My dog is 6 yr old Pit Bull and for 5 years he has had a major ear problem. It's so bad he scratches them till they bleed and constantly shakes his head. It makes him miserable. I have tried everything and I do mean everything. I've spent thousands of dollars on all kinds of drops, antibiotics, and steroids. At one point I was giving him 7 different pills a day.
We have tried a strict food diet because the vet insisted that it was a food allergy (it wasn't). I have tried putting peroxide in the ear to clean them. We have tried different vets and nothing even helps, not even a little bit. We had him on 4 Benadryl every 8hrs (he is 100 pounds) for years, but they stopped working. He is now on 2 Tramadol 50mg every 8-12 hrs (for the pain) and now they don't even help.
I don't know what else to do. This dog is my baby and I feel so bad for him. The drainage from his ears to his throat, I know, gives him a sour throat (you can hear him swallow) and it gives him fevers. The consistency of the stuff in his ears is usually black mucusy gunk and even when I clean them out (he hates it cuz they're so sour). I can't get deep down in the ear, but I can hear it squish around when he shakes his head. If he even slightly hits one of his ears against something he will scream like he is dying.
Now the vet is telling me that my last option is to go out of town and get his ear canals removed for thousands of dollars which would make him completely deaf, but "they say" it would solve his ear problem. I don't want to do this because at this point I don't trust the vet anymore and I don't want to make him permanently deaf and then if I do, what if it doesn't work? Obviously I'm gonna spend whatever I need to if it will fix his problem, but I'm at a loss. I've spent way too much money and have gotten no results. My baby is miserable. Please help. Anyone!?
By Adie
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My dog has a similar problem. The vet gave me ear drops called "dermotic" - put a few drops in the ear 2 times a day. This has worked really well - almost no problem now.
In between meds you could regually cleanse the ears with 'epi-otic" - put a few drops in the ears then after a few minutes use a cotton ball & wipe all the wax out. These treatments have worked really well for me, are purchased through the vet & affordable. Good luck.
Has your vet taken a sample of the stuff that is causing the dogs ear infection? If not I would have him/her do this, so they know what they are really dealing with. They should be able to figure out the cause under the microscope. If they have done this, then your vet should know what to do. However, I have seen first hand that some inexperienced vets may not know what to do in certain cases.
I noticed that there is a related post for ear infections you might want to check out as well, just for your information. Also, to see if others have had these issues you have had and there suggestions. Definitely get a second opinion from another Veterinarian from another Hospital or clinic.
Have you tried a vet actually in a animal hospital? They have so much more access to the testing on our animals. Even PetSmart is better than the independant vet that's not officed in a hospital.
I agree with lilyofthe pond, try to find an experienced Vet (I am always happy to see someone with gray hair). If you have a Veterinary school nearby, that can be helpful. Keep in mind that if it is a food allergy it can take many changes of food before you find the right one. I ended up with brown rice and canned salmon for my dog with a skin condition after nearly 9 attempts to find the right food. He live 15 more years with no problem.
I really feel you have not found the right Vet yet. Try hard to find a Vet school even if you have to drive. I am 400 miles from a Vet school and I consider myself lucky. Over the years we have used them several times when the local Vet was stuck. Good luck to you. I hear your frustration. It is so tough not to be able to help a pet that depends on you. But dont give up, and let us know how it turns out.
Please, please take your dog to another vet! A couple of my friends are vets and they would never have let your dog suffer this long! I have a lab that has had chronic yeast infections since he was a puppy and before getting to the point where I could take over and do maintenance at home they cultured each ear (now they may not be going deep enough if they have cultured before and nothing has helped your dog), then an ear flush to each ear was done.
After the flush (yes, that was necessary because a dogs ear canal goes down the side of the face like ours but continues along part of the jaw line), they injected a foam which stayed in for about 2 weeks. To turn the nasty environment around he had to go back in a couple more times (about every two weeks) for another culture and another flush and foam treatment.
