Just noticed this thread on hydrogen peroxide, and use in ears, etc.
 
Here's the skinny on hydrogen peroxide - it can be used in some instances
to clean wounds, etc., but usually only in the initial phases.
 
Hydrogen peroxide has both good and bad properties.  The good properties
of peroxide are that
 
a) it fizzes upon contact with tissue.  Now if you have a lot of dirt in
a wound, bacteria, etc., this action can bring some material to the
surface that would otherwise sit in a wound - so this physical action is
beneficial.
 
B) Peroxide has a mild anti-bacterial effect (although alcohol and iodine
are stronger against bacteria.  Adding peroxide to tissues liberates
oxygen-containing free radicals which will work against bacteria at least
in some fashion.  However, it also works against healthy tissue as well.
 
c) It doesn't hurt.
 
Now for the bad parts:
 
1) Wounds treated with hydrogen peroxide heal more slowly.  Most hospitals
and doctors recommend against using peroxide as a repetitive cleansing
agent for wounds.
 
2) After the fizz is gone, hydrogen peroxide becomes simple water.  This
makes it a very bad choice for an ear cleaner.  I far prefer an astringent
for use in ears.  Using peroxide overtime is just like pouring water into
your ferrets ears, and eventually you will end up with an infection.
 
3) Unlike iodine solutions (like betadine, etc.) there is absolutely no
residual antibacterial action.
 
For routine cleansing of wounds, water with a little bit of soap, or a
little bit of an iodine-containing soap is the way to go.  For ears, the
combination of a ceruminolytic applied first (something that dissolves
wax), followed by an alcohol-based product for cleaning (which will help
dry up moist ears) is the most appropriate way to go.
 
With kindest regards,
Bruce Williams, DVM
[Posted in FML issue 3511]