My dog suffers from Reoccuring ear infections.?

Question

I have a chocolate lab, that suffers all the time with ear infections, due to a short ear canal. Does anyone know of any remedies that can be used to prevent the build up of wax, which is what keeps causing these infections. I have always used an ear wash from the vet, which costs £18 a month. I know this sounds tight, but due to my suddenly becoming a single parent, this is putting quite a big hole in what is now a small pocket!. I would be really grateful for any ideas.
Thanks

Answer 1

I have had dogs with this problem for years until I found Thornit. Check it out on the internet, I know you can buy it online but I get mine at dog shows. It's a fine powder which you sprinkle around the ear. Once it's in gently lift out any excess gunk you can see then sprinkle a little more in. Don't go poking around in the ear with cotton buds etc just use your fingers, I use surgical gloves to do this. It costs about £7 for a tiny bottle but I bought mine in December and still have enough left for another few months. A lot of show people and breeders use Thornit in fact I think everyone I know uses it but vets, in general, don't like it possibly because they are losing money I don't know. My current puppy had terrible ear problems and the vet wanted to sedate him to clean them out. This was last November. I started him on Thornit and he hasn't had a problem since with a starting 'clean up' then a dose once a day for about a week then only one dose a week.
Good luck

Answer 2

I have a chocolate lab also with the same problem!! i also use the ear wash from the vets as well but when i run out and cant get it in time a baby wash and warm water works just as good. The trick though is not to leave his ear canal wet because that is what causes the infections. my dog just went through a truly horrible ear infection episode when i didn't dry his ears out after giving him a bath!! it cost me like 400 dollars at the vets, that hurt. but he has had this his whole life and will have it the rest too. If you make sure you clean his ears out twice a week you should be all set. now if he gets an infection you can order medicine (works awesome) online for a bit cheaper at petmeds.com its called Baytril ointment. Good luck, i know how you are feeling

Answer 3

One thing that works well to clean out ears is green tea (brew it as if you are going to have a cup, then LET IT COOL to room temp.) You can dip a bit of cotton wool into this or use a swab dipped in it to gently clean the ear. You should never pour any solution into the ear as it just keeps the ear canal moist so that the yeast and bacteria can grow. Some people add a bit of tea tree oil, or a drop of frankincense oil into this for added antiseptic effect. If your dog has recurring infections, it may be due to a food allergy, check what you are feeding. Here in the US, most dog foods are made of ground corn, which is often an allergen. The first ingredient on the label should be meat. I am not sure of brands in the UK. I also strongly recommend a probiotic, or beneficial bacteria for his digestive system. This helps many pets with chronic skin and ear problems, especially if they are caused by yeast or due to a hypersensitivity/allergy. If need be, you could use a yoghurt with live active cultures- I would feed a lab a spoonful or two a day with his food. Good luck, this can be a really frustrating problem.

Answer 4

ear washes are not always good, as the stay in the ear canal and leave it damp in there. Methylated spirit was what my breeder recommend if the ears need cleaning, as it evapourates and leaves the ear dry. Try not to use anything -if it is infected, it is oral antibiotics the dog needs, not wet sloppy washes that make the situation worse.

Answer 5

http://www.nativeremedies.com/petalive/ear-dr-pet-ear-mites-remedies.html?ovchn=OVR&ovcpn=Overture+Main&ovcrn=dog+ear+infection&ovtac=PPC&OVRAW=dog%20ear%20infections&OVKEY=dog%20ear%20infection&OVMTC=standard&ysmwa=cwfhqcw5gNWyT3iaaB5_OUlzJtQ6-gMJPVyIrrNG8QZYLsP11xRMvORmSXoehAIt

But make sure go to a vet.

Signs and symptoms of ear problems in pets

Ear infections are very common amongst cats and dogs and can cause severe irritation and discomfort in your beloved pet. Some animals (i.e. dogs of the 'hound' family) are more susceptible to ear infections than others due to the particular structure of their outer ