Another dog-ear ailment question...

[baldboy]

Don't worry, I didn't pull any slimy green alien-looking growths out of my dog's ear with a pair of pliers.


My story is this.... My female black lab is about 10 years old. Has always had allergies, but hasn't had the ear problems so persistently until now.

Her ears have been exceptionally itchy for her (shakes her head, groans of relief when you rub her ears etc...) There is a brown residue that accumulated in her ears and over the phone my vet suspected ear mites (she has had them in the distant past). I put the pyrethin ointment (whatever the ear-mite treatment is called) and not only did a larger amount of the brown residue show up but also her ears are red and inflamed, and THEY SMELL AWFUL!!!

I stopped that treatment.

My vet smelled a sample of the ear accumulations and said it was probably a yeast infection.

Tried yeast treatments and no luck. Ears are no better and no worse (I don't think they could be much worse).


My dog is suffering and I could use some advice.

The only ailments I know of are ear mites, bacterial infections, yeast infections, and severe allergies.

Any suggestions on what I might be able to do here?

Thanks!

 

[hooptie]

what brand of food and what formula are you feeding her? this may have a lot to do with it--

i also have a dog with allergies

 

[JuttyShabango]

It's a yeast infection.

Get some Qtips and clean it the best you can not going to deep in the canal. Use H2O2 and a wash cloth to get the ear as clean as possible. Your vet should be able to give you a cream for it to cure it.

It can make your dog go deaf if not treated..

 

[78-FJ40]

Well I'd go back to the vet before I'd solicit advice from a bunch of mud haters.

 

[JuttyShabango]

Are your dogs ears floppy?

 

[hooptie]

dogs with allergies will suffer from chronic ear infections unless you change some things like the diet--

many dogs are allergic in some way to grains -- my dog is also allergic to poultry...

look into the brand timberwolf-- the formula is ocean blue...

it may help...

 

[Degnol]

Pointer has had ear problems off and on...............

This is what I use. Two are cleansers and the Otomax is Rx
I use the EpiOtic monthly and have no problems since.

GL
Ed

 

[baldboy]

Thanks for the advice.


I knew that untreated ear problems could lead to deafness and that is why I am so concerned (that and the fact that my baby girl is suffering).


As for the dog food, the pups prefer Kibbles N' Bits Savory Beef and Chicken Flavor, so that is what I buy them.

It has 19.0% Protein, Some Poultry, I can't remember what else.

I am sure that there is a healthier alternative for them to eat but my budget is limited and with two big dogs I go through a lot of food.

I will talk to my vet again and maybe get a second vet's opinion (No culture of the ear substance was ever taken)



Thanks again for all of your suggestions and let me know if you come up with anything else.

Joshua

 

[cruisershmoozer]

I have two cocker spaniels.
They are known for persistent ear problems. In fact, one of mine had one of her ears ablated when she was 5 because the infections became so bad and frequent and nothing would help it (surgically removed and closed up). I tried the otomax, oral antibiotics, you name it. The only thing that has ever worked is this formula that I found on line recently. After it proved successful, I shared it with my vet and he gives the recipe to other clients with difficult cases. the site is a reputable cocker breeder in CA.

I hope it helps. I know how you feel with the poor dog suffering.
http://www.zimfamilycockers.com/EarCleaner.html

Good luck!

 

[hooptie]

i hear you- hang in there though... i am sure you will find out a solution

 

[brett76]

dude my dog doesnt have any ear problems except the last week they fxxxing stink

bad

i did the q tip adn wash cloth but they still fxxxing stink

bad

but he doesnt itch or shake his head or anything

wtf

and i mean stink bad like i just washed him and was like why do you still stink
finally i pinpointed it after a couple of days of what the fxxxing

any ideas will be helpful

 

[Dmax]

My dog had the same problem and it turned out to be ear mites. The vet will give you ointment to losen it up and some cleanser to wash it out, good luck

 

[cruisershmoozer]

I also had some allergy testing done for my problem dog. It identified exactly what she was allergic to (food and environment), so I could zero in on a brand of food that would work. If you're interested in more about this, PM me and I'll go into excrutiating detail.