Sleeping with a sixty pound bundle of black and tan fur on the bed can be challenging, sleeping with one who is chronically shaking his head throwing dollops of drool around the room like rain falling in the rainforest is impossible. Then, just when the head shaking stops and you heave a huge sigh of relief, thinking “finally” you’re both going to get some sleep, the ground thumping, bed shaking, digging for gold in his ear starts, and the digging is, of course, accompanied by moans and groans and other bizarre and spooky sounds that bring the kids running from their room to yours screaming that the creature from the lagoon is in the house somewhere preparing to attack. My best advice to you, given this scenario, is that you should never, ever raise your Gordon Setter’s ear flap to have a “look see” at what’s wrong in there, because at night, in the dark, without outside ventilation to chase it away, the smell that wafts out from under that ear flap will send you running for the nearest exit and will ruin the rest of your night’s sleep unless you’re a zombie who thinks dead, decaying body odor is homey!
Yep, your Gordon Setter has an ear infection, and it’s probably another ear infection, and I’ll bet you’ve tried just about every cure you’ve been handed and still the trouble persists. Well I’m not here to sell you anything, no new-fangled products on my shelves, no 800 number to dial and you won’t hear “wait, there’s more…if you dial in the next 10 seconds we’ll give you 2 more widgets for the incredibly low price of …” What I will do is share a remedy that I swear is priceless. Since I started using this stuff over 10 years ago my Gordon Setters have all been completely clear of ear infections, and that is close to a miracle in long-eared breeds. In addition to being a cure for ear infections, the Purple Stuff (as I call it) can and should be used as your dog’s regular ear cleaner. Did I mention that it’s also cheap?
The recipe that follows is for a large bottle, simply divide the amounts to create a smaller bottle to fit the number of dogs you own.
- 16 oz witch hazel or isopropyl alcohol
- 4 tablespoons boric acid powder
- 16 drops gentian violet solution (1% solution) You may need to ask for this at the pharmacy counter if it is not on the shelf, and in some instances the pharmacist may not have it in stock but will order for you. It’s inexpensive so don’t worry about a huge price tag.
(Gentian violet has antibacterial and antifungal properties and is commonly used to treat Thrush in babies and small children. It is also a bright purple or violet color, you won’t mistake it for something else.)
DIRECTIONS: Mix all the ingredients together in a resealable bottle and shake to mix. Remember to shake well before each use.
Use a dropper to fill the ear canal with the solution. Put a cotton ball (I like those little square make up pads better but you get my drift) at the edge of the ear to hold the solution in the canal while you massage the base of the ear to move the solution deep into the ear canal. If this is the first treatment you may need to reload the ear with the solution more than once to completely flush all the dirt and debris, wiping the ear after filling with solution until it is completely cleaned.
If using Purple Stuff to clear an active infection you must use it twice a day for two full weeks. Fill each ear canal with the solution, rub the ear a bit to get the solution down in to the canal and simply allow the dog to shake the remainder of the solution free – be aware that staining from the dye can occur, though I’ve never had a problem with this. After the initial two weeks of treatment cleaning your dog’s ears with the Purple Stuff once monthly is generally adequate for maintenance.
And that’s it! No gimmicks, nothing expensive, no standing on your head while offering a prayer to some dog-eared Goddess, oh, and best of all you get a sound night’s sleep! It’s simply a good home remedy that dog lovers and have learned to trust, especially for those stubborn infections that refuse to heal.
Till next time friends…
Sally Gift, Mesa AZ
Gordon Setter Photo “Fiona” by Susan Roy Nelson
Gordon Setter Expert 
I notice that there is a 2% gentian violet available. Can I use that or is there a reason that the 1% is suggested?
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I am sorry but I don’t know the answer to that.
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Fabulous advice/ help…will try it out ! Thank you ! 😃
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Hey Sally!
Just ordered the supplies to make some solid Purple Stuff for our adolescent Gordon. So thankful to have a sustainable, effective, home-made remedy to use. Thanks!
Any similar concoctions for a chronic “rash” on the groin area? Not bacterial, possibly fungal, definitely hard to get rid of. Also, NOT thyroid. Doesn’t look at all like acne to me. We’ve been to the vet four times already (time for a new vet, probably). But I’m hoping someone may have experience with this before. We’ve tried antibiotics, anti-bacterial shampoo, and betagen. It is a red, flaky, flat rash. Seems limited to the hairless area on his groin. He doesn’t seem terribly bothered by it, but at times licks at it. I can’t tell what makes it worse (or better).
Next up I will try the purple stuff on the skin itself and see how that goes. I’m DREADING this being an allergy … but we’re circling the drain over here for remedies/answers.
-Georgia
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Good Question Georgia! I’m going to post your question on our Gordon Setter Student/Mentors Facebook Group to see if anyone there has any experience with something like what you described. If you have a photo of the rash forward it to my email here at gordonsetterexpert@gmail.com.
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It’s just plain rubbing alcohol Graham, the stuff we’re all familiar with that is used everywhere for cleansing and killing bacteria/germs, you know all that bad stuff that cause infection.
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Thanks Sally
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From our Facebook friend:
Wendy Smith
I have been using a similar product bought in the UK called Quistal. .. works a treat. Thankyou Sally Gift
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From our Facebook friend Barbara Manson
If you have yeast this time of year, I use 1/2 vinegar and 1/2 alcohol with amazing results as an ear solution. It cleans and kills yeast and pseudomonas. Yeast itches fiercely and dogs can spread it to other areas of their body by itching their ears then neck, belly, etc. if you notice stinky ears with yellowish wax and yellow scale on the ear flaps, this could be your problem. Clean the ears daily with the vinegar and alcohol. Bathe the dog with a tea tree shampoo to reduce itching (I like miracle coat) and instead of conditioner, rinse with one cup of vinegar mixed with a gallon of warm water ( I use a milk jug). At the point I’m going to apply the rinse, I put the plug in the tub so the rinse does not go down the drain and let the dog stand in it to kill the yeast on the feet. Make sure you’ve applied the rinse to the entire body but not the face. I do not rinse the vinegar solution off. I let the dog drip it off after the bath. This really curbs the itching. Rebathe the dog whenever you note they are itching but bathe at least twice a week initially. I mix 1/4 cup of vinegar and the rest water in a 1 quart spray bottle and treat any bald patches daily until the skin heals. It’s cheap and works like a charm. Incidentally, my regular ear cleaning solution is 1/3 each of vinegar, alcohol and water. Before treating your dogs ears with alcohol, be sure there are no open sores visible. If that’s the case, check with your vet. Keep the hair trimmed around the ears to get as much air as possible to the ears.
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This works. And do NOT neglect the Violet. Yes…. it’s like someone spilled a bad Sharpie marker. But YES. And these guys SO love a good ear rub.
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Isn’t that the truth!!
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Have used this — prefer the witch hazel recipe — but find that the boric acid powder crystalizes and falls out of solution. Shaking it up does not do anything and I don’t want those crystals going into the dog’s ears. Any suggestions?
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I’ve always used the alcohol and never had the crystal problem so perhaps that would be a solution for you.
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Look for a food allergy to solve the underlying problem!
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Great advice Wendy, thanks for sharing!
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Thanks!
Sent from my iPhone
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We have used this concoction for many years and can attest to its effectiveness!
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