I started daily and then worked to 2 times a week now just 1 time a week with a solution of vinegar,water,alcohol (do NOT try this until the infection or yeast is cleared or will burn). one part on each is the mix. if room temp is too cold then warm in a bowl of warm water first and test on wrist before dropping in.
If your dog swims you must keep him/her out of water until the ear problem is fixed completely! After the ear problem is under control and your dog likes to swim, then make sure to put the solution in immediately following swim time! I hope this helps! Our dog is our family and the unconditional love they give us makes everything we spend and do for them worth it! Love Pitts by the way! Awesome dogs!
I couldn't have found something as similar to my situation to my pug. Everything you said is what is happening to her. It has been going on since she was 2 and 5 years later same problem. We have tried every dog food every option and 1000 dollars later nothing. I see all this stuff about mixing alcohol and vinegar I dont see how that will work if all this meds havent. Her ears have ruptured at this point and they put her under to test and flush her ears and it was e-coli. Eventually 3 weeks after that cleaning they were back the same like the procedure never happened. I'd do anything to fix her and nothing seems to work. BTW I've been to 4 vets and all they do it give meds and change foods.
We have had a couple of dogs that suffered from ear infections that kept coming back. Visited MANY different vets and tried so many medications for dog ear infections - the last time was a natural medicine we were told about that solved the problems - it is called Dr Dogs Ear Oil and we got it online from http://drdogs247.com Since using this, our dog doesn't have the annoying dog ear problems anymore. We use it regularly and it is keeping the problems away - hope it can help someone else too.
I know this question is old, but hopefully you will see this. Did you ever find a cure or treatment for your dog? Your problem is exactly what I am going through right now with one of my dogs.
Adie, my Brussels Griffon had to have the ear canal surgery (Total Ear Canal Ablation AKA TECA). It was a rough descion between cost and obvious concern for his health and well being.
Two things I want to share about my experience...
1) The surgery without a doubt improved his quality of life. The years of severe ear aches ultimately led to scarring and swelling of the canals to the point medicine couldn't be administered. He was suffering and without options. Once he recovered from surgery, he was pain free! And in his case, he could actually hear!
2) Prior to the surgery, he was continuously prescribed Prednisone. Predisone can do a fanstastic job and is a great solution for numerous issues. Do use it and follow directions exactly. <-- that's key. Having said that, if you find that vets continuously prescribe it, be aware that chronic use can lead to diabetes.
***As high as 60% of dogs treated longterm become diabetic!*** (Google and you'll see ranges described anywhere from 20-65%).
You didn't mention Prednisone so my 2nd point wasn't directed to you specifically but for anyone else who may be following this thread.
My dog became diabetic. Now I wish had gotten the surgery sooner (avoided all that prednisone). I simply wasn't aware until after the fact so I now make sure other dog owners know about the potential effect of that steroid.
I realize your post was from months ago. Hope all is well with your fur baby!
I'm glad I read your post. Just returned from the vet who says I really need this surgery. Obviously, I'm skeptical and apprehensive. That said, he is at risk for going deaf. I feel reassured knowing it helped your griffon!
When your dogs ears itch and it has black horribly smelling stuff it has a yeast infection and it can be in your dogs body other places too and you can take a long time to get rid of my dog has the same thing I changed his food to earthbound holistic I give them coconut oil at a tablespoon a day a little bit of vinegar in his food A tablespoon of yogurt with all the antibiotics your dogs have had he probably has east and the yogurt will help anytime that they have antibiotics I am following the information from this website called healthy pets.m I am following the information from this website called healthy pets.mercola.com
I have been using Synod Otis enzymatic solution in his ears seems to help but yeast takes a long time to get rid of but you have to wash it each day first to get rid of the black staff I did and then I used that solution which I'm still using I will let you know when his ears get better the way you said that it affects his ears and his throat I wonder if he could've got something in his ear that went through his eardrum and is now stuck somewhere in there maybe by his throat or something these things can happen A holistic approach might be better than all of those meds that can really messy dog system up
Go to a different vet!
I have a I have a job dog that always has severe Ear infection. I figured it out on my own that she is allergic to grain so now I only feed her grain free dog food no more ear infections
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