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A traditional canker powder remedy that can be applied directly to the ear surface of dogs, cats and small animals in order to treat cases of ear mite. Ear mite causes visible symptoms of wax build-up and is often accompanied by an unpleasant odour.
Thornit Ear Powder is considered by many to provide the most effective treatment against ear mite, helping to reduce symptoms and ease irritation. The powder works rapidly when massaged gently just inside the ear surface, acting to eliminate wax caused by troublesome ear mites.
It is worthwhile applying Thornit to the paws of your animal also, in order to prevent cross-contamination. This can be done with ease by placing some of the powder in a bag and working it into the paw, pads and halfway up the leg.
Zinc Oxide, Talc, Iodoform, Boric.
For all treatments only a very small amount of Thornit is needed per dose. Care should be taken as iodoform could stain a pale carpet or furnishings.
Any excess moisture can be gently mopped up with a cotton wool swab. DO NOT REMOVE WAX. Under normal circumstances powder should NOT be put into the ears, but brown wax acts as a cork.
Get the animal in a good position lying on its side. With cats this can be difficult and help may be needed. Give the animal some love, apply a pinch of powder using the end of a small spoon. Lightly dust around the inner ear, avoiding the ear hole. Gently massage it in with your fingers from the outside. Apply Thornit twice a day. Relief comes with the first dose, but the treatment should continue for 1-5 days (usually 3). When the brown wax starts to move - stop treating. This means the mite is dead, and the wax will come away, pushing out the powder and leaving a clean ear. A pinch of Thornit in each ear once a week will keep the animal free from re-infection.
For breeds with long ears it is advisable to dip the ends of the ears in Thornit once a week.
Thornit can also be used for stripping hair from ears - Apply half teaspoon to the hair. This makes it much easier to finger pull the hair, as it comes away easily.
Intense scratching
Dust Thornit lightly onto skin. If animal has long hair, part with a comb and feed a trickle of Thornit to the exposed skin. A little powder goes a long way.
Apply just a tiny amount of cream or Vaseline to the finger of glove and dip into Thornit. Apply to just under tail where necessary.
Hold the paw in a plastic bag containing a small amount of Thornit. Work powder between claws, into pads and a long way up the leg.
All prices include VAT where applicable.
Under almost all products on our website is an Estimated dispatch time, check this for a delivery prediction specific to the item you are looking to purchase. These badges are updated live based on the stock levels we have and also those of our suppliers - so are usually very accurate, but cannot be guaranteed. In more general terms, we aim to dispatch all orders within 1 working day of receiving payment (and a prescription if required). If we cannot do so within 3 working days we will contact you by email.
For UK delivery, we charge the following:
| Order Total | Weight | Delivery |
| £0-£28.99 | Under 2kg | £2.99 |
| 2kg+ | £4.99 | |
| £29-£38.99 | Under 2kg | Free |
| 2kg+ | £4.99 | |
| £39+ | Under 2kg | Free |
| 2kg+ | Free |
Prices quoted are for delivery to all parts of mainland UK except certain Scottish postcodes (where the price is higher for items sent by courier. Delivery of food abroad (including Channel Islands, N. Ireland and other islands around the UK) is charged at a higher price and free delivery is not available. Temperature controlled products are also not always subject to the standard and/or free delivery options.
For full information on our delivery charges, including prices on heavy deliveries to Scotland and abroad, see our delivery information page.
We can deliver most items to all around the world, but prices do vary. To find the exact cost of shipping your item, and to see all options available, follow these steps:
Due to restrictions aerosols can't be sent by Royal Mail. We appreciate your understanding.
Some products, such as non-ambient items and frozen food, need to be delivered in insulated packaging to prevent them from getting too warm (or too cold) during transit from us to you. Purchasing any of these items in your order will result in a £1.99 charge being added to the total to cover the high cost of the insulated packaging materials. You only pay the £1.99 once per order, regardless of how many temperature controlled items you purchase in that order.
Please call us as soon as possible if you need to amend or cancel an order on 01582 842096. If your order has been processed for dispatch we will be unable to cancel or amend the order. You will however be able to return your product for a full refund*.
To return an item, you must contact us by phone or email to arrange this BEFORE posting any product back to us. We will explain the process at this stage for you.
*For full details on returns, see our terms and conditions page.
Below are some recent questions we've received regarding Thornit Canker Ear Powder, including answers from our team.
Emma Skeates
I have been using Thornit on my Labrador now for 4 days. He has had ongoing ear infections for most of his life which I have spent a fortune on with various vet prescribed washes, drops and oral antibiotics, none of which have helped. So I thought I would try this. The wax (well brown yukky stuff) seems definitely to be drying up slightly, but there is still a lot of moisture when I massage his ear. The texture is changing to a more treacle like consistency. My question is (a) how long does this normally take to work and (b) do I need to wash his ears out with ear wash whilst treating him with Thornit?
Hello Emma,
Thank you for your question.
Thornit works by drying out the canker so we wouldn't recommend washing out his ears as you are wetting the powder. You can carry on using for a little longer for up to 10 days but if the problem hasn't been resolved by then it probably isn't canker or mites and you would need to speak to your vet again.
Hope this helps,
VioVet.
Coral
Hi, can you please let me know if thornit is safe for my 16 week old poodle puppy
There are no ingredients in Thronit that are unsafe for puppies so you should be fine to use it.
Hayley Bailey
Can Thornit powder be used for pregnant bitches? Thanks
This product should not have any effect on the pregnancy in any way, though the general advice is to avoid any medication in the first third of pregnancy (first 3 weeks for a bitch) if possible.
Sandra Boajey
Can I administer Thornit powder on my choc labs itchy sore ears because he does suffer with skin problems
This product should be safe to use at the opening of the ear canal. However there are lots of causes of ear trouble and this will not be able to treat all of them. Many people do find it to be effective.
Clive
Is thornit safe to use on lactating bitch?
There is nothing in this which should cause a problem for puppies or the bitch, so it should be safe if used as directed.
Anna
How does it work
How does the powder kill the mites?
This is not stated but I expect it will be a mechanical obstruction of the spiracles (breathing pores) found on the surface of the mites. It is probably not a chemical effect as such.
Trish Shorland
How can I administer the power without getting it in the ear canal
If this is applied to the inside of the ear flap and the top of the ear canal, a minimal amount will travel a short distance into the ear canal. It is in fact difficult to get a powdered product to travel deep into the ear canal even if you try. Having said that, most modern veterinary dermatologists recommend that powdered products are never placed inside the ear canal. This makes it a contentious issue because this particular product appears to work well when used as directed. I am sure that some powder will travel a short way inside. I think everybody agrees that if an ear is producing lots of discharge, this needs washing/cleaning out. Clogging the outer ear up by adding powder to it would usually be a bad thing. However a mildly sore ear which appears not to be obstructed with debris will often respond well to this product. The over-riding advice has always to be to consult your own veterinary surgeon if in any doubt or if your pet is in discomfort or not responding well to something you are doing.
