Dog with Chronic Ear Infections- Help!

[PiasaBird]

Last summer I adopted a large 3 yr old mixed breed dog from the humane society. My vet treated the poor boy for an ear infection.
A few months later - we are back at the vets for another ear infection. And again. And again. Honestly I’ve lost count.

Every time they clean/treat his ears (except for the last visit- no ear cleaning for some reason), culture the bacteria and then send me home with a a few weeks worth of antibiotics.

Dog is on special limited ingredient diet. I thought it was working but apparently not. Vet wants to start a kangaroo protein. When that stops working, who knows?

Every vet visit comes to around $300.

Is there some better way? I’m running out of money and the ears aren’t fixed

[pony_baloney]

My adopted dog was given an ointment that was applied just twice, a week apart. I don’t remember the name of it; I can look for it if you like. Since I didn’t have her very long, I don’t know if she had chronic ear problems, but she’s been fine ever since.

Any grains in the diet?

[Gestalt]

I had a dog with chronic ear infections. Several vet visits and it still came back. They said they’d have to put drains in and I thought 'no. Called the holistic vet and changed the dogs diet, added whatever med she recommended and started taking him to a really good groomer. The groomer made sure his ears were always clean and trimmed. That cleared up the problem. I don’t remember what naturopathic meds she prescribed, but something worked. That poor dog was getting very sick of the vets!

ps I went to turkey and rice for him, cooked by me, not a commercial food. Chicken is a no-no for some dogs as is beef. And definitely no corn or wheat!

[luvmyhackney]

I had to deal with this with my Lab. I used to wipe her ears out daily with apple cider vinegar or ear cleaner for the vet. Then use a oil mixed with tea tree oil and alcohol. Then add a few drops in the ear canal. Plus a complete diet change, grain free and lamb rice food. I added MSM as well.

[S1969]

Definitely look at the food; many of the grain free foods contain peas and the people that I know who have had the biggest issues with allergies - have been to peas. One was a vizsla, so no connection with heavy, drop ears.

Assuming heavy, hairy, drop ears (like a Springer Spaniel) are not the issue, I’d look at food first, and then consider a daily or 2-3x week drops/wipe of something holistic - e.g. above reference of ACV and tea tree…maybe someone can give us a good recipe…essentially oils can burn so definitely something you want to use a known remedy and test carefully before putting in the ear.

[cnigh]

My mother had a Golden Retriever with food alergies. She was constantly getting ear infections.

Part of the problem was my mother trying to clean them too much. Once I convinced her to stop all the homemade treatments and feed a better quality good, the ears cleared up.

[Marshfield]

I would suggest going to a dermatologist. Expensive at the outset, but likely to save money long term. I would also consider a raw diet, if feasible for you.

[DrBeckett]

Most ear infections are due to an allergy. Your best bet is to try Apoquel. If he has bad enough allergies it could be a year-round type medication. If it’s seasonal allergies, maybe just long enough to get through a season, however long that may be.

[PiasaBird]

Thanks for all the replies, it gives me hope. Sorry if I am writing weird, broke my right arm. I’m doing this as a lefty!

I may try the raw food idea. I went raw years ago with my GSD and had good results. I’ll ask vet about the Apoquel - thanks DrBechett

Manny has the head of a Golden Retriever stuck on the body of a Borzoi. Floppy ears.

His current food -vet recommended - FWIW-
Purina Pro Plan Focus Adult Sensitive Skin & Stomach Formula Dry
Salmon, barley, ground rice, canola meal, oatmeal, fish meal (source of glucosamine), animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols, brewers dried yeast, salmon meal (source of glucosamine), natural flavor, sunflower oil, chicory root inulin, salt, fish oil, Vitamin E supplement, niacin (Vitamin B-3), Vitamin A supplement, calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B-5), pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), folic acid (Vitamin B-9), Vitamin B-12 supplement, thiamine mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), Vitamin D-3 supplement, riboflavin supplement (Vitamin B-2), menadione sodium bisulfite complex (Vitamin K), biotin (Vitamin B-7), potassium chloride, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, manganese sulfate, copper sulfate, calcium iodate, sodium selenite, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (Vitamin C), and choline chloride

[DrBeckett]

Not to draw the ire of the raw diet people, but feeding a raw diet is a horrible idea. First of all, if your dog has allergies, a raw diet does nothing for that. Secondly, you can give yourself or your dog Salmonella, e. coli, etc. Just last week we put to sleep a 2 year old Mastiff with kidney failure due to an infection due to a raw diet. It’s just a bad idea.

[Ruth0552]

A couple thoughts: the ear infections could be caused by a food allergy or having the floppy ears. You can get allergy testing done that might help find a food he can tolerate. I would not do raw.

You could try doing the Hills z/d hypoallergenic diet (or d/d) and see if it helps. If there is no improvement then you know it’s most likely the floppy ears that need cleaning everyday (theoretically).

