Itchy dog ears..wont stop?

Question

My dogs ears are really itchy. She wines when she rubs them with her paws and when she rubs her head on the floor. The inside of her ear turns all red from the scratching, when cleaning her ears you can hear a liquidy, squishy sound. I have taken her to the vet twice, but they can not find anything they just give her pills for itching. I have even tried different foods if she has food allergies and nothing has worked. Please help!!!

I am not sure of her breed. I got her from a shelter. I think she is some type of Spaniel.

Answer 1

my dog had a similar problem and the vet gave me an ointment to put in. they also gave me cleaning solution. you might want to try a different vet, because something is definitely wrong! good luck!

Answer 2

Could it be yeast? Yeast can arise in warm, moist places, and the ear is a perfect spot in dogs.

You didn't mention your dog's breed. Some dogs have allergy troubles, some dogs struggle with irritation from fur growing inside their ears matting up (especially if their ears are long/hang down with long fur), and some dogs just start scratching, irritate the skin/ear, and then cause a problem that began as nothing more than a really big itch.

One of my puppies, without fail, whenever she goes to the groomer (no matter which groomer I've chosen), ends up with similar symptoms to the ones you are describing. Someone suggested it could be yeast, from the moisture of bathing/grooming or an allergic reaction to products used at the groomers. The symptoms show up shortly after grooming (within a day or two). I, too, was worried that it was mites. However, I took her to the vet, and he gave me Panolog. It is made by a company called Novartis. It is an ointment. I use a Q-tip to apply it, to keep the tube sterile. I am extremely careful not to put the Q-tip any deeper than just the area I can see (just barely inside her ear). Within a few days - usually just two days - (applying it morning and night), my puppy is clear of the irritation and redness. I discovered that Panalog ointment can be purchased over the counter (less expensive than getting through the vet clinic).

The ointment is soothing. It doesn't sting. In fact, she leans right into me when I apply the Panalog.

For us, it worked like a charm. I really hope this helps.

Answer 3

Yes it does sound like ear mites and if your vet siad that nothing is wrong...I think its time for them to go back to vet school. That is not normal and you should bring him to a different vet, a normal amount of wax needs to be inside the dogs ears to remain healthy try buying some Pet ear cleaner and gently cleaning out the ears with dicrections on teh back of the product. Also do not touch or even pet the dog's ears this will make them itchy...he is probably extremly uncomfortable.

Answer 4

when you look in her ears are they dirty or clean? If they are dirty with alot of dark colored wax, then mix a solution that is 1/2 alcohol and 1/2 vinegar. She is probably itching because of a yeast or bacterial infection if the ears appear dirty, and this solution will help. However, if they look clean, just red and irritated, then you need to get her ears packed. It is a thick yellow cream, that actually consists of mainly grease. The vet will fill a syringe with the pack and put it into her ears. This will stay for 7-10 days then you go back and get it repacked. It usually takes 3-4 packs, but works miraculously! Call your vet to see if they have this available. (It is a very new method but has been doing wonderful) Call around to the vets in your area, and ask if they have "ear pack" and use it for chronic ear problems.. you are bound to find one and it will work!

Answer 5

Go to a different vet. There is obviously something wrong that your vet isn't catching. Fleas, mites and yeast are a number of things it could be. All pretty common and I don't understand why your vet hasn't figured it out. Maybe he/she should go back to school. Is there any type of odor?? You can give your dog Benedryl for the itching/scratching, but you didn't say what size or kind she is. But when you take her to a DIFFERENT vet, ask them about the Benedryl. My dog has yeast in her ears and in her skin...foul odor. My vet told me to use Selsun Blue Medicated shampoo, and it worked great. She is yeast free now, doesn't scratch or itch like she used to.
If it is a food allergy, which could be the problem, you may have to change her diet.

Answer 6

Poor little thing, and so much for "mix breed vigor". All the right things have been done for allergies (start with benadryl, go to prednisone). Steroids like prednisone are major meds, hate to use them, but they do work usually, I have one of my 6 on prednisone right now, she also chews herself sometimes when she is itchy, but not so much anymore. She was a mess when we rescued her, but now seems to only do it when she is stressed, so I suspect it is more of a comfort thing than real allergies. Since it ends up the same, I immediately put her on Benadryl liquid, and if it continues, prednisone - but that has to be done carefully. Only thing vets did NOT seem to address in the case of your little dog is the discharge from the vagina -- that has nothing to do with allergies and is certainly a serious matter - what did the vets say about that. Is she spayed? Have to find out what is causing this. I have my chewing dog on cotton bedding, no synthetics, no wool, as that seems to aggravate her condition. She is also given lots of petting and soothing and we keep her calm (she came from a very stressful situation which is probably what triggered her issues). All I can advise is try to eliminate naything that may cause itching, whether it is synthetic fabrics, your grass sprayed with chemicals, or just stress. Do you have synthetic carpets in the house? Just make a real effort to figure out what she could possibly be allergic to. You do need to get to the root of the vaginal discharge, however, that is NOT part of allergies and certainly not normal. I'm sure you've already tried corn free, high grade kibble - ours is on Canidae Chicken and Rice. She came in with 6 medicines, 2 bags of special food and the diagnosis that she would never be well, was a failure to thrive, couldn't absorb food, etc. ---- her symptoms are ALL pretty much due to stress. She's normally on no meds, eats Canidae with our other 5, and only has the rare chewing on herself issue now (new foster came and went) and we nip it in the bud. She weighed 5 1/2 pounds when we got her, is 9 1/2 now, a healthy weight for her. Good luck, I know how awful this can be, just keep trying to figure out what her reaction is to --- either synthetics, corn based food, or stress. I am sure you have ruled out flea dermatitis and have her on monthly Frontline Plus or Advantix - that's another problem.

Answer 7

Take her to another vet. She could have a range of problems. Most likely you will need to get a cleaner that dries out your dogs ear canal because if water gets in there it can be painful and annoying to them. What are you cleaning her ears with. That could be what you are hearing and she may be allergic to that and that is causing her to scratch. If you have switched food it usually takes about 6 weeks to get signs to stop. Good luck

Answer 8

Panolog Ointment For Dogs

Answer 9

I don't mean to scare you, just telling you my experience.

My dog had the same problem, with a lot of build up. When he would shake his head, gunk would fly out of them. Very gross. We had to lay him down, nightly, and clean them with a wash, ointment and swabs. The stuff had to be massaged into his ears. He was also on antibiotics for 2-3 months.

In the end, we found out he had cancer and that's why he couldn't fight the infections.

Have your dog's blood tested for infection, cancer, and other problems. I would take your dog to a new vet.

Answer 10

I work at a animal hospital and it sounds like you need to go to another vet. She sounds like she has ear infections. If you bath her or her ears get water in them, and she has the type of ears that flop over, dark and damp= bacteria .that can cause ear infection. then she scratches at them with her paws and that makes it worse. My vet checks a cytology for bacteria and yeast. even if he didn't see very much, he will RX vet sols ear cleaning solution and a RX called HB101, its anti itch, antibiotic and anti yeast for 21 days, sounds like you need a new yet.

Answer 11

Get a second opinion and don't settle for a lazy answer like that. It could be mites or an infection. My Australian Shepherd Husky mix had that problem for years and there IS medication that will make her symptoms better. Poor puppy! Good luck!