My Dogs Ear Drums are Ruptured

My vet has advised me that my dogs ear drums are ruptured.  Nike (the dog) has had ear infections from 9 weeks on, seems they just never go away.  I finally needed answers and the vet was surprised to see that the ear drums were ruptured.  He told me Surgery will be the last result for Nike.  He told me to wash his ears with Alcohol and Vinegar daily to see what results we get.  Will his ear drums heal?  Is this solution safe with ruptured ear drums?  Please I need answers.

[ginger899]

I'm so sorry, I don't know much about this, and have no experience with ruptured ear drums.
The alcohol and vinegar would act as an antiseptic, sure. But I do wonder if it would be too 'drying' for his ear? It would strip the natural wax in the outer ear. I wonder if there is another solution?
I would be inclined to use Echinacea ointment. But that is because I do use this for many things and find it effective. It works well for dogs. Or bathe his ear with a tea made from Echinacea (cooled of course) However that is only a suggestion. You could ask your vet about it.

[chasha33]

My Great Pyrnees has had ear problems since he was a baby he is 6 now and still continues with really foul smelling ears.He averages being on meds for them 2 weeks a month.His eardrums have ruptured in the past as well and they healed up fine without causing any other problems.As far as surgery ,What is the need for that?Other than doing  an irrigation on both of them to flush them out,I wouldnt see a need for any surgical procedure at this time.Did your vet give you an antibiotic flush and pain meds? Baytril works really well in the ears when mixed with an ear flush like Trizeta.As far as the vinegar mix that is just a cheap at home solution to clean the ears.Sometimes it works better than a $20.bottle of ear cleaner from the vet....Also i am not sure about using the alcohol mix with vinegar with his ears being ruptured at this time.I know that the vinegar want irritate them,But im not so sure about the alcohol.Well i wish you the best ....Chan

[Misfits4Me]

It's my understanding that with a RUPTURE you DO NOT put any liquids in the ear! Oral antibiotics are a must...DO NOT use alcohol, ever...It is too drying and burns like He!!. If you use vinegar, it has to be a vinegar solution, not straight vinegar. It also burns terribly and I would not use it for a rupture, either. Nothing should go in the ear till it heals. That's why you treat orally and for a longer period of time than usual. I believe you need to take him to see another Vet. This condition is extremely painful and both of your Vet's suggestions will just increase his pain and I mean dramatically! Please, let us know how he's doing and good luck....Karla