Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

My dogs ears, need so FReeper advice
Nachum ^ | 1/21/11 | Nachum

Posted on 01/21/2011 2:41:39 PM PST by Nachum

We have a black lab/golden retriever mix. We noticed that there was a smell coming from our dog's ears recently. After inspection, there was a lot of black ear-wax like discharge on the inside of her ear. She is not digging or scratching at her ears, but there is the discharge and smell.

After doing some research, the consensus seems to be that she may be suffering some kind of ear infection. Do the FReepers here have experience with ear issues? The site I linked to generally speaks of a remedy of apple cider vinegar and water in the ear.

After a long week of politicking and Obamanations, why not talk about something important- our pets. :)


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Health/Medicine
KEYWORDS: advice; dog; earmites; ears
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 81-100101-120121-140141-156 last
To: gopheraj

First, most wild canines (all as far as I know) have prick ears, so they don’t hold moisture like many of our beloved man made breeds. Perfect breeding ground for bacteria and yeast.
In addition, they ate a different diet than we currently feed our dogs.
AND if they had health issues, they didn’t live to procreate.
Pretty simple.
Oh, and I agree with you about vaccines. Why do they need them every year? In fact:
http://www.avma.org/onlnews/javma/sep04/040915l.asp
Maybe the AVMA doesn’t either....


141 posted on 01/22/2011 2:14:52 PM PST by brytlea
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 134 | View Replies]

To: Nachum
After trying various anti-bacterial ear washes & also hydrogen peroxyde for weeks, our lab still had the black ear goop. Finally after some tests in the lab, our vet determined that our dog had a bacteria that was resistant to anti-baterial meds. It is a form of MSRA that required an anti-bacterial that will penetrate the thick cellular wall of the bacteria. After a couple of treatments, he was cured. I don't remember the name of the meds.

See MRSA bacteria also possess an unusually thick cell wall that makes penetration by many antibiotics difficult

Hope you can get it cured.

See also Vetericyn

142 posted on 01/22/2011 3:58:44 PM PST by jrushing (Anti-American-ProTerrorist-Coward-Fascist-Communist-Socialist-Democratic Party)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Aurorales

Great advice. Thanks.


143 posted on 01/22/2011 6:48:20 PM PST by Nachum (The complete Obama list at www.nachumlist.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 94 | View Replies]

To: GBA

Thanks!


144 posted on 01/22/2011 6:53:31 PM PST by Nachum (The complete Obama list at www.nachumlist.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 93 | View Replies]

To: VictoryGal

Thanks VictoryGal. We will be going to the vet on Monday. :)


145 posted on 01/22/2011 7:00:00 PM PST by Nachum (The complete Obama list at www.nachumlist.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 90 | View Replies]

To: VictoryGal

Thanks VictoryGal. We will be going to the vet on Monday. :)


146 posted on 01/22/2011 7:00:30 PM PST by Nachum (The complete Obama list at www.nachumlist.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 90 | View Replies]

To: Nachum
Yep. We are going to take her in. Just asking people here their experience, if they have seen this before.

My old Golden Retriever used to get that fairly frequently. Your first step is to get the dog to the vet to get both her ears checked, flushed and cleaned out.

Likely the vet will also give you some antibiotic drops to put in one or both her ears to clear up the infection. The best way to keep the infection from coming back is to periodically inspect and clean her ears frequently (every few weeks) to keep the infection from coming back.

The problem with retrievers, labs, cocker spaniels and dogs with heavy hair or fur on their ears is their ears become perfect breeding grounds for bacterial infections or worse yet - ear mites. It's just part of the breed that you'll need to learn to deal with.

First step is the vet and to do the follow up care necessary to eliminate the infection and prevent it from coming back.

Best of luck.

147 posted on 01/22/2011 7:05:52 PM PST by usconservative (When The Ballot Box No Longer Counts, The Ammunition Box Does. (What's In Your Ammo Box?))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: gopheraj

It is true about the ear mites and mineral oil.

But in my experience a lot of these cases are not mites.
A quick vet visit will rule out the ear mites.

Much of this is due to allergies or a drainage problem. Just like frequent ear infections in some children.

