I am babysitting my friends new puppy. She had mentioned that she has given it like four baths since she got it because it smells terrible. I smelled its fur and it smells good, but I notice an odor in the ears. Like a really yucky sour smell. They were REALLY dirty, I think it was ear mites, so i gave it ear mite treatment, and its been a couple days and they are WAY better but they still have a smell. Any suggestions, she had just been to the vet and the vet didn't say anything.
2007-01-25 03:30:37 · 15 answers · asked by crissyk24 3 in Pets ➔ Dogs
When a dog has ear mites, it tends to leave a unpleasant smell. She needs to clean the ears with a cotton ball and rubbing alchol b/c if any drips in the ear it will evaporate. Do this for a couple of days and if the smell still continues take him to the vet. Something more might be going on. If the vet still says that there is nothing wrong and there continues to be a smell, take him to another vet.
2007-01-25 03:53:59 · answer #1 · answered by babygrl3rd 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If it is a droopy eared dog they are proned to yeast infections in the ear...that's the sour smell your smelling. NOT ear mites. Make sure water doesn't get in the ears, which mean no more baths...that will make it worse due to keeping it moist! She's going to need a drying powder that groomers use to clean out ear hair. If the dog has ear hair it makes it worse the hair traps moisture. I can't believe that the vet didn't say anything! Did they look in the ear???? Anyways if this is not your pet it 's not your responsibilty. Let the owner treat the dog when they return, the puppy will be okay. Do not put anything else in the ears! She may need prescription drops to fully recover.
2007-01-25 04:27:19 · answer #2 · answered by knightn_gal 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
More often than not the sour smell in a dog's ear is due to a low-grade infection. There are several products available that should be used each time that the dog is bathed. It is also desirable to use caution and not get water or soap in the dog's ears.
We use Epiotic for our dog. Just a squirt or two in the ear during her bath, then carefully dry the outer edges of the ear after the bath, using caution not to get inside. The Epiotic, and other like products draws the dirt out with it, and also allows for drying in the inner ear.
If it doesn't improve after direct use of this type of product, then a visit to the vet is in order. If it goes untreated for too long, the puppy could lose its hearing over time.
2007-01-25 03:42:47 · answer #3 · answered by Kathleen N 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's not very common for dog's to get ear mites. It sounds like the puppy has an ear infection. Ear infections in dog have a distinct odor. There is no way to know without the vet doing an ear swab & looking under the microscope.
2007-01-25 13:22:54 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe shop for a different vet. You are correct - the ear odor is caused by infection or ear mites. Whenever there is an odor in an animal's ears it signals infection. I'd take the pup to a different vet. It needs to be addressed. Any condition in the ears will make the pet extremely uncomfortable and may even be painful.
2007-01-25 04:33:25 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
As you said it could be ear mites, but if you cleaned the ears, and the smell is still there, it could also be a yeast infection. You didn't say what kind of dog it is, but a lot of dogs with floppy ears are prone to yeast infections in their ears...and it stinks!! My Shih-Tzu didn't just have yeast in her ears, but throughout her skin. The vet gave me drops for her ears and told me to bathe her with Selsun Blue Medicated Shampoo. Well, I couldn't get the drops in her ears, but gave her baths with the shampoo, and the yeast cleared up not just in her skin, but her ears too. I didn't wash her ears with it, just regular baths. It may have taken longer to clear up than the drops, but I feel the shampoo helped. I would bathe her once a week.
I would also tell your friends to look for another vet. That one sounds like they don't know what they are doing.
Any thing with the ears whether it is mites or yeast or something else can lead to more serious problems in the future. Ears can get infected, bleed and cause the dog a lot of discomfort. So have your friends check it out before something worse happens and it is not so easy to take care of.
2007-01-25 05:08:48 · answer #6 · answered by just me 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would help to know what breed of dog you have as some breeds like the Poodle need weekly ear maintenance - plucking the hair out of the ear canal & using a vet recommemded earwash fluid. But anyway, keep the dog's ears clean consistantly & this problem should go away. If you bathe your dog & get the ears wet inside, use a solution of alcohol & cider vinegar (50-50) in a spray bottle after the bath in the ears & use cotton balls to wick out the moisture.
2007-01-25 03:54:20 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
sounds like some kind of ear infection or mites to me! the vet didn't say anything about very dirty ears and a sour smell? might be time to find a new vet, i think the pup needs medicine!
2007-01-25 03:36:17 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it sounds like the Pup has some kind of an infection. She may need to take it to the Vet. I use OxyFresh On my Dogs ears. It is for cleaning the ear and removing wax build up, which may be all she needs to do, since you say the pups ears are so dirty..
2007-01-25 03:42:44 · answer #9 · answered by donna_honeycutt47 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The vet is an idiot. It sounds like an ear infection.
Step 1: Find a new competent vet
Step 2: Cotton swabs (cotton balls not the swabs that you and I would use). A bit of hydrogen peroxide will and swipe the ears. No digging- you'll just push the stuff further in the ear.
The bathing won't help if it's in the ears. Don't spray water or anything in there, you'll make worse.
Good Luck
2007-01-25 03:37:47 · answer #10 · answered by sillybuttmunky 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