Anyway to treat this at home? Google was unhelpful as most just say to bring him to the vet. I washed the ear out with water and vinegar. Called the vet and they said I have to bring him in to get antibiotics. Ear is red with dark brown wax.

Thanks

We had one dog that was a constant battle with her ears. What my wife and I used was same thing I used in my ears when I came out of the river or some pond form a dive.
Is alcohol and white vinegar. Mix 10-1 regular rubbing alcohol 10 parts to 1 part white vinegar.
Wife would wash dogs eat out good with soap water. Trim hair to open the ear get some air in there. Then shoot a squirt of the 10-1 in there. If it's just one ear I would guess if you watch it's the side the dog lay's on.
Some dogs ears just hang so they never dry inside. Our lab that had the problem when ever she came out of the water I'd give her shot 10-1 in each ear. They going to shake their head like crazy which helps throw water out. The 10-1 dries ear canal helps set ph.
It wasn't a cure all but saved lots of running to vet. Been doing it with myself and dogs for over well over 40 years
I also never had an ear infection in my lifetime diving.

Mac

they sell spray bottles with the soft ear tips for flushing ears got ours very similar to what the nurse was using off amazon for less than co-pay at the clinic

my son is prone to ear infections , after the doc flushed his ear it got much less often so now we flush I have just been using town chlorinated warm water from the tap same as the nurse was using at the clinic

I am going to have to borrow Mac's recipe because yes his first really bad one was after swimming in the river

Thanks guys, I tried macs recipe just now.

those spray bottles for ears are great when you see all the ear wax crud that will flush out

it takes s little time pumping the water in then stuff loosens up and floats right out

Look for ZYMOX, OTIC enzymatic solution with hydrocortisone.
Squirt it in the ear, massage it in and that's it. Dog will shake most of the nasties out, then wipe up as much stuff thats left and re treat. might have to do it every day for a few days but this has cleared up some bad infections for us.

Yeah Green I kinda forgot that part. My wife used a big old suction ball deal almost like a baster. She suck up warm water soap stuff flush dogs ear get all black gunk moving. Then wipe dogs ear with soft towel, viva paper towels work nice. Their soft enough for babies behind not that stiff and scratchy like most. Heck guy can even use baby wipes get the gunk out. Then give good shot of the 10-1 dry things out.
That dog ours got so used to my wife messing with her ears. I think she actually enjoyed it. Most fight a bit messing with them.
When we come out of the duck marsh after dogs been swimming or mudded up. They get hosed off in basement shower and shot goo in the ears. I think that alcohol might sting just a bit especially if already raw. But it dries out that moisture that the gunk likes to grow in. It's cheap to mix up and use liberally, can't really hurt anything. I have bottle stashed in each my vehicles and my dive gear bag. Even had bottle in little first aid kid for dog when hunting farther from home.
Some dog don't seem to have much problems with ears. Vet told us years ago is dog by dog deal right down how the ears hang.

Mac

Took my heeler to the vet. They put her to sleep and used a syringe to vigorously clean the bad ear. Said it would have been very painful for the dog. If worked. Don’t know what kind of meds they flushed her ear with. Cleaned it out very well. I watched it.

I probably have 3 turkey basters around here and I think the only thing I have never used them for was a turkey

usually an automotive fluid

Red skin with dark brown wax, in the ear is likely from ear mites. A few drops of Ivomec rubbed around in the ear will kill them.

Keith

It's only one ear though and he gets Frontline, could that still be mites?

You can get a solution at most vets or tractor supply . My bassett like all are notorious ear infected dogs. Can't remember the brand but it clears it up. Sweet oil will help but you might take to vet to make sure it's not ear mites. I'll call and find out brand

This is what I use for my labs.

Me too. Owned duck dogs my whole life. I used tri-otic. Works great. Cheap, and a bottle will last quite awhile.

Ol dad

Google "purple stuff" for dogs. Best stuff I have ever used for duck dogs. Home remedy.

Moosetrot

Ear mite issues most treatments are a mineral oil base if not pure mineral oil.