Ear mites and infections - Page 1

I need help!! My GSD continues to get ear mites that lead to ear infections. This is her third time now. I have been flushing her ears 2-3 times a week as per instructions from my vet, but it's not helping. She will start shaking her head, then she will limp on her front left leg due to losing her balance. The vet will prescribe some antibiotic drops and a flush and the issue will go away after a few days only to return in a couple of months. It's getting quite costly to keep taking her to the vet, and Im afraid she may suffer hearing damage if the problem continues.

Is there anything I can treat her and/or my yard with to prevent this?????

I have had that problem with my previous dogs and switched to holistic veterinarians.
Flushing the ear and antibiotics often only make it worse as the infection spreads downward through flushing and antibiotics destroy the "good" bacterias who help fight infections. I suggest to stop flushing and feed your dog probiotics (as in plain yogurt, no sugar added).
Are mites still detectable or is it only infection?
I would strongly recommend to switch dog food and try to determine allergenes (e.g. grain, chicken or others) and switch to raw food, if even only temporary. This might take some time. I did test my dog for allergenes and excluded different ingredients with trying different dog foods with limited ingredients. It took long to determine that chicken was the cause for ear infections in my dog's case...chicken was part of her raw food diet...but different dog react allergic to a variety of ingredients...it's worth trying, in my opinion...
Remember, many veterinarians want to sell food and would not recommend any other than "their" food brand...
good luck!

If you didn't get prescribed a miticide, I doubt it is mites. My guess bacterial ear infection caused by scratching and allergies. The best thing I have found is a flush with an antibiotic added. I just can't think of the antibiotic at this time. Some vets will be hesitant to do this but it works the best. I would get the allergy testing done and then find a food that can be tolerated.

Good luck,
GSD

 
I had a dog that was misdiagnosed with infection that kept coming back, I insisted on a deep swab sample and culture and low and behold she had a resistant strain of bacteria..... a special compounded eardrop and after a few weeks and she fully recovered and it didn't return.

it was 250$ well spent.

My GSD had ear infections for years. I found out (after seeing several different vets) that just like me, she has some major allergies.  She is about 95 lbs and I give her Claritin 24 once a day.  It has worked wonders.  Along with an antibiotic and some ear medicine.  It is like I have a new dog.  I opted not to do the allergy testing...My vet recommended Claritin.  She can have up to 23 grams or 1.5 pills-2 pills a day.  Just at one a day it has done wonders.  I have lived in Cleveland Ohio, and now Kansas City.  It wasn't until I moved to Kansas where the allergy's are worse, where I had to put the whole family on Claritin.  Now both of my GSD's take it daily along with myself. lol.  Good Luck!

Dogs with recurring ear mites many times have a compromised immune system, so working on improving her overall diet and  health might help.  I would be curious to know if this is actually a bacterial infection or a yeast infection (reddish-brown gunk in the ear).  Many times ear infections are yeast related and can be helped with a dietary change...no grains or potatoes (too starchy), possibly a new protein, plus probiotics.  Yeast infections can also be cleared up with a thin coating of miconazole cream (Monistat) swabbed into the ear...but you still need to correct the dietary or underlying immune issues. 

I don't see any type of "gunk" in her ear. It appears to be her left ear, but I have been treating both. There is no odor and no visible redness or discharge, and she shows no signs of pain to the touch. The flush and antibiotic is not working long term....I have tried that three times now, and have basically just wasted over $700 over the past few months with no results. We have a Boston Terrier that has bad allergies and we have to give her benadyrl (sp) after she goes outside, so it's not inconceivable that our GSD has a similar issue.

The breeder I purchased from has suggested that I use a cattle/swine parasite vaccine, whose name escapes me right now, and put in her ear. (dosage depending on size). she also uses this as a heartworm preventative, but I don't trust it for that.

I dont want to self diagnose, but her issues are exactly the same as the other times. I live in Alabama and this is not a great place to live if you have allergies, especially this time of the year...... Think I will try another vet visit and get the allergy test and deep ear test done to see what is going on. Maybe that will get me and the vet in the right direction.

Even when she was not having issues, she often shakes her ears. I have not had this issue with any other dog before, but every one is different  I guess....

the breeder is probably suggesting Ivermectin. It is very good against mites if that has been diagnosed for positive as the issue, not going to help with allergies.

My dad spent quite a bit on vet bills with his Lab and ear issues. Zymox is the best treatment we found.

good luck,

Rik

Did the vet give the dog an ivermectin shot?  Did he just guess about whats in the ear or did he look at a ear swabbed sample under a microscope?  An antibiotic by itself isn't going to get rid of ear mites.  But, if its a resistant strain of bacteria , its , it      your dog is going to need a strong antibiotic like Baytril (shot, then possibly a week or two of pills).

She received a steroid shot, drops, and a flush. I'm somewhat confused about the flush now....He said I needed to flush a couple of times per week, but most opinions I have received from breeders and the like have said I don't need to use the flush that much.

The medicine my breeder suggested was Ivermectin.

Thanks for all replies!!

I have just scheduled her ANOTHER vet visit and I will really push some of these ideas....Hopefully they will be able to pionpoint the issue and get it resolved!