I think my dog is brewing an ear infection...can I beat it back now?

[Displaced_Yankee]

I suspect that my darling doglet has a brewing ear infection.

I have noticed some headshaking (presumably at nothing) followed by some ear scratching. Inspection of ears reveals no ticks, bugs or other irritants. Ears appear to be clean. I will have to admit that I have become lax about cleaning her ears, as they have seemed so clean for so long. I would say that I notice this behavior maybe 2 out of 5 days?

I do have “Otibiotic Ointment” from her one prior ear infection, but that expired in 2018

Is there anything I can do to try to beat it back now? Or do I just suck it up and take her to the vet for a new prescription now? (I won’t use the old stuff, but I’ll hang on to it because…?)

Picture of darling doglet’s perfect and velvety ears for reference:

[Mara]

If it were me - and with spaniels, it often is - I’d suck it up and go to the vet.

In the summer, yeast would be my #1 suspect. But if you don’t see or smell anything she may have a small foreign object in an ear.

She is lovely! I hope it’s easily resolved.

[stargzng386]

I’ve had this ear solution clear up early ear infections. You may not even be able to get in to your vet quickly so it might be worth a try.

Amazon.com : Pet King Brands Zymox Solution for Ear Infections 1.25 oz. and...

[ASB_Stars]

I’ve had ESS for years, and I adore them. They have long fluffy ears, and yes, they have long fluffy ears.

My heart puppy had really bad ear infections in her first year. I took her to the Vet constantly. He’d look, prescribe ear stuff and whatever, and it never stopped. Finally, I did a bit of poking around on the net, which is not recommended, and I found something called Calm Coat. I ended up mixing up something similar on my own (also not recommended) and treated her with it. I mixed tea tree oil, anti-fungal cream (use your imagination ) and campho phenique. It worked like magic. She stopped itching and her ears dried up. She actually never had another ear issue in her life. YMMV

[chestnutmarebeware]

Petsmart sells it in their stores—no need to order. And it does knock out early infections. I use an old bottle of ear wash first, then apply the Zymox.

I’ve also used several-years-expired ear drops in a pinch, and they worked perfectly with no adverse effects.

[Ghazzu]

If you are going to treat without an exam, please avoid anything that has a label stating that it should not be used in cases where there is a possibility of a perforated eardrum.

(for example, gentamicin is ototoxic)

[DownYonder]

@ASB_Stars

I mixed tea tree oil, anti-fungal cream (use your imagination ) and campho phenique

Was the “anti-fungal” Monistat? I used to make up a concoction consisting of Monistat 7, triple antibiotic cream, and desitin to treat my gelding’s scratches. It worked fantastically well - much, much better than any of the commercial products I tried over the years.

My dog (Welsh Terrier) has had chronic ear issues ever since we got her. We’ve treated them and treated them and treated them - have even cultured the gunk and gotten custom medications worked up at a compounding pharmacy (many times), but the issue keeps reoccuring, esp. in the summer, and esp,. in her right ear (which harbors a polyp in the ear canal).

We are now using a good ear wash every 3 days or so, and have her ears checked and cleaned every 2-3 weeks at the vet (we’ve got her on a new wellness plan, so the repeated ear checks and cleanings are “no charge” ).

But it would be interesting to know if a Monistat-based concoction was effective for treating canine aural yeast infections, without causing any undesirable side effects.

[ASB_Stars]

I used the type of cream that I knew would kill fungal infections in warm damp places on humans. I decided that if it was sensitive for those spots, it would be OK for the ears. By the way, I did try the other options mentioned above, and I do wash ears. I just wasn’t successful with clearing things up until I tried this concoction.

[Displaced_Yankee]

Well darn…I had ordered the stuff listed above (arrives tomorrow) on my lunch break. My plan was to use that, and aim for a vet appointment next week, after the long weekend. Anything that helped in the meantime would be a plus in my book. (I adore this mutt)

What would cause a perforated ear drum? Would it present similar to an ear infection?

She has never had chronic issues. She had one ear infection in 2016 and I only remember that because that is the date on the otibiotic ointment that expired in 2018. That time she was in clear discomfort: headshaking every few minutes, ear scratching often, etc.

There is no smell and no gunk, but I am in humid NC. I’ve fired off an email to my vet clinic in the meantime.

Thanks to all who have contributed!

[Ghazzu]

@Displaced_Yankee

What would cause a perforated ear drum?

Trauma and/or infection.
It does heal.

[Warmblood1]

@Ghazzu

If you are going to treat without an exam, please avoid anything that has a label stating that it should not be used in cases where there is a possibility of a perforated eardrum.

(for example, gentamicin is ototoxic)

This.

Also, you’re more than likely going to need an ear cleaner with a medicated ointment. If you medicate a dirty ear, you’re just going to coat the debris in the ear. The benefit of an ear swab at a vet can tell you what you need to specifically treat (yeast, bacteria - type of bacteria, mites) so the ear can be treated properly.

[Displaced_Yankee]

Gotcha. I assumed trauma and can at least rule that out (she leads a pretty pampered life for a mutt).

I’ll wait to hear back from my vet, and will now at least have a cleanser on hand to maintain once this is cleared up.