[Nachum]

Great advice. Thank you so much. It is the “black discharge” with a ‘funky bitter smell’. She doesn’t complain at all. We just smell it.

[AnAmericanMother]

If she's not scratching persistently and in discomfort, it's probably not the ear mites. I had those with one of my cats but never with the dogs. They are on the FrontLine Plus for fleas and ticks, and I just wonder if it doesn't keep other nasties away as well even though it's off label.

The trick is (1) get on top of the cleaning/medication and (2) find a better dog food. Check the label - if she's getting a lot of grains (especially corn) she may be allergic. You could have her allergy tested, but it's easier just to try different foods to see what helps.

Seriously, when my Lab was 2-3 years old we just could not get on top of this thing. As soon as we switched to the AvoDerm it started clearing up, and about 2 years ago we switched to the TOTW and it has never come back.

I can't remember the last time I cleaned her ears. I just got up, went over to the sofa and lifted up one of her ears and took a good look and sniff. Maybe a faint odor, but the ear is beautiful, pink and clean all the way down.