Ear Wax?

[kdn8100]

The other day I while brushing and cleaning in preparation for a ride, I noticed that our mule had a lot of goopy, dark gray gunk in his ears, and caught in the fuzzy winter hair in his ears. His ears do not appear to be tender or sore or bother him in any way (he's always bent his head down for you to rub/scratch his ears) and he didn't fuss when I cut the gunk stuck to his fur off. I have searched the web, learned that ear wax is normally the dark gray stuff like I found, but I guess I was alarmed because it seemed to be alot (maybe because this is the first winter we've had him and the first time he's had furry ears to catch the stuff?).

Should I be alarmed? Should I attempt to clean the debris from his ears? If so, with what? Looking forward to any ideas here. Thanks in advance...

[cutting_horse_maniac]

Hi~

I clean the ear wax from my horses ears. Not everybody does it but I do. I use my finger very gently clean it out. Don't go very deep though. I figure it like this. You clean your ears and when you don't they get itchy and irritating. They probably feel the same way.

Some times if the ear wax is goopy as you put it can be an ear infection. Ear wax is normally just that. Waxy and a little flakey. If it is goopy and sticky it normally a ear infection and if it is what you can do is what I do with my horse that gets ear infections every winter from the cold air. It won't hurt him if you do this and he doesn't have an ear infection it is just easier to do it at the beginning of winter.

Damp'n a wash cloth with diesel just damp'n NOT DRIPPING and just very gently wipe his ear out.

I do it with all 12 of my horses and I have yet to have a bad reaction to it.

Hopefully this helps you out. If you need anything else just let me know.

[blahblahblah]

wow i've never heard of horses having earwax!!:o
sheesh ya learn something new everyday!!