Jake has constant ear infections. We have tried extra cleaning, ear drop meds, and shots of antibiotics. I even tried cutting out the swimming (poor Jake). Jake just keeps getting ear infections. His big floppy golden retriever ears just seem to trap dirt and moisture.
Supposedly, an abundance of ear infections causes calcification of the ear canal. Besides, pain, he could suffer from hearing loss. He is only a year and a half old, so the problems are going to catch up with him at some point.
The vet told me that Jake may need to eventually have ear surgery. This means cutting out a portion of the ear canal and straightening it, so there is not that "elbow" to catch stuff that causes infection. The situation sounds scary and I don't understand why a dogs ear could be designed in a way that seems so "wrong". The surgery is obviously expensive ($600), which is a worry for a low-income gal like me to pay all at once. I'm sure I have already paid more than that in Jake's previous treatments. The whole situation of cutting out Jake's ear is really scary. I could barely handle it when my pups were fixed.
I am concerned with this surgery, that sounds painful, and a life without surgery, which sounds painful. Has anyone else been through this with their pet?
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