If it is not ear mites, I have found Zymox to be the answer to chronic infections or problems that stem from allergies or the drainage problems.


148 posted on 01/22/2011 10:06:40 PM PST by Aurorales (I will not be ridiculed into silence)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 136 | View Replies]

To: brytlea

I agree with you. It’s “funny” (re our dogs) The yorkies in the house have ear problems sometimes but we’ve never had a problem with our outside dogs. We only vac for rabies. Unless we board them (which we dont’) and they HAVE to have shots.


149 posted on 01/23/2011 10:02:44 AM PST by gopheraj
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 141 | View Replies]

To: AnAmericanMother

We put down my 17 yo yorkie poo a few years ago and he had never been to a vet. Ever. His rabies shots came through the yearly rabies clinic. I can count on ONE hand the times we’ve taken ours to a vet through out the years and that includes the Great Danes, the heelers, the English Mastiff and our three yorkies.


150 posted on 01/23/2011 10:06:24 AM PST by gopheraj
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 138 | View Replies]

To: Nachum

Most probably ear mites. treatment is an applied salve, but is probably only available through your vet - ANY and ALL dogs your dog has regular contact with will need the same treatment.


151 posted on 01/23/2011 10:33:19 AM PST by roamer_1 (Globalism is just Socialism in a business suit)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: roamer_1
Most probably ear mites.

and BTW, I can highly recommend the Hydrogen Peroxide trick (be sure it is 2% hp by volume... regular medicinal kind)...

We used to have very regular ear mite infestations here... The hydrogen peroxide treatment, used periodically, seems to prevent full-blown infections. We just do it along with regular bathing (about every 3 mo. or so), as an addition prior to bathing. (DO IT OUTSIDE, wear old clothes, repeat till no more "stuff" is coming out of the ear)

Feel free to try it, but I think yours is infected badly enough that a trip to the vet is probably called for...

152 posted on 01/23/2011 10:59:09 AM PST by roamer_1 (Globalism is just Socialism in a business suit)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 151 | View Replies]

To: gopheraj

That’s pretty much what I do with my dogs now. They get the 3 year rabies (legal where we are) now, and after their second year, they only get vaccinated when they have to to be boarded. And yes, that’s not often. Vaccinations got fairly controversial. Humans don’t get vaccinated over and over again for most things.
It would make more sense to run titers than to just revac ever year (and heck, sometimes every six months, whats up with THAT??) But it’s a revenue stream. I would certainly do it if it were safe and needed.
I’m more concerned about the *apparent* increase in cancers etc. Of course, that could just be better diagnosis, poor breeding practices (I’ll take my lumps as a breeder if it’s something I’m doing, but I’m not going to take the blame if it’s not—and unfortunately too many groups are ever anxious to blame breeders without a shred of evidence), or something else like vaccine protocols, modern feeding practices, environment, or what?
Or do we just expect them to outlive their normal lifespan? Who knows.


153 posted on 01/23/2011 2:39:25 PM PST by brytlea
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 149 | View Replies]

To: Nachum

Haven’t read all of the replies, but a vet is needed for this one. If it’s a yeast infection - or any kind of infection - you don’t want to self-diagnose and treat.


154 posted on 01/23/2011 2:39:54 PM PST by JLLH
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Nachum

I went to a vet for about a year with NO let up in the symptoms. I finally had to go to a demitologist specialist.

They used a surgical procedure go go into the inner ear and clean it out. Then weeks of cleaning and check ups.

My dog’s personality CHANGED after the surgery. He could hear again!

It was very expensive ... in the thousands. But I would do it again just for the relief that he felt.

Good luck.


155 posted on 01/23/2011 2:44:24 PM PST by BunnySlippers (I love BULL MARKETS . . .)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Aurorales

I have used Zymox as well. Love it. I usually use a mineral oil for a while (unless it is really bad which I never let it get that far :)) If that doesn’t clear it up, I have athletes foot cream I use and that will clear up a yeast infection.


156 posted on 01/24/2011 4:13:55 AM PST by gopheraj
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 148 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 81-100101-120121-140141-156 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson