Mometasone Furoate, Gentamicin Sulfate, Clotrimazole

How is this medication useful?

Combination topical treatments contain multiple active ingredients, making it easier to treat bacterial, fungal, and inflammatory ear conditions.

• Mometasone furoate, a steroid, is a cortisone-like medicine that relieves itching and inflammation.

• Gentamicin sulfate, an antibiotic, treats bacterial infections.

• Clotrimazole, an antifungal, treats yeast infections.

The FDA (U.S. Food & Drug Administration) has approved this topical medicine combination for use in dogs to treat bacterial and yeast infections of the ears. You and your veterinarian can discuss why medicine drug is the most appropriate choice.

What should I tell my veterinarian to see if this medication can be safely given?

Many things might affect how well this medicine will work in your dog. Be sure to discuss the following with your veterinarian so together you can make the best treatment decisions.

• Other medicines can interact with this medication, so be sure to tell your veterinarian and pharmacist what medications (including other topical medicines, vitamins, supplements, herbal therapies) you give your dog, including the amount and time you give each.

• Tell your veterinarian about any conditions or diseases your dog may have now or has had in the past.

• If your dog has been treated for the same disease or condition in the past, tell your veterinarian about the treatment and how well it did or did not work.

• If your dog is pregnant or nursing, talk to your veterinarian about the risks of using this medicine.

• Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about any medication side effects (including allergic reactions, lack of appetite, diarrhea, itching, hair loss) your dog has developed in the past.

How long until I will know if this medication is working, and how long will the effects of this medication last?

This medication should help your dog feel better within 1 to 2 hours. Your dog’s clinical signs should improve after that time. The effects of this medication are moderate in duration, meaning they may last for a few days, although the benefits may be prolonged if your dog has decreased kidney and/or liver function.

When should this medication not be used or be used very carefully?

No medicine is 100% safe in all patients, but your veterinarian will discuss with you any specific concerns about using this medicine in your dog.

This medicine SHOULD NOT be used in dogs:

• That are allergic to any of the ingredients found in the combination product.

• With a confirmed or suspected ruptured ear drum.

This medicine should be used WITH CAUTION in dogs:

• With recurring ear infections.

If your dog has any of these conditions, talk to your veterinarian about the potential risks versus benefits.

What are the side effects of this medication?

This medicine is typically well tolerated.

Side effects that usually are not serious include:

• Redness or discomfort at the site of application.

You don’t have to be overly concerned if you see any of these signs unless they are severe, worsen, or continue to be a problem. Contact your veterinarian if this happens.

Side effects that may be serious or indicate a serious problem:

• Infections that do not respond to treatment, do not appear to be healing, or are getting worse.

• Loss of appetite, vomiting, or diarrhea

• Sudden hearing loss

• Progressive ear pain

• Head tilt or walking in circles

• Development of sores around the mouth

• Increased thirst (eg, frequent drinking of large quantities of water) and frequent urination

• Thinning of the skin, progressive hair loss and skin redness, increased skin tears, or infections at the application site

If you see any of these signs, contact your veterinarian immediately.

If my animal gets too much of this medication (an overdose), what should I do?

An overdose could occur if an animal eats the topical medication, if the treatment area covers a large part of your dog’s body, or if too much medicine is applied. If you witness or suspect an overdose, contact your veterinarian or an animal poison control center for further advice. Animal poison control centers that are open 24 hours a day include Pet Poison HELPLINE (855-764-7661) and ASPCAAnimal Poison Control Center (888-426-4435); a consultation fee is charged for these services.

How should this medication be given?

For this medication to work, give it exactly as your veterinarian has prescribed. It’s a good idea to always check the prescription label to be sure you are giving the medicine correctly.

• Administer this medicine to your dog's ear(s) as directed by your veterinarian. Be sure you understand the proper technique to safely give this medicine to your dog.

• Shake the bottle well before use.

• Avoid contact with eyes, mouth, and nose.

• If necessary, your veterinarian may place a collar on your dog to prevent scratching of the ears.

• This medication can be given for various lengths of time. Be sure you understand how long your veterinarian wants you to continue giving this medication. Prescription refills may be necessary before the therapy will be complete. Before stopping this medication, talk to your veterinarian, as there may be important reasons to continue its use.

What should I do if I miss giving a dose of this medication?

If you miss a dose, give it when you remember, but if it is close to the time for the next dose, skip the dose you missed and give it at the next scheduled time. After that, return to the regular dosing schedule. Do not double-up or give extra doses.

How should I store this medication?

• Store this medication in the original container at room temperature.

• This medicine should only be used for 28 days following the first use.

• Keep away from other animals and children.

Can handling this medication be hazardous to me, my family, or other animals?

It is recommended to wear gloves while applying these medicated products; always wash your hands after applying the medication.

How should I dispose of this medication if I don’t use it all?

• Do not flush the contents of these products down the toilet or wash it down the sink. If a community drug “take-back” program is available, use this option. If there is no take-back program, mix the contents with coffee grounds or cat litter (to make it undesirable to children and animals and unrecognizable to people who might go through your trash), place the mixture in a sealable plastic bag to keep it from leaking out, and throw the bag out with the regular trash.

• Do not save leftover product for future use or give it to others to use.

What other information is important for this medication?

• Residual activity from steroid-containing products may affect allergy testing. Unless your veterinarian tells you otherwise, stop giving your dog any steroid- or antihistamine-containing products 2 weeks before allergy testing.

• Effects on the rest of the body can happen with any topically applied medication; however, the risk is greater with steroids.

• Follow-up exams are important for successful treatment of your dog’s condition. Do not miss these important follow-up visits.

• Use of this medicine may not be allowed in certain competitions. Check rules and regulations before entering your dog in a competition while this medication is being administered.

If you have any other questions about this medication, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist.