Shar-Pei's Ear Infection Saga: A Lifelong Struggle

Hello everyone, I've been dealing with allergies my whole life, and it's always a nightmare when my allergies turn into an ear infection. Shar-Peis are notorious for getting ear infections, especially after eating something they shouldn't or going outside without a hat on a windy day. I've learned to expect ear pain, itching, redness, and a bunch of excess earwax. At first, we used Surolan ear drops, which seemed okay, but eventually they just stopped working because my dog got used to them. Then we found Otosol, but they've been out of stock in Russia for months now. We needed to find a good alternative or something that actually worked. Our vet recommended trying Isotik, and I was a bit skeptical since I'd read online that it can cause allergic reactions. But we're dealing with a super allergic dog here, so I took the risk and bought it. And I'm so glad I did - I'll tell you all about it.

Isotik Ear Drops

Manufacturer: Virbac, France

Form: suspension

Volume: 10 ml

Available: over-the-counter

Price: 1150 rubles

Packaging. It's a small cardboard box with the product name and description on the front. The back has some more detailed information, and the manufacturer strongly recommends reading the instructions before use.

I was stoked to find out that the product is genuine and made in France, as confirmed by the barcode check. The expiration date is exactly two years, printed on the bottom of the packaging. I've noticed that all modern medications now have a QR code, which is probably due to the lack of old packaging. Inside the packaging, you'll find the actual product and a detailed annotation, which I've taken a close-up photo of - just in case you need to inspect it before buying. The packaging is made of plastic, has a long nozzle, and a protective cap that prevents accidental squeezing. To be honest, the packaging is so small that I was surprised by the price when I first saw it. Ingredients.

ingredientshydrocortisone aceponate - 1.11 mg, gentamicin (sulfate form) - 1505 IU, miconazole (nitrate form) - 15.1 mg;

and the auxiliary component: paraffin up to 1 ml.

The ingredients are quite diverse and safe, without any harsh chemicals like alcohol that most manufacturers use. The hormone, antibiotic, and antifungal agents are all mixed with a soothing and moisturizing paraffin.

Consistency. Color. Smell. It's a white, uniform serum with no smell at all. The liquid spreads quickly and evenly on the skin, leaving a slight oily residue after absorption. I didn't experience any burning or redness.

Indications.

I used this treatment for my dog's outer ear infection caused by mixed infections (bacterial and fungal), including Malassezia pachydermatis and Staphylococcus pseudointermedius.

Contraindications.

Don't use it on dogs with a perforated eardrum. Also, avoid using it on dogs with hypersensitivity to the active ingredients.

Method of use.

Before using, clean your dog's ear canal with a cotton swab and some ear cleaning solution to remove wax and debris.

Before the first use, press the pump 2 times to fill the cannula with the full dose of the treatment. Insert the cannula into the outer ear canal and administer 1 ml of the suspension. Administer the suspension once a day for 5 days.

This treatment is a lifesaver - it quickly relieves the pain and itching, and reduces the swelling in the affected area thanks to the presence of gentamicin.

My experience with the treatment.

I have to say, the soft cannula is a game-changer. It's so gentle on the ear and doesn't cause any discomfort, even when the ears are inflamed. The only downside is that the soft tube is hard to remove and clean under running water. I had to use a cotton swab to clean it out after each use.

Warning: don't look at the next part if you're squeamish!When I first started using this treatment, the ear wax was like glue, with a really unpleasant smell. It was like my dog's ears were a breeding ground for bacteria. After 2-3 days of searching for the previous treatment, the ears had gotten even worse, and I had to continue the treatment for 5 days, administering it once a day. I guess that's a plus - this treatment only needs to be administered once a day.

I always make sure to clean my dog's ears carefully before applying any treatment. I use cotton swabs to gently wipe away any dirt or debris, but be careful not to push the swab too far into the ear canal, or you might end up pushing in earwax that's hard to get out. I've had to deal with that before, and it's not fun. Luckily, my vet recommends a different approach, and I've been using it ever since. Before the first application, I make sure to shake the bottle well until I hear the clicks. Then, I carefully insert the cannula into my dog's ear and squeeze the applicator. Be careful not to overdo it, as the applicator can dispense a lot of liquid. I usually only use half the recommended amount. After applying the treatment to both ears, I massage the area gently to help the liquid spread evenly. My dog gets a bit anxious during this process, but it's worth it in the end. Within 10 minutes, he's calm and relaxed, and the treatment starts to take effect. I've tried to take a photo of his ears, but he's not a fan of that, so I had to catch him off guard. After the treatment, his ears looked much better, and the itching and scratching stopped. By the next day, the swelling had gone down, and the treatment was working like a charm. Our treatment course lasted 5 days, and I'm happy to report that there were no adverse reactions. In fact, my dog's ears looked and felt much better, and the earwax had dissolved completely. I was skeptical at first, but this treatment really works. The bottle was only half empty after 5 days, which is impressive, considering I thought it would be enough for only one course. I highly recommend Isotik ear drops. They really work, and we were able to clear up my dog's severely infected ears within 5 days. Now, I'm using them on my cat, who's also showing signs of ear problems. The results are already visible, and I'm glad I found a decent alternative to Otosol.

quickly relieves itching and swellingremoves unpleasant odoreasy to applyhas no smellgood formulaeffective against complex otitis Cons:

can't remove the cannula Thanks for reading, and feel free to check out my other reviews:

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