Another question about pseudomon ears

[Marty]

Biscotti had to be sedated one more time for Mr Vetman to clean her ears. She has been on 2 3-week stints of Baytril and Amiglyde ear drops. It is getting better, but still not great, and now we have yeast as well. He gave us 2 options-the first is to go for another 3 weeks with the same treatment,adding Otomax, the second is to get her off antibiotics for 5 days so he can do another sensitivity test to see if there might be something else in there that might respond to a different med. He didn't have a preference, and is leaving it up to us. Hubby knew I would want to look around for info, so he said we would let Doc know in a week. My goal is, of course, to clear it up, but also work on regular ear cleanings on a healthy ear so she knows that it does not HAVE to hurt. Any thoughts would be appreciated!

[davet]

you might ask you vet about this very old fashion solution for ears::

Tannisol

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

qs alcohol

i used it by the gallons and i can't say it worked every time but it sure did a good job whent the antibiotics ceased to do their job..itr was also good on hot spots....i am sure he/she/it will say no but it worked for me twice a day....

[k9Karen]

The only thing I can add is that, in my experience in the clinical lab, Pseudomonas rapidly becomes resistant to whatever antibiotic is thrown against it. I don't know how long Biscotti has been on Baytril, but Pseudomonas usually develops a resistance to the fluoroquinolones whenever they are used. If he's been on this antibiotic for a fairly long time, it's likely that it's no longer effective. As a microbiologist, I'd want to know what's there now and what the sensitivity is. I'm afraid, though, with an organism as resistant as this one, the alternatives may not be that desirable.

Despite the fact that I'd want to know what was causing the infection, I still stand by my recommendation of Zymox. If it can treat chronic yeast - one of them most difficult organisms to get rid of - it should work on the Pseudomonas too. I've used it with very good results in both Allie and Mickey (he's just recently started having ear problems). Zymox attacks the "bugs" with enzymes and chemicals that do not damage the ear. Davet's "old fashioned" remedy is another way of accomplishing the same thing. His remedy makes the ear canal very inhospitable to microbes - especially Pseudomonas, which likes alkaline conditions. His remedy will produce an acid environment.

I wish I knew what to tell you to do, but in the end, it's your dog and your decision. I don't envy you.

[Marty]

I think I will ask him about Zymox, which he has never mentioned. If not, go with another sensititvity test. I am uncomfortable with home remedies, as I want to keep my Vet on my side.. Hubby took her in last time, and the Vet mentioned that Bisc was lucky to have us...this might be why we found her in the shelter...and I always thought she ran away in a storm! Who knows!! Funny thing is, I insisted on rescuing her, but she is Hubby's heart dog, and even odder (at least for my Hubby) he admits it!

[k9Karen]

I I am uncomfortable with home remedies,

I certainly understand that and respect your decision. Just so you know, I "discovered" Zymox through a poster on the old Acme Board who had a dog with a history similar to Biscotti's, not through my vet. It was actually in an answer to another poster with a question similar to yours. I am one who is very leery of claims for remedies like this one, but I was SO tired of taking Allie to the vet for her ears, I figured it was worth a try. (You don't need an Rx to buy it on the 'net). Of course, I'm at an advantage in that I can culture the ear myself and see what's there to see if it's working. Using the Zymox has kept her ear infections in check for over a year - the only vet visit I've had for her was her yearly. Her ears were never as bad as what you describe for poor Biscotti though.

[Marty]

Zymox can no longer be gotten without a prescription. The Vets complained, so it is not OTC any more. I went to one link, which I believe you might have given me, and it is now a dead link. So I'll have to brave my skeptical Vet!

[Haily's Mom]

saw it or not.
But I had a black lab with the same ear infection that we treated off and on for almost a year. Of course the only medicine that it showed sensitive to was a prescription at the pharmacy and very very expensive.
Well after no luck with that antibiotic either, my vet finally suggested ear reconstructive surgery to open up the ear canal. With that being done we were able to get this thing cleared up once and for all. It seems no matter what we did before, her ears just stayed to moist and wouldn't dry out. This was our solution and I don't know if it will work for Biscotti, but it might be worth mentioning to her vet.
Paula

[Marty]

but I know it could come up. I'm thinking of tying her big Bassety ears in a big bow, just to dry them out! LOL! The amidryl is also specially made for her, as it doesn't normally come in this form. Not too expensive, though. Thanks for the input!

[k9Karen]

Zymox can no longer be gotten without a prescription.

It's still available here w/o an Rx, as far as I know.

https://petscriptions.com/public/index. ... imal_type=

[Marty]

I just ordered some, and a few other things to avoid the $6 shipping charge...But the dogs will love the greenies! I wonder why the other sites told me it was prescription.....maybe it is a state-by-state thing...