Ear Infections-Chronic in a puppy - Page 4

Birdy,

If you like, feel free to email me privately. I have some additional suggestions for you, depending on some answers to a few questions I have. Recurrent ear infection is often a sign of other problems that have not been resolved. A dog need not live with recurrent infection and too often, both clients and vets give up too soon.

Good luck.

I hesitated to post, due to all the ruckus and ill feeling. But here I go: I had a GSD who was prone to ear infections from the time she was about 18months old until the end of her life (13 and a half years.) She went to the vet countless times, had ear swab cultures just about every time. I washed her ears and medicated them as directed for as long as directed each time. She'd be fine for a few months, then the infection came back. I did elimination diets, changed her to various foods and finally settled on a raw, organic diet. She still got ear infections a few times a year. She also developed a few immune disorders later in life which required constant treatment with prescription meds, which I gave her faithfully.

The point of this story is that some dogs have faulty immune systems that don't repel unwanted organisms and sometimes those immune systems turn against the dog's own cells. I hope the OP doesn't have a dog like this because it is a LOT of work to keep such an animal comfortable and as healthy as possible.  My experience was that some vets don't prescribe the medication for a long enough period of time to kill ALL of the bacteria/yeast organisms. Some vets don't give you enough meds to do the job for the time they prescribe. You have to insist that the dog's ear be swabbed and cultured and that you get enough medication for the large dog you have. I've had a  vet not give me enough meds for a GSD. I had a vet who didn't see anything in a culture and refused to treat an infected ear. Naturally I didn't see either of those vets again.

If your puppy continues to get ear infections, you may have to have him sedated and his ears cleaned by a vet. The vet should also culture the junk he removes from the ear. He should pack the ear with a broad spectrum antibiotic/antifungal/cortisone preparation. The animal may also need an oral medication depending on the type of organism the vet finds in the ear. You should go home with enough meds for the length of time the vet wants the infection treated and you should use all the meds. If you are not happy with your vet, ask fellow dog owners in your area who they like (especially if their dog's ear infection was successfully treated) and make an appointment with the new vet for a second opinion.  Second opinions are given all the time in medical practices. It shouldn't offend your vet and if it does, move on.

Excellent..ole wise one continues to flaunt to the world how smart and superior she is and now will share her wisdom in private.

Hodie..you are such a hoot!   

 Excellent summary Sam.

Hodie

I have been amazed by the pm's thanking me for setting you straight, many of the well known and respected people here are tired of you and your holier than thou attitude attacking people.  too funny.

Thanks, Hodie. Unfortunately I had to become something of an expert on ear infections and elimination diets.

Sam, 

Sounds like you gained a lot of knowledge and hopefully, like others, you also solved your problem. Try to stay cool. I keep hoping for rain, but none comes!

We had a ten minute thundershower - sound and fury signifying nothing. I'll have to water tomorrow.

Lets research about "Rain Dancing"...

Go Look for your Dancing shoes!!!