The food you have does not look terrible but it does have grains in it. Maybe try a salmon & sweet potato food that is grain free? It is easy to search on chewy.

[S1969]

@PiasaBird

Thanks for all the replies, it gives me hope. Sorry if I am writing weird, broke my right arm. I’m doing this as a lefty!

I may try the raw food idea. I went raw years ago with my GSD and had good results. I’ll ask vet about the Apoquel - thanks DrBechett

Manny has the head of a Golden Retriever stuck on the body of a Borzoi. Floppy ears.

I wouldn’t really call Golden Retriever ears “floppy” to the extent that they are the cause of chronic ear infections, but it is usefully to know what ear shape we’re talking about.

Are there any other signs of allergies (licking paws, runny eyes?) Does your dog swim frequently?

If possible allergies - then I agree that a dermatologist is a good step if you can get to one. I’m not really sure how often dogs are actually allergic to rice or oatmeal, versus environmental factors. I don’t think it would hurt to switch to a sweet potato food, but I always hate to do more than one thing at a time when trying to identify causes.

If your dog is swimming, it might be worth trying to use wipes/drops to help dry them after swimming. And/or possibly have a good groomer clip the interior of the flap to minimize hair/moisture, etc.

[betsyk]

Our BC mix shelter doggy had a lifetime of horrible ear infections before we got her. Diet change made all the difference; for her it was venison and chickpea (there was no logic to this choice, I was in the store and the bag was torn and I thought it was a worthy gamble for the price). She hasn’t had any other problems with ears since then. She did try apoquel for a while but other problems cropped up, unrelated to that, and she’s on low dose prednisone now. I think it’s the first time in her life she hasn’t been bothered by allergies.

[Critter]

My lab has chronic ear infections…been cultured several times…bacteria and yeast. Doesn’t help she is allergic to foods as well. If she gets something she shouldn’t, the ears will definitely flare up. The twice applied ointment is Osurnia…you put a dose in, then a week later the second dose. It is an antibiotic, anitfungal, and steroid in one. No bathing during that time.
We did it with my lab…while it helped…I find it really odd that she suddenly became diabetic right after the second dose. Probably coincidence…but…it was odd timing. We’ve treated her two separate times with Osurnia…she still has ear infections. It would probably help if I could clean them regularly…but she is near impossible…requires two people, one pretty much has to lay on top of her and pin her to the ground.

[PiasaBird]

O dear, I thought there were only 2 kinds of ears - up or down. I learn something every day!

We are careful not to get ears wet when bathing, he hasn’t gone swimming. He does get itchy spots on his tummy from time to time - but does not itch/lick/chew himself up. Eyes are totally fine - not runny or goopy.

I ordered a grain-free kibble from Chewy - Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Sweet Potato & Venison Formula Grain-Free Dry Dog Food. I don’t think it will hurt to try it. I won’t go Raw at this time.

Thanks so much for the help and ideas.

[jetsmom]

I’d have a vet make sure it isn’t a fungal infection, then read up on blue power ear wash. I had really good luck with it with rusty. Read up on it, because there are some controversal ingreduents.
It’s easy to make and cheap. I would mix it up, then dump a fair amount in a glass that I would sit in a bowl of hot water to warm the mixture…basically so it wouldn’t be hardly noticeable to the dog…cold fluids hurt. It will feel warm to your touch but not hot.

Store bought ear stuff didn’t do anything to help rusty. This worked for me.
He was on a grain free alternative protein food, so I know it wasn’t food allergies. Once I hot his ears cleaned with it, over a period of about 4 days, he was fine for years afterwards.

link to blue power ear wash recipe/pros and cons below…
https://m.facebook.com/notes/mid-atl…5707277502439/

[LegalTexan]

When you bring them to the groomer, check that they pull the fine hairs out instead of clipping them. You can do that at home and the dogs in general enjoy it. Trimming the hairs still traps moisture which exaggerates ear infections. I stop by at a friends house once a week, we have a glass of wine- my “payment” while we chat and I pull the hairs out. The dog knows it and she comes running happily - we have to keep a close eye on it or she will have another ear infection what seems lie overnight. Other then that- I agree with checking the food- might want to keep a record so you dont loose track

[D_BaldStockings]

For what it is worth
http://www.zimfamilycockers.com/EarCleaner.html

[IndysMom]

After hundreds of dollars of vet visits and antibiotics and $4000 of ear surgery (removed the right ear), the most successful has been a 50/50 solution of white vinegar and water. I wish you the best of luck, ear infections has been a tough one.

[csaper58]

three things that have helped my dogs

1. Clip the hair around the ear to allow air circulation.

2. Give Benedryl for 2-3 days when ear infection starts

3. Clean ears with nolvasan solution https://www.zoetisus.com/products/cats/nolvasan-solution.aspx
   (I have had a couple dogs allergic to the alcohol/vinegar cleaners)