EAR problems and solutions...

[momPaws]

First of all...how can a dog have one ear that is always ok and the other that is not? Does anyone (outside of those showing dogs) really pull the hair out of the ear? I clip the hair in her ears, esp. the probl ear to give chance for more air to circulate in there, but can't imagine her letting me pull the hair out. She has a chronic prob rt ear...gets icky black wax, then she scratches it to bleeding. I have to constantly stay on top of this prob. I do have things that work, but it is always a battle to do her ears. I believe this could be caused by her allergies as it occurs mainly in fall (dry leaves also make her scratch her chin). Anyone else dealing with something like this?

[davet]

this is what i always used for years for ears::
Tannisol

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

qs alcohol

but when i was in research, we found some rabbits always got ear in fections in just one ear...whay??no idea but i used to pull the hair out of poodles ears along with a routine exam..they didn't seem to mind it and it was more effective that cutting...used a pair of old forceps....some will dissageree but it worked for me

[k9Karen]

With Allie, it's almost always the left ear. She's had a couple of infections in the right one, but the the left one is the one the usually affected.

mompaws - I take it the Zymox isn't working on Honey's infections? Allie's are yeast - I can tell from the rusty-red color (and of course, as a Microbiologist, I have the ability to culture and do microscopic testing). I'm not sure what type of infection creates 'black goo', except for ear mites. Didn't she have Pseudomonas at one time? That's a tough one to get rid of.

[Mary Plummer]

For Mr. Blue, it seems to be his right ear that acts up. For me personally, it's usually my left ear. In my case, they've told me it's because I have an abnormally small Eustachian tube in my left ear, which means all the gunk from my allergies, which should normally drain right out, doesn't. I know, from taking Mr. Blue in this week, that allergies that give him itchies all over, make his ears itchy too (at least his right one). The Tresaderm our vet gave us earlier this week has really cleared up the problem for him. His right ear is looking really good today. So I don't have the answers, but at least Mr. Blue is in good company

[JMM]

I regularly pluck the ear hair on both of my Maltese. Especially with frequent grooming, I want to be able to have a dry ear to prevent infection.

[momPaws]

Thanks, all appreciate it- guess others struggle with this problem. Poor Honey- it is awful for her.

[Marty]

Biscotti is the one with the pseudomonas (black junk)....which we were never really able to clear up. She gets really hysterical at the Vet's, won't let us touch her ears with anything, and we hate taking her there, and I doubt the Vet really likes seeing her. Today we went to another Vet across town, thinking that she might be better for someone different, but of course I warned them that she is a bad patient. They put her under, and used a device to clean her ears...it flushed them with Betadine solution and vacuumed the gunk out....my Vet just used ear cleaner and a paper towel (must have hurt like ***). Her ears look so nice and clean now, and we have hopes they will heal. I am thinking the meds were never able to get where they were needed. This Vet said she had ulcers all the way down the ear canal, but her eardrums looked OK. This Vet also took a different approach to meds...she only gave us 10 Baytril tabs, where mine would give much more. An injection of depomedrol, and some Tresaderm, and we were on our way. We don't even have to go back, unless there is a problem. Bisc is coming out of it in the crate, right now, poor baby (another story). I pray this works, as I was honestly thinking we may have to put her down. If it works, we just may have a new Vet, too (but for the hour wait!) Keep all paws crossed for us, that this will work....

[momPaws]

Marty- will hold a good thought for you both...I know how awful chronic ear trouble can be for pup and owner. The Zymox K9Karen told me about seems to be working for us. Your new vet seems like a keeper...worth the wait. Good Luck for Biscotti.