Recurring Ear Infections

[Boogfinder]

When Boog arrived, he had bad infections in both ears and a mast cell growth in one. We put drops in his ears twice a day and earwash twice a week and had the growth removed and he seemed well. Now he is shaking his head again, like he has an ear infection back.

I know he'll probably need another vet visit, but I find sometimes vets treat to treat again, like a mechanics shop that will damage something when fixing something else in order to drum up more business later.

Advice from experience is sometimes much more effective. It was from a forum that I discovered one of our past dogs had EPI and had the vet test for it.

Any ideas what would cause an ear infection to come back and any remedies for preventing it?

 

[Tricia2]

Ear "Infections" can have many causes, perhaps the medications you were given were not specific for the cause. Best to have cultures taken as it could be bacterial, fungal or even mites. For maintenance, many use Blue Magic Ear Wash


BLUE MAGIC EAR WASH:

*16 drops of Gentian Violet found at pharmacies in dropper bottles (WalMart will order it for you if you can't find it.)

*4 Tablespoons of Boric Acid Powder (I found 100% Boric Acid labeled as "Roach-Proof" at a hardware store. Pharmacies and big-box home repair stores didn't carry it.)

*16 ounces of Isopropyl Alcohol

I mix it up in one of those hair dye applicator bottles from a beauty supply shop with only the smallest part of the tip cut off.

Shake well before applying because the boric acid settles in the bottle. Be careful applying it, covering the ear with a paper towel or cotton. The gentian violet will stain everything, when the inevitable head shaking starts, it will fly all over. I sit the bottle in a bowl of warm water before applying so that it isn't too cold, cold fluid in the ear is very unpleasant.


I've also had great results with Zymox (without hydrocortisone) for a cat with a chonic ear infection. You can get it OTC or on-line.

 

[Newfs Forever]

A lot of times ear infections are caused by food.

 

[ardeagold]

Two of ours get ear infections from wheat. One piece of bread crust and the ears just flare right up.

We feed food without wheat, so with those two we also had to make sure they never get a piece of wheat in anything else. None in treats, or table scraps. That made a HUGE difference.

Your pup may have an allergy to something he's eating. Doesn't necessarily have to be wheat, but if you're not already, I'd start trying to eliminate some of the known allergens from his diet. Wheat, chicken, etc.

You might want to consider some limited ingredient (allergy) diets. If he's 12 mos, I wouldn't feed the fish-based diet. However, I would add in liquid salmon oil daily.

It will probably take a while for it to work...perhaps 6-8 weeks on the new food, so you have to be patient. What we found was that when we eliminated the offending food, the ears cleared up within a couple of weeks and stayed that way forever.

Natural Balance has some limited ingredient foods here:

http://www.naturalbalanceinc.com/dogformulas/allergy.html

I also swear by Zymox (with cortisone when there's an infection present...it helps to ease the pain from inflammation). But you have to use it a couple of times a day (even tho directions say once a day), for 14 weeks since you're dealing with chronic infections. The gunk that comes out of the ear is normal. Just wipe that off daily, and let it go. You can't use anything else while using Zymox...no ear cleaner, no water, etc.

I purchase the large bottles (8 oz) here. The Vets only carry the little ones. You do not need a prescription for it:

http://www.amazon.com/Zymox-Pet-Treatment-Hydrocortisone-4-Ounce/dp/B0025YOJXS/ref=pd_sim_k_4

Here are some reviews...a comprehensive one from a Vet. I don't buy from Pet Meds, they're much more expensive.

http://reviews.1800petmeds.com/1800/prod10622/zymox-otic-with-hydrocortisone-reviews/reviews.htm

 

[bria]

I just posted these on another website. Yes ear infections can be caused by food but in most cases they are yeast and while topical treatments appear to treat for a short while, I think we have all witnessed that the infection comes back quickly. If you treat only the cause and not the symptoms they will reoccur. Yeast comes from inside the body. I use Apple Cidar Vinegar pills as ACV is an anti-fungal and kills yeast. An FYI for those interested in holistic. I swear by ACV for many uses including using it (diluted) to treat the ears and clean them.

http://www.preciouspets.org/newsletters/articles/ear-infections.htm

http://www.earthclinic.com/Pets/acvfordogs.html

Susan

 

[Lori]

Chance also got ear infections from wheat. Once I removed it from his diet he was good. I also gave him Prozyme in his food. It's a digestive enzyme powder that helps with all kinds of things. If I ran out of it, his ears would flare.

 

[R Taft]

Yes Annabelle's ear infections and many skin issues were from wheat.......But amazingly enough not "old fashioned organic wheat without preservatives" (go figure)
I also use apple cider vinegar.I use it for our horses tto, but with her it has to be tablets, because she will not eat if it is in her food.

 

[bria]

I also use the pills because it's easier but I have used the liquid on their food and the way I got them to eat it was by putting a spoon of BioBest yogurt on top. She lapped it up.

Susan

 

[Thule's Mom]

I also use the pills because it's easier but I have used the liquid on their food and the way I got them to eat it was by putting a spoon of BioBest yogurt on top. She lapped it up.

Susan

What dosage do you use for the pills?

 

[Snowden]

I also add ACV to the water dish...about 2 cap fulls to 1/2 gallon of h2o. I'm not sure of the dosage for the pills, but if you added the liquid to their food you would do about 1/4 teaspoon for every 25-30lbs.
When Van Gogh's ears were really bad I also added 2.5 Spanish Black raddish pills from Standard process http://www.standardprocess.com/display/StandardProcessCatalog.spi?ID=143

It helps to detox them and has sulfur which helps clear up the yeast.