Solo's ears

[wolfsoul]

I don't think that's it, because it's been happening since he was 3 weeks old. With such tiny ears we would have known if something had scraped them, and he wasn't really in an environment where anything could have hurt them. That's why we don't think it's allergies either, because he didn't start eating solid foods until he was 4 weeks.

[borzoimom]

hmmmmmmm.. Well I would take her then to a specialist in ears nose than throat- and as you know- they do exist. Ask your vet for a referal as usually they dont see you without one. We have one in Maryland.

[bluebird]

Wolfsoul, your vet should probably do a skin scraping if he hasn't already. If he freely admits he doesn't know what it is, you might want to ask him to consult by phone with one of the veterinary teaching universities or a vet that specializes in dermatology. The longer it goes undiagnosed the more difficult it will be to clear up.

[poodleempire]

hey...
I dont know if this will help,but reading your thread made me think of something i have seen before very similar to what you are describing on Solo's ears.
We had a toy poodle,and he was plagued with Red Hot spots on his body,we tried like you a variety of creams/lotions and although temp relief was given it didnt clear up.However our vets did prescibe antibiotics and with detirminaton it did go.......THE thing that caught my eye though on your thread was the 'LUMPS WITH PUSS'....
Are they white?..with maybe a yellow centre?...cause if they are i have seen these too...and all over the body....Christie and Jake both had a problem with these and the vet tried everything and tested for allsorts even ringworm ....They eventually put it down to being a virus of somesort that had been triggered of all things..a christmas tree!,and its sap!
I would definatley go to your vets with solo and 'dig your heels in' if he isnt sure what the problem is,tell him to find out
Hope you find a solution and good luck

[wolfsoul]

Thanks for the advice guys.

Poodleempire, I never thought to ask for antibiotics -- perhaps he is just having a bacterial issue -- would make sense with the little pustules. Think my topical antibiotics would suffice? I worry about giving my pets antibiotics. The pustules aren't coloured, they just look like regular skin, barely noticable as a bump. I thought they were just part of his ear until I squeezed the one. The other ones, I'm still not sure if they aren't part of his ear as they are in the canal and look pretty normal. So far the silver has been doing an awesome job, they weren't red until the end of my work day. Put some more on and it cooled them right down.

[Karen]

I don't think that's it, because it's been happening since he was 3 weeks old. With such tiny ears we would have known if something had scraped them, and he wasn't really in an environment where anything could have hurt them. That's why we don't think it's allergies either, because he didn't start eating solid foods until he was 4 weeks.

My immediate thought was environmental allergies - has he been tested for those?

[wolfsoul]

I'll talk to the vet about that, maybe take some tests -- I'm not sure what it could be though as Marla (Visa's breeder) and I live in such different environments and not even in the same city -- and that's where he spent his first 6 weeks. I do have an ionic air purifier...But perhaps he's allergic to something at my work? Marla brought Loki to work with her while Solo was still just a young pup and Loki played with him..

[Jakesmom]

I would reccomend taking him to a veterinary dermatologist--they have the most expertise in issues of the skin, and the part of the ear that is causing problems is the skin. I wouldn't expect allergies to occur in such a young pup regardless of where they are or what they're exposed to, but there may be some other skin condition. If a scraping/culture doesn't give the answer, the derm may be able to do a punch biopsy.

Good Luck.

Jakesmom