Ear medications should be instilled once or twice daily, or as directed by your veterinarian. Antibiotics commonly prescribed to treat external ear infections include Panolog (neomycin, nystatin, cortisone), Liquichlor (chloram-phenicol), Tresderm (neomycin, thiabendazole, cortisone), and Gentocin Otic (gentamicin). Gentamicin can cause ototoxicty or hearing loss, especially if your dog has a ruptured ear drum. Only use this medication under veterinary guidance. Preparations containing miconazole and clortrimazole are also available for treating yeast and fungal infections. Allergic skin reactions can occur with any of these products.
Prolonged use of antibiotics in the ear predisposes the dog to development of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections and the overgrowth of yeast and fungi. When bacterial and fungal cultures are needed, your dog must be off antibiotics for at least three days.