Question about Mometamax ear meds

[Marty]

Of course I can and will call the Vet, but just want to ask this here also as I could not find the answer on the net.

The directions say to give it once a day for a week, and then weekly. The week is up, Biscotti's ears actually look pretty good for a change, but I am wondering why and how long the weekly treatment should go on. I know pseudomona is difficult to eradicate.

For the record, this is pseudomona and she would not let us touch her ears before, but this time she is not objecting (maybe age has quieted her down...11?). We had to change Vets to calm her down....can I be hopefully optimistic to get rid of this nasty thing?

DH took her in for the ear flushing and did not ask the questions that I may have...I don't think we used this med before with her former Vet, but I am not sure.

[Traci]

Are you cleaning the ears first with a specific earwash solution? That is always advisable. Did your vet give you an earwash solution and instruct you?

Mometamax ideally shouldn't be prescribed beyond 7 days, after that a culture should be done to help determine effectiveness. I can see where your vet would want to extend this to once a week treating after the first 7 days, but I'd opt for a culture first. If the culture is still positive, you could try the once a week administration for a couple weeks, then another culture. Yes, pseudomonas are the worst, but do be sure to use an earwash first to gently clean (as instructed by your vet), and make sure there is no cross-contamination....use a clean cotton ball with every procedure you do with the ears, a seperate cotton ball for each wipe, drying, etc...(wipe excess debris with a new cotton ball, wipe excess ear solution(drying) with a new cotton ball, wipe excess mometamax with new cotton ball, etc). Wash your hands when done.

[Marty]

I am really hoping to be able to clean her ears now that they are feeling better. Yes, I have the 2 stage cleaner here.

This Vet doesn't seem to do much for follow up visits, but I will call to request one. It's hard to believe the owner of this clinic was once Pres. of the state Vet Assoc, but Biscotti goes ballistic with my regular Vet, and it's a nightmare to take her in there. But he leaves no stones unturned.

BTW, for cleaning I have found that cotton make-up pads are much easier to use than cotton balls. I hope that is OK. The balls seem to be hard to hang on to.

[Traci]

I wouldn't consider makeup pads sterile, and you definately want sterile when trying to resolve a pseudomona. Besides, those makeup pads have tiny fibers that release from the backing. Cotton balls or a sterile gauze pad are much better for ear-cleaning.

Not sure what you mean about his not doing much for followup visits. Do you mean he doesn't request a followup visit, or doesn't do anything during the followup visit? Either way, that's not good practice, a followup visit is essential to determine if the treatment is working or not. If a followup vet visit isn't requested of you, how is he going to know if the treatment is effective? It's Biscotti who has had major ear problems in the past, yes? I would think your vet would be much more dedicated to resolving the issues, particularly when pseudomona is present. The only way to resolve this is with an effective treatment plan and subsequent culturing, and if the treatment plan isn't working, choose another plan that has a history of success. Treatment is specific and MUST be followed and rechecked, if it isn't, you'll be dealing with pseudomonas indefinately.

[Marty]

Thanks, I will look for some sterile gauze pads for ear cleaning.

No, they don't even ask for a follow up visit...and I am not comfortable with that at all.. it seems to be a high volume clinic....she is OK going there for now. But I am getting annoyed with them, and if I can get her to the point where I can take her to my regular Vet without her hysterics again, I will.

Just to add, she is a rescue, thunderstorm phobic...but a very sweet and loving dog...at home. Totally Hub's dog until feeding time.

[Traci]

I can't understand vets who don't require followups, those are essential!! What, does he expect you to know what this pseudomona is going to do?!

Can I ask, how come she reacts at your regular vet? Is it a person or an incident that she reacts to specifically? If a person, (hopefully not the vet), simply request another staff member. If it's the vet, not that this is going to help her with the vet, but perhaps ask for the very first appointment in the morning, or the first one right after their lunch break, when the clinic is most likely to be calmer and more quiet. Any chance both you and hubby can go together, maybe this would help calm Biscotti even further if both of you are present in the exam room with the vet.

[k9Karen]

I will definitely defer to Traci's experience with this one but I did want to add a bit about why the vet may want to have you use this product once a week after the acute infection is cleared. I suspect he is recommending it as a preventive. Since Biscotti has had this problem for so long and her infections have been severe, even though is is an 'off-label' use of the product, it seems like a reasonable approach. The once a week treatment would, in theory, reduce the number of 'bad bugs', thus reducing the chance of another infection. It is impossible to eliminate Pseudomonas from your dog's environment since it is a common water-borne organism, so attempting to keep the organism in check makes sense. The possible down-side to using it as a preventive is that Pseudomonas is known to develop resistance to gentamicin during therapy, and using it only once a week has the potential to induce resistance. But, since other attempts at prevention haven't worked, if it were me, I'd probably give it a try. Allie's ear infections are caused by yeast, not Pseudomonas, and OTC Zymox has thankfully worked to keep hers in check.

Here's a link I found - don't know if it contains what you're looking for.
http://www.medi-vet.com/detail.aspx~ID~2764

[Marty]

Thanks for all the info, Karen. I guess I will give give it a try, if it will keep her comfortable.

Traci, I had her at my regular Vet's for an infection, and the tech went to take her temp and pulled her closer by her **** ear! She let out a scream and brought everyone running. I was horrified...and angry. Of course the Vet then had to do his thing. She never behaved well there again. It was easier to take her elsewhere. She doesn't seem to mind the new clinic, but of course they put her out for the flushing.

[Traci]

That figures If at any time you do manage to get back to your regular vet, do specifically request that that certain tech is not involved with you and Biscotti, ever. I'm sure your vet would understand that.

[Marty]

That tech wasn't there much longer...