I have just been able to come back and visit now and appreciate the advice!

I think one explanation for the occurance of only a few times / year might be that since it is treated when it happens, the 'treatment' of the antibiotics and medication holds it off for the times of the year it is not happening, and maybe it takes a while for it to happen.

I've tried most of the things recommended here, but I can't say that the discipline of treatment was upheld because I travel a lot and my wife took care as best she could of her most of the time in the past few years. I am back now and I am going to make sure this happens as infrequently as possible.

It happened one more time since the last time I posted, and I was going to post exactly what the treatment was and what my vet said to do, but my wife handled it again and now she is away until this weekend. I'll be back! Thanks again.