Zymox Ear Cleanser for Dogs

Dad

I saw this one online. Thought it looked good. Your first reaction?

Boldo

It's a bottle. Okay. But the smell is weird—not bad, just chemical and sort of medicinal. Like when you tried to clean my ears with the old stuff and I hid under the couch for an hour. This one doesn't make me want to hide yet.

Dad

Okay, you've been staring at it for ten minutes. What's the verdict on smell?

Boldo

It's enzymatic, I think. There's something underneath—something that might actually help. Not like a treat smell, but not like punishment either. Is that a squirrel outside? I smell movement.

Dad

Now that you've actually used it — what do you think?

Boldo

Fine. You squirted it in, it didn't burn, and my ears don't feel weird after. The texture is watery, not thick, so it goes in easy. Didn't hate the experience. That's honestly more than I can say for most things you do to my ears.

Dad

The cat hasn't touched it. Does that mean something?

Boldo

The cat doesn't care about anything that isn't a laser pointer or her own smell. She got nowhere near it. But I didn't knock it over either, and you know I knock things over when they're garbage. Speaking of which, are those treats in the kitchen right now?

Dad

Rate it. One to five. You know what the ones are.

Boldo

Four. It actually works. Doesn't stink like old stuff. Ears are clean and I'm not irritated. I won't ask you to use it, but I won't hide when you reach for the bottle anymore. That's basically a rave review for me.