Forums » Tackling Skin and Ear Disease

• VetVine CE

  

  • 416 posts
   

  August 5, 2025 11:36 AM EDT

  This question was asked during our webinar titled "Tackling Itchy and Smelly Ears":
  
  

  Question:  
  Regarding the use of Surolan – based on the study you showed, do you advise increasing the number of drops to be applied (vs what is on the label) in large dogs?

  
  Answer by Jason Pieper, DVM, MS, DACVD:
  Yes, I believe that insufficient quantity / volume of medication applied into the ear is a major reason why some otitis externa cases don't resolve. We need to have enough medication to get down deep into the ear canal. 

  My general rule of thumb is the following:

  • Small dogs (< 25 pounds) I will use 0.25 mL
  • Dogs weighing  25-50 pounds I will use 0.5 mL
  • Dogs weighing 50-75 pounds I use 0.75 mL
  • Dogs weighing more than 75 pounds I will use 1 mL
    
    

  Granted, if they have huge ear canals - such as a Basset Hound - and are in the lower weight range, I usually will push to 1 mL.