Posted: Thu May 24, 2012 11:57 am Post subject: Recurring Ear Infection
Hi all - I was just wondering if anybody had any advice about my boy's ear problems.
He developed an ear infection back in late November. He had a course of ear drops, seemed to clear up, all fine. Came back not long after, so he had another course, which didn't shift it. He then had an ear flush (which left him very miserable!) and the vet had the gunk from his ears tested - it turned out to be yeast based, which is why they thought the ear drops hadn't worked (the yeast was too thick for the ear drops to permeate), so we were then given a wash to put in his ears, followed by the ear drops.
All seemed fine (mid march), but last week I took him back as I thought he had been scratching again, and sure enough the infection is back. More wash and drops. He does love to swim, but is a fair-weather dog, and hasn't been in water over the winter so I don't think that's the cause. Has anybody got any ideas, either of possible causes or other treatments that may work? My bouncy lab who has always loved the vet has turned into a wreck when we go near the place. We have an awful job getting the drops in - it takes two of us to pin him down, and he won't come near us if he thinks we're going to put his drops in. It's so upsetting to see him like this. ANY help at all would be brilliant.
Cupcakes
Okay well it could be he's got an allergy that makes his ears sore he scratches them introduces infection and the cycle goes on. Have you considered changing his food?
With the ear drops try to do it when he's tired, depends on what type you have it might be easier for one person to hold yummy and put a hand through his collar and the other to go in - swiftly no messing and do one ear then the other then simply good boy give treat let go - some drops can be soaked into a sterile swab and wipe the ear out rather than drip them in - mine is not keen on drops. Somewhere on LF there is a pic and instructions on drops from JohnW one of our lovely experts but I can't find it at the mo maybe someone else can?
I was going to say change food as well. Try going cereal free and see if that makes a difference. Don't forget that means all treats as well! Hope this helps and you can sort his ear probs out.
OK, thanks guys - he's on Burns Chicken and Brown Rice so no cereal in that (I think) - should I just cut out the treats first and see if that helps? If it doesn't, what food do you guys think?
Thanks for the tips re: wiping the wash in, that's the one he really hates so I'll look in to doing that instead.
Rice can also cause allergies so I would move to a meat and potato food. I believe Burns do one if you wanted to stay with them. I would also move to pure fish treats or JWB do turkey and veg or lamb and veg treat biscuits too (no rice in these).
I'd change his food to something with completely different ingredients to start off with and cut out all his treats for now too. As recurrent ear infections are often caused by an underlying food intolerance.
As for the ear wash, some of them contain alcohol which must really sting if put into an already sore ear. You can get more gentle ear washes without the alcohol in if you shop around...perhaps even your vet will stock them. Of course having anything cold and wet put down the ear isn't going to go down a bundle either, so always bring the ear wash and drops up to body temperature (I stick the bottle down my bra ).
I have eight labs and I would say, four have recurring ear problems..
I asked someone I really respect in the breed and she told me this.. Some foods are too high in protein, this causes the protein to build up in the ear as the body is unable to cleanse it all. The ear gets a yeast presence and wax develops and the infections start.
I was told that any adult dog should be on 20% or less protein. any one with an ear infection should be cleaned with none allergic wipes and a small amount of Thornit powder applied to their ears..
I have done this with mine and, touch wood, all have now cleared up.
I have tried all of the ear cleansers, drops and have had mine washed out at the vets.. This is the only approach that has worked.
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