My boxer suffers from allergies, her ears have been a problem, dirty and itchy but nothing there. Buy a good ear cleanser(from vet or pet store) apply to cotton ball and clean inside of ear and at same time squeeze solution into ear. Then massage ear to loosen gunk and doggy will shake head and hopefully gunk out. It will also dry the ear. After several hours, I apply Otomax (prescription from your vet). This medicine is wonderful!!!! It takes care of itchy ears for 7-14 days, and just a little works. Good luck and hope this works for you as well as it has for my baby.