My dogs ears, need so FReeper advice

Nachum ^ | 1/21/11 | Nachum

[Gator113]

My GSD has had that problem. I thought it was mites, so I treated him for that.

The poor guy just got worse, so I took him to our vet. It wasn’t mites, it was a yeast infection and he has an allergy. The vet fixed us up with the right stuff and we think we are close to determining the cause of the allergy, so he’s fine now.

My advice: take him to the vet. I should have sooner and if I had, my boy wouldn’t have suffered for so long.

Just take him to your vet...... soon.

[Candor7]

Its good you’re near a vet. Out here we have to do for ourselves.

If she is not shaking her head, you have caught whatever it is early.I bet its just ear wax build up.

Good luck.

[Nachum]

Thanks.

Any particular brand of ear cleaner you use? I think you are probably right. We had hunting dogs when I was a kid, and we generally only went to the vet in the odd emergency. Anyway, I kind of like the home remedies and it seems like the ear cleaners seem to be using ‘acetic acid’ which is essentially apple cider vinegar.

But, I want to be careful, so the first time I will go to the vet, and spend some $$.

[AnAmericanMother]

A farm dog is a farm dog.

A family pet is a bit more than that.

My dogs are household pets and highly trained competitive athletes as well. We don't mess around with medical issues. After awhile you learn what is critical and what isn't, but this is not going to clear up without the Otomax, which is prescription, and the vet isn't going to write without seeing the dog.

[NoRetreatNoSurrender]

I’ve had the same problem with one of my dogs. It was an ear infect and after $400 in vet charges and medicines, it came right back, and then another round of expensive medicine, it came back again. I found a product called Zymox, but you need to get the kind with Hydrocortisone. You can get a bottle for about $12 online and this stuff is amazing. Just follow the directions exactly. I’ve had a kennel for 15 years and I’ve found nothing better, not even prescription medicine from the vet. Best $12 I’ve ever spent on my dogs.

[AnAmericanMother]

Long as there's not a ruptured eardrum the vinegar won't do any harm, as long as you cut it back adequately. It will improve the pH in the ear, at least for awhile.

The Nolvasan Otic, probably the most common ear wash, contains just alcohol. It does cut the waxy crud though.

[freekitty]

Sorry about the double post.

[AnAmericanMother]

I've used the Zymox as well. It didn't work as well for my dog as the Otomax, but I think this stuff is pretty individual and you have to try different things and see what works.

To drop 400 smackers you must have had the allergy testing . . . or else your vet is really pricey. Mine is a LITTLE pricey, but I can usually get out for under $100.

[djf]

Vet time.

But don’t be hughly worried, at least not yet.

My dog would get discharges from his ears and the vet explained it to me that this is one of the primary ways dogs react to allergy type things. Not much in the nose and sinuses and skin, but their ears cans react like that.

Vet will clean it out with a swab probably and might give you some ear drops/spray to use.
Maybe a week long steroid scrip.

[VictoryGal]

Please take your pup to the vet!

[vetvetdoug]

Possibilities are
a) Ear Mites
b)bacterial infection
c)yeast infection
d) Allergic response
e) any combination of the above.

You need to have the ear examined and the problem identified before you go just treating without any direction. The treatment may also be a change in diet and maintenance of the ears a couple of times a week for life. A culture or smear will identify the offending problem but the veterinarian will have to do this.

[csuzieque]

Please take your dog to the vet. These home remedies don’t have any lasting affect. The dog may need antibiotics. I didn’t keep my cocker spaniel’s ears as clean as needed and the infection got out of hand. She eventually needed an operation to remove part of the ear canal. Please don’t procrastinate with this. You and your pet will be sorry.

[GBA]

I'm on my second pair of English springers and can tell you from experience that long eared dogs are prone to ear problems. One of mine now has no problems at all; the other seems like she was born with an ear infection. Genetics? Food? Lack of timely cleanings? Something else? All I know is, you'll get a lot of answer about ear problems.

Do go to the vet. I've used all the usual vet remedies and they work well on one of my dogs. But the other? It's almost like cleaning my girl's ears causes an infection. Ottomax cleaning alone doesn't work, but cleaning with ottomax and a little antibiotic for the infection she's prone to after seems to work.

Also? Do a search for 'Blue Powder ear cleaner for dogs' and see what you think. I've read on the springer forums it's the miracle treatment for ear infections. I've not tried it yet, but I might when I run out of the prescription drops.

Good luck!

[Aurorales]

Hello.

This is a subject I know a lot about.

I have a cat who has had the worse time with ear problems.
Just like you described.
Brownish black matter coming out of his ears. I cleaned with everything.

First I thought it was ear mites.
Used the ear mite cleaner for 6 months. Still came back and worse. It wasn't ear mites.

I took him to the vet at least 6 times. The vet thought it was bacterial. So he gave me oral antibiotics and an antibiotic ear cleaner. 10 days later......problem is back.

I received at least 3 other cleaners from the vet. Didn't work.

I used all of these natural “cures” I have seen listed here. Didn't work.

Here is what DID work.

Zymox Otic Pet Ear Treatment with Hydrocortisone (Not the cleaner/wash, but the enzymatic solution)

You can buy it through Amazon. The reviews are amazing. I love it. Best thing I ever bought for my cat that worked.

I used it once a day for 7 days as stated on bottle. Now I use it once every 2 weeks to keep the problem from coming back.

Make sure it isn't ear mites. A vet can tell you. If it isn't....... trust me.....try the Zymox with Hydrocortisone. It will save you money and time.

[Jemian]

First guess... sounds like ear mites to me. Go to the vet. Get some meds. Treat them. The dog won’t like the treatment but it is better in the long run.

[wideminded]

Long as there's not a ruptured eardrum the vinegar won't do any harm, as long as you cut it back adequately. It will improve the pH in the ear, at least for awhile.

The Nolvasan Otic, probably the most common ear wash, contains just alcohol.

An ENT doctor I am familiar with recommends a 50-50 mixture of vinegar and rubbing alcohol for human ear care. Maybe that would work for dogs too.

[Aurorales]

I just saw your post about the Zymox with hydrocortisone.

Great minds think alike?

I agree 100%!

There is nothing better. I highly recommend it.

[Paladin2]

My Lab loves to go swimming in rivers and lakes, not to speak of the oceans (and the backyard kiddie pool in the hot summers).

Her ears can get nastily infected w/o her exhibiting signs of distress over it.

Get it cleaned up with a visit or two to the vet and then work to keep the ears flushed out on a regular basis after that.

[kara37]

Yes, any ear cleaner. Your dog most likely has yeast in it's ears, that's why they smell.
You get yeast from wet ears. Ear cleaner will also dry the ears out.
You can also get some Zymox, a non-prescription treatment that prevents yeast overgrowth. However, I have found a good ear cleaner will work just as well at cleaning out yeast, and drying the ears out. If they don't clear up, then go to the vet.

[cubreporter]

Take the dog to the vet and get some antibiotics perhaps.