why recurrent ear infections?

[Tina B and crew]

Frodo seems to have a chronic problem with these...I've not discussed it in depth with my vet, yet...but will when Frodo goes in for her yearly exam in a few months. I just had her in for an ear flush, she was given antibiotics and ointment for her ears. Once they are flushed and she has been treated she is fine for a few months...but then it comes back. We have her in for an ear flush 2-3 times a year, and her bloodwork is done at least yearly. She's healthy otherwise.

Any opinions on why these ear infections keep popping up?

[Auntie Debbie]

Has your vet ever taken a culture of the debris in her ears? This will determine if the infection if fungal, bacterial or a yeast infection and from there maybe a different antibiotic would be prescribed.
Possible polyps could be seen with the otoscope. X-rays may reveal something the otoscope may be pick up further down the canal.
Food allergies could cause recurring infections. Speak to your vet about putting her on a special diet. That may help, but since it will take time to see if it comes back, you will not get an immediate result.
Bloodwork and a urinalysis would reveal an immune disorder. If she is having another bout of the infection now, you may want to move her yearly visit up and have the bloodwork done now with a good chat with your vet.
If you go to my website (Debbie's Feline Health), listed under Favorites on the left side of the board, and look under the Neurological site, you'll find a ton of Ear related links down at the bottom of the page that I hope will help.
How is she otherwise?...Still sending P-mail? Hope she's in good health and it;'s just the ears she's having issues with!

[Tina B and crew]

Hi Debbie!!!

Vet has checked for yeast and it was negative...not sure if she's done a culture for fungal, but we are assuming it isn't because it responds to antibiotics. Once it's cleared up she's good to go for another 2-3 months, sometimes longer, but it will eventually crop up again. Food allergies was one of my thoughts..we went through that with Frodo's skin and that has cleared up. It's not mites because that was always our first guess.

She's feeling better today after having her ears flushed thursday and using the antibiotic ointment for a few days..will keep putting the ointment in her ears as RX'd though...

[davet]

going to repost this again for about the 100th time...it is an old old fashion medication mix that i found worked great for chronig ears infection and as a weekly application to prevent...it old fashion and cheap so it is probably not used any more but it is a still good treamtent and preventative....treat, use bid, preven use once a week

[Tina B and crew]

well davet...what's the remedy??

[davet]

oh yeah, i knew i forgot something...here tis

Tannisol

5% tannic acid
5% salsylic acid
5% boric acid

qs alcohol

[Traci]

Tina, ask your vet to rule out pseudomona....this is an infection within an infection and darned persistent I might add. Your vet should be able to see this with an exudate under slide exam.

I found something that works like a charm for Cinder (he had a horrible pseudomona):

First step: OtiFoam - apply to inner ear, massage gently, wipe dry (once daily for 3-5 days)
Second step: Alocetic Ear Rinse - apply to inner ear, massage gently, wipe dry (once daily for 3-5 days)
Third step: Tresaderm - apply 3 drops to ear canal, massage and wipe excess (twice daily for 7-10 days)

Cleared up in alittle over a week. Of course, if this is by chance a pseudomona, your vet will prescribe accordingly, but you can sure pass this by her.

[Tina B and crew]

thanks traci...I'll be sure to mention that to my vet. Frodo seems to be feeling much better this week...she's even been caught running through the house playing with Wicket!! Before she went in for the ear flush she did nothing but sleep and look grouchy. She's still not on good terms with Gizmo, but that's normal We are still administering the antibiotic ointment to her ears, much to her displeasure...will keep an eye on her to see if it pops up again.