doggie ear problem

[pwmatt]

I have a retriever mix who is constantly battling ear infections. We have gone through tons of meds and numerous vet visits. I realize that the breed lends itself to these infections but I think there must be a way to keep them at bay. Does anyone have any suggestions of preventative treatments? My vet has suggested an ear wash, 3days per week, made with alcohol, white vinegar,water and hydrogen peroxide. I would love to read about the experiences from you folks in the know. Thanks for your advice.

 

[coloradomama]

One of our dogs (who passed away a few years ago) was prone to ear infections and our vet recommended doing a half and half solution of vinegar and water a couple times a week.

 

[looking good]

My dog did too....hydrogen peroxide on a cotton ball at least once a week. If you dog plays with other dog a lot they tend to lick each other ears and that is a big issue with dogs who already have a problem.

Therese

 

[spyrosmom]

I just spent time and $$ at the vet for this. Mine recommends 3 days a week ear wash - I'm at work and can't recall the brand. Its a white bottle with purple and green writing on it. Also wash anytime he's been wet (bath, swimming, rain, snow) or we have reason to believe he's gotten his head into anything. He likes to sleep under the bushes where it stays damp, so I'm sure that doesn't help. Vlad also tends to get them only on the right side, but the vet said to keep both sides cleaned out, just in case.

I've also read that they can be cause by allergies. Wheat, yeast, pretty much anything. Maybe look into a food change? That doesn't seem to be the case in our situation, because its only 1 ear, and crops up every couple months, its not a steady problem.

Not a whole lot of help, sorry. But that's my experience.

Nan

 

[melimcn]

I have a cat that's had countless ear issues over the years. We think it's allergies, but we can't tell for sure (countless vets can't figure it out). Finally it got so bad that he actually had growths in one ear from constant irritation, and it became untreatable.

We just recently had his entire ear canal removed as a result. He can still hear, it's just muffled - they don't remove the inner ear bones and nerves. Instead of a hole where his ear was, now it's just swen shut. It was $2700, but it's eliminated the problem entirely. I can say, for sure, that we have spent more than that trying to treat the issue over the last 4 yeras.

 

[Liann]

Phyllis - Poor little Montana lives with ear infections. We've spend so much money on ear drops and medications and none of it really has helped. The best thing for him has been to just clean his ears out 2-3 times a week. I have just been using ear wash from the pet store, but I might have to give this vinegar mix a try - is it a make it yourself recipe or something you buy from the vet? Also, I don't know if your dog is crated at all, but Montana sleeps in his every night. If I do not switch his blanket out twice a week, his ears get worse. I think his main problem is yeast and I have to keep everything around him super clean. He gets skin infections all the time too. Poor dog is a disaster.

 

[Shannon_B]

I have a cockapoo who gets ear infections a lot, everytime she has a bath! What I have found to work really well is to wash it with an ear cleaner, or whatever you guys are using now. After, I use a Q-Tip and apply Hydrocortisone 2.5%. That one is prescription only, but the 1% seems to work good too! After I put it on she is so relaxed because her ears aren't bothering her anymore, and it usually gives it enough time for the inflammation to go down.

 

[hiitdogs]

It depends on why your dog has those ear infections. Ear infections can be due to allergies, ear mites or water getting in their ears (like swimmer's ear in people).

I think anything that has been suggested are good remedies and may help for the occassional ear infection but if they keep coming back they are just working on the symptoms and not so much figuring out the underlying cause of the recurrent ear infections.

The yeast and grain content of commercial dog foods can contribute to chronic ear problems in many breeds but especially the ones with pendulous or drop ears. Many people have had great results with eliminating grain and feeding a raw food diet.

If you don't like feeding raw, Dr. Pitcairn has several allergy diets in his book The Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats.


4 cups brown rice
6 cups ground lamb
2 1/2 TBSP bonemeal
2 TBSP vegetable oil (i.e. Halo Dream Coat)
Vitamin Supplement (i.e Flying Basset Organics Daily Maintenance)
500 mg Vitamin C supplement (i.e Halo X-tra C)

Instead of rice you can use 4 cups of millet or 8 cups of oats (all measurements are uncooked), you can substitute the lamb with turkey, venison, buffalo or rabbit.

Other dogs can be allergic to the heartworm medication, vaccinations, preventative flea/tick medication, household cleaners, etc.

Most holistic books I have read recommend Halo Ear Wash for ear infections but unless you find the underlying cause those ear infections and address it they will keep coming back.

I hope your doggie feels better soon.

HTH

 

[pwmatt]

Thanks everyone - lots of interesting ideas. I had never thought about the allergy thing. It would be easy enough to switch up his food and see what happens.

Liann,the vinegar thing I am trying is a make your own. I made a solution that breaks down like this: 1/3 hydrogen peroxide
1/3 rubbing alcohol
1/3 50/50 mix of white vinegar and water

I tried it today for the first time and Bear did not appreciate it at all. It must make a horrible noise because of the peroxide. The vet told me to put it in his ear canal but I wonder if I should just clean the outer areas? His infections have been both yeast and bacterial. He is not crated and seldom gets wet. I think that it is just a moist and warm environment because of the way his ears are. I've used Animax and Tresaderm and the effects, although positive, are short lived.

Thanks again and keep the ideas coming.