Ears flaring up

victoria1140

Active member
Well Raven is doing ok on apoquel though her ears still aren't great.

However it's definitely stopped all the paw chewing but the ears were and still are the thing that bothers my hellraiser the most.

I think it may be time to go and see the specialist's and see what options we have open to us.
 

Jeannie

Super Moderator
Have you tried the essential oil Frankincense. I have a customer whose dog had terrible ear problems. So bad I couldn't touch them to clean. She tried everything from food changes to specialist. She said she just rubs a drop or two around the inside of the ear flap close to the ear canal. The dog's ears are perfect. They went from black goop to perfect within 8 weeks.
 

victoria1140

Active member
I tried frankincense oil in their ears though will give it a go on the outside of their ears.

Luckily Luna doesn't suffer as much as Raven does .

One day l will have the miracle of a completely healthy newf.
Still at least the hellraiser are worth every moment.
 
Ella’s ears had a really bad flare up this month too. She is currently being treated for double ear infections and hot spots on her back. Her paws are bright red and scabbing. The vet has her on an oral antibiotic, osurna for her ears, chlorahexidine shampoo for her paws and we started her on a strict elimination diet with Ultimino to rule out a protein allergy. Allergies suck! I feel so bad for these poor dogs, hope that the winter season reduces some of the symptoms and that it’s not a food allergy.
 

shellyk

New member
We have been on the same roller coaster with ears, paws, hot spots, antibiotics, allergy meds. One thing we tried that , the Vet didn't agree with, was a saliva test with Dr. Dodds. I thought it would be easier than a true elimination diet. This tests for food sensitivities or intolerances. The Vet said actual food allergies are rare and have different symptoms. We found McGee had sensitivities to millet, barley, turkey and white fish. So we stay away from those. Still battling!
 

angus725

New member
Our vet also does not believe in a saliva test to determine allergies. Angus suffers every year in September/October with allergies which are pretty severe this year. How do you feel about the saliva test? Are you glad you did it? Do you think it is going to help you in the long run?
 

shellyk

New member
Yes, I am glad that I did it. There are a couple of things that we don't agree with our Vet about. We raw feed and they aren't pro raw. I asked about Titers for our 8 year old Lab for Rabies and they weren't encouraging. That being said you would think we would find a new Vet...this is the 3rd office for us in about 5 years. There isn't a holistic Vet or a Vet that specializes in large breeds that is in our area.
 

victoria1140

Active member
Well we have a specialist visit booked for Monday to see what they can do to make Raven's ears better.shes on steroids for a few days just to be on the safe side and will see what can be done for her
 
Fingers crossed that Raven’s appointment goes well. Ella got a steroid shot this month and the vet put her on a prescription food called Ultimino. Please keep us posted How Raven does with the specialist. Are you looking to do interadermal skin testing? That’s our next step with Ella after the elimination diet is complete. We have really run out of options.
 

victoria1140

Active member
We've already done skin and environmental allergy testing,immunotherapy.
Steroids, antibiotics,some homeopathic remedies,frankincense oil and zymox .

So far the apoquel is keeping her from chewing her feet but her ears aren't clearing .

I don't want to put her on atopica (cyclosporine) unless it's the only thing we haven't tried.
 

shellyk

New member
We had McGee on apoquel this spring and he had a break through with double ear infections. We put him on Cytopoint and apoquel and it worked until his ears cleared up. Then when we weaned him off apoquel and just did the Cytopoint shots. Each shot had to be given closer and closer together until it just didn't work and we put him back on apoquel. I don't know what we will do if that stops working!

We have him on a very restricted diet. Not quite as restricted as yours but his diet of canned sockeye salmon & eggs has made his coat luxuriously soft, thick and shiny. Before it would mat up in a heart beat. We got this from Peter Manitae's posts about an ancestral type diet of canned salmon, eggs but we don't give him the milk bones.
 

victoria1140

Active member
Well just got back from the specialist referral vets.

Raven had blood work done,ear flush,swabs ,and a CT scan done.

CT scan looks positive and they are happy with the state of her ears after the flush through.

At the moment she is dealing with a major yeast problem found from all the swabs and skin samples done.

So she is yeast and antibiotics for her ears,apoquel increased dosage, malaseb shampoo and specialist ear flush liquids.

Atm she is well out of it and told me what she thought in no uncertain terms by pooping in the car on the way back.

Fingers crossed this all works for her though the specialist was impressed by her overall condition .

Still suspects allergies and may do more involved allergy tests to try to pinpoint the issue.

So hopefully she will be more comfy for a bit
 

victoria1140

Active member
Well good news is the blood work results are all fine.

I have added acv tablets to her diet now and am trying to get her used to eating rabbit for a bit.

She certainly keeps us on our toes
 

Angela

Super Moderator
Hope it works. Do you get fresh rabbit? I have a friend here who was told to feed the 6 month old puppy rabbit due to a ? Allergic problem. She went to the supermarket to buy some only to discover rabbit is $17.95. a Kim. Current conversion to £ would be $1.65 to the £. Needless to say she didn't buy it. So, hoping English rabbit is cheaper!?
 

victoria1140

Active member
I have found someone who shoots rabbit.
Raven isn't sure yet so trying different ways to show her it to see if it appeals one way or another.

Yes it's not cheap if it's prepared.
Only way is to find someone who shoots
 

victoria1140

Active member
Well Raven had a cytopoint injection today as though her ears are clearer she still has a high yeast infection.

No apoquel for the moment,we also have anti inflammatory drops for her ears and wipes for everywhere else.

Hope this works
 
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