I have a 6 year old Lab/Pit mix. He has had chronic ear infections for about 3 years. I have taken him to multiple vets. He has been put on so many different medications, ear washes, and drops. Nothing has helped him and I have wound up spending a ton of money. He is miserable and so am I! What can I do to help him, is there a cure or something that works better than what I've been told?
By Amanda from Salina, KS
Some dogs are very susceptible because of the length and shape of their ear canal. My retriever mix used to get them even when I flushed and swabbed and did all that. A few years ago my vet suggested a product (prescription only) called Otomax. Holy cow. You put a bit of this into the ear canal 2 or 3 times a week and I have not even seen redness. It stops the fungus from ever growing and has antibiotic properties. Ask your vet! This stuff has been a miracle for us. Hope it helps and note that you will have to make sure your dog's ears are clean when you start using it. (01/06/2011)
By CyrusRomeo
I wonder if using an equal mix of vinegar and rubbing alcohol in his ear would help. My pediatrician recommended this to me for my children for swimmer's ear. It kills and prevents fungus and bacteria from growing. Sure hope I helped. It's worth a shot. Please let us know. (01/07/2011)
By Marg
I once gave my dog yeast supplements and he developed a really bad ear infection. I would change his food, and go to earthclinic.com and look under the pets tab, and do what is suggested there, but never do the yeast supplements.
I would also for a period of a few weeks at least feed it nothing, but boiled chicken and a few drops of infant vitamins once a day (drops not dropper-ful).
See if this works. If it does, start buying top of the line foods, like Pro Plan or Authority. If you can't afford those use any food that has real meat and not meat by products. Blessings to you. The money saved from the vet's is worth it and I would give the dog the kind of oils it needs, and not trust them to be in the food you buy.
Blessings, Robyn (01/07/2011)
By Robyn Fed
Ask your veterinarian to consider cleaning, then cut and stitch the ear canal. If they have never heard of this find another vet. Good luck. (01/07/2011)
By NEWFIEGIRL
Some years ago I had a German Shepherd that kept shaking his head and had a very hot, red, and sore inner ear. I took him to my vet and he gave me a number of things to try, nothing worked, his inner ear wasn't draining so as a last resort my vet said there is an operation that can be done. I couldn't let my dog suffer any more so I let them operate, they made a hole below the lower part of his ear to allow drainage and air to get to the inner ear, end of problem. It was expensive though. (01/07/2011)
By Sue Hasler
You definitely need to try a dog food with no byproducts and no grains. Also, no treats with grains. I'm surprised a vet has not suggested this. You could also take the dog to a veterinary allergist to get specifics on what things your dog may be allergic to that could cause these chronic ear infections. (01/07/2011)
By Mary Anne
Try ordering the Vetericyn Wound Spray, this stuff is great! I got mine from Jeffers (1-800-jeffers) or look it up on line. This is a huge catalog company (in Dothan, Alabama) for all kinds of medications for animals. It's $35 for a large spray bottle, but it works great. It mimics the immune system, helps healing by 70%, doesn't harm the tissues like alcohol, vinegar, and peroxide. It's anti-fungal, anti-microbal (kills germs), and antiviral.
It is so gentle it can be used in the eyes and mouth. Also, someone posted about using alcohol, vinegar, or peroxide in ears. That's a swimmer's ear recipe for healthy ears. Believe me, I used it once with a raw swimmer's ear on myself and nearly passed out from the pain. It would be horribly painful to use on an animal with an ear infection. It's helping with my Cocker's ears (I have 5 Cockers). I have been using it for about 4-5 months now. Hope this helps. (01/07/2011)
By Jeron
We have found a solution for our floppy eared dog. We have been feeding her Taste of the Wild dry dogfood, Pacific Stream Canine® Formula. Somehow it has helped not only her ears, but also the generalized itching that she once had.
By Megan
If you have a long ear dog try the dishes from Dogbone, Inc. They are bone shaped and made to keep their ears dry and clean.They work great for my Cocker. www.dogboneinc.com (01/18/2011)
By Pat Anderson
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