 in Must be diluted
10% water and use as an before use
(P-F); Generic ear flush prn
Cerulytic (Virbac) Benzyl alcohol, Few drops in each To reduce and
butylated ear canal, massage prevent earwax
hydroxytoluene and clean accumulation
Cerumene (Evsco) Squalane 25% Fill ear canal, To reduce and
massage for several prevent earwax
minutes and remove; accumulation
flush and dry
Chlorhexiderm Chlorhexidine 4% As an ear flush, Fill May be effective for
Flush; (DVM) ear, massage and treating Pseu-
clean ear using ab- domonas
sorbent material.
Clear X Ear Cleaning DSS (docusate) *1 - 2 ml per ear prn May be irritating if
Solution (DVM) 6.5%; urea animal is awake.
(carbamide) peroxide Suggest using in
6% clinic only to allow
suction.
Epi-Otic (Virbac) Lactic acid 2.5%, *Fill ear canal q24- Has
salicylic acid 0.1%, 48h prn ceruminolytic/drying
DSS, propylene activity. Also has mild
glycol, malic and antibacterial and
benzoic acids antifungal activity
Oti-Calm (DVM) Benzoic, malic, Fill ear, massage and Has ceruminolytic,
salicylic acids; oil of clean ear using ab- mild antibacterial and
eucalyptus sorbent material. Use antifungal actions
once to twice a week.
Oti-Clens (Pfizer) Propylene glycol, *Fill ear; use q24-48h Has ceruminolytic,
malic, benzoic and or as necessary mild antibacterial and
salicylic acids antifungal actions;
also drying agent
 Otics 2

Otic Domeboro Acetic acid 2% *For ear drying For swimmer’s otitis
(Miles) Note: human aluminum acetate (astringent): fill ear
product q12-48h
Panodry (Novartis) Isopropyl alcohol *As a drying For swimmer’s otitis
90%, boric acid 2.7% (astringent) agent: fill
ear prn
Xenodyne (VPL) Polyhydroxidine *Dilute 1:1 to 1:5 in
iodine 0.5% water. Use prn as an
ear flush; once
weekly for treating
ear mites; q12h for
treating refractory
Pseudomonas otitis
Sterile Normal Sodium Chloride Use as an ear flush Cleaner, drying agent
Saline 0.9% prn

Corticosteroid/Antinflammatory Preparations
Trade Name Active Ingredients Dose* Notes*
(Manufacturer)
Clear X Ear Hydrocortisone 0.5%, 2-12 drops For mild to moderate
Treatment (DVM) sulfur 2%, acetic acid (depending on size of allergic otitis;
2.5% ear) q12-24h initially, swimmer’s ear,
then q24-48h for ceruminous otitis
maintenance
Synotic (Fort Dodge) Fluocinolone 0.01%; 2-12 drops For moderate to
DMSO 60% (depending on size of severe allergic otitis
ear) q12h initially or
hyperplastic/proliferati
ve otitis

Antimicrobial (Antibiotic) Preparations

Trade Name Active Ingredients Dose* Notes*
(Manufacturer)
Baytril Otic (Bayer) Enrofloxacin 0.5%, 5 - 15 drops Otitis externa;
Silver sulfadiazine (depending on dog especially involving
(SSD)1% size) q12h for up to Gram - bacteria; also
14 days has antifungal/yeast
activity (SSD)
Forte Topical Neomycin 1.75%, *2 - 12 drops Bacterial otitis
polymyxin B 5000 (depending on ear
U/ml, penicillin G size) q12h
procaine 10,000
IU/ml

Corticosteroid + Antimicrobial Preparations

Trade Name Active Ingredients Dose* Notes*
(Manufacturer)
Tresaderm Neomycin 0.25%, *2 - 12 drops Bacterial, yeast or
triamcinolone 0.1%, (depending on ear allergic otitis
thiabendazole 4% size) q12h
 Otics 3

Panolog (Fort Neomycin 0.25%, *2 - 12 drops Bacterial, yeast or

Dodge) triamcinolone 0.1%, (depending on ear allergic otitis
nystatin 100,000 U/ml size) q12h
Liquachlor (Evsco) Chloramphenicol *2 - 12 drops Bacterial, allergic
0.42%, prednisone (depending on ear otitis
0.17%, tetracaine size) q12h
2%, squalene
Gentocin Otic Gentamicin 3 mg/ml *2 - 12 drops Bacterial
Solution (Schering) Betamethasone 1 (depending on ear (Pseudomonas),
mg/ml size) q12h allergic otitis
Otomax (Schering); Gentamicin 0.3%, be- *2 - 12 drops Bacterial
Otibiotic (Vetus) tamethasone 0.1%, (depending on ear (Pseudomonas),
clotrimazole 1% size) q12h allergic, fungal otitis

Antiparasitic Preparations
Trade Name Active Ingredients Dose* Notes*
(Manufacturer)
Aurimite (Schering) DSS 1.952%, Apply 10 drops into
benzocaine 1.952%, ear twice daily until
technical piperonyl ticks/mites are
butoxide .49%, eliminated
Pyrethrins 0.04%,
Cerumite (Evsco) Pyrethrins 0.05%, *2 - 12 drops For ear mites
squalene 25% (depending on ear
size) q12h
Otomite Plus Pyrethrins 0.15%. Clean ear, instill For ear mites
(Virbac); Mita-Clear technical piperonyl enough to wet ear
(Pfizer) butoxide 1.5%, N-oB canal and massage.
dicarboximide 0.5%, Retreat in 7 days
Di-n-P isoinchome-
ronate 1%