ear infections

[Logan]

We fight this with our Golden Retriever, Honey, constantly. In fact, she's due for a recheck on her ears now. She seems to get ear infections constantly and our vet usually treats them with Otomax and Cipro (antibiotic...very strong, very expensive ), and 20 mg Prednisone. Last time (two weeks ago), he did a deep flush on both ears, which was painful for Honey (and for me as I had to help hold her while he did it). I'm so in hopes that she is cleared up now. She seems better. He said it is very painful for them when they get so infected. Poor baby. I looked in her ears, with his scope and it was a bloody, infected mess in both ears.

We are using a solution that he provided, 4 times/week, now and flushing her ear canals out. It is a clear, blue liquid. It has a lot of alcohol in it to help keep the ears dry. The next step, if this continues, is to resection her ear canals, surgically. I know it would benefit her to have this surgery, but I'm certainly hoping to avoid it. The recuperation is horrible. We went through it with our Murphy (RB) on one ear, as she had tumors that blocked her ear canal, and it was tough. I think Honey would recuperate more quickly as she is younger and doesn't have the tumors, but still it is quite invasive.

Apparently, a dog's ear canal is quite complicated and curvy, thus making it harder for them to get air to dry out and when infection sets in, it is harder to clear up. The resectioning straightens it out and allows much more air flow, and less chance for infection.

Good luck. I know what a problem this can be!

Logan

[lv4dogs]

I'm glad to hear you seen a better vet & have more knowledge now. I hope it works!

The surgery option is a tough choice. It's probably one I would get done if needed.

Before the surgery though make sure they have tried stronger meds & antibiotics and even a deep/involved ear flush (they need to be under anesthesia for that).

[pnance]

The next step, if this continues, is to resection her ear canals, surgically. I know it would benefit her to have this surgery, but I'm certainly hoping to avoid it.

The resectioning straightens it out and allows much more air flow, and less chance for infection.Logan

Did your vet seem to think the surgery would stop the infections? Mine seemed to think that although she'd be better it wouldn't completely stop the problem.

Before the surgery though make sure they have tried stronger meds & antibiotics and even a deep/involved ear flush (they need to be under anesthesia for that).Luv4dogs

I agree, I'm not in favor of putting her through painful surgery on both ears if I don't have to. I discussed stronger meds, but he didn't seem to think that would help . I didn't realize they could do a deeper flush under anesthesia...I'll discuss it with them before we start talking surgery. They did a flush on Friday (not under anesthesia) and the smell from her ears was horrible. My entire car smelled like her ears for a couple of days afterward and having her in the house required lots of room spray. I'm guessing that flush brought up a lot of stuff that was trapped down in there, so I'm hoping that helped. She does seem to be less sensative about them and it's only been a couple of days, so I at least have some hope.

Thanks again everyone for the help.

[lv4dogs]

I agree, I'm not in favor of putting her through painful surgery on both ears if I don't have to. I discussed stronger meds, but he didn't seem to think that would help . I didn't realize they could do a deeper flush under anesthesia...I'll discuss it with them before we start talking surgery. They did a flush on Friday (not under anesthesia) and the smell from her ears was horrible. My entire car smelled like her ears for a couple of days afterward and having her in the house required lots of room spray. I'm guessing that flush brought up a lot of stuff that was trapped down in there, so I'm hoping that helped. She does seem to be less sensative about them and it's only been a couple of days, so I at least have some hope.

Thanks again everyone for the help.

Maybe your dog is just SO well behaved they don't need anesthesia. But a few years ago when I worked at the vets we would so simple ear flushes during an exam but other dogs needed a deeper flush or were too wild to do it without anesthesia.
I would imagine there would be a more involved flush under anesthesia as the ones we did while they were under took a good 45 minutes or so. They were very intesnse & thorough. But technologoy has changes daily, maybe they have a new procedure that is easier yet equally as good?
It would be worth mentioning to your vet though if she continues to have problems.

Good luck!

[Logan]

Sorry I'm just responding.

Our vet said that it will cut down on the infections due to more airflow, but as we learned with Murphy, there still is a chance for infection, but it is much easier to treat. Murphy had tumors in her ear canal, which made it much more difficult to treat infection, so the surgery definitely helped her. We simply could not bear the thought of putting her through it on the other ear, even though it would have helped her. Murphy was pretty much immune to any type of pain medication, sedation, etc. Made it much harder to keep her calm and relaxed while she recuperated.

With the surgery, they go from having a very crooked, complicated ear canal, to having a "straight" ear canal, much more like those in humans. I hope Honey won't have to have it, but if it is necessary, we are ready to do it for her comfort. She has infections like she is in water, constantly, which she is not.

Hope this helped!

Logan

[pnance]

Thanks everyone. So far so good, she's quit shaking her head and rubbing on everything. I'm still getting "stuff" out with the flush, but much less and the smells no longer there and she still has about another 1 1/2 wks of treatment so I have some hope!!

[Jessika]

A little OT but on another forum someone said that... cropping ears helps with severe or chronic ear infections? Anyone know anything about that?

[lv4dogs]

A little OT but on another forum someone said that... cropping ears helps with severe or chronic ear infections? Anyone know anything about that?

That usually helps with ear problems that are associated with too much moisture. It helps air the canal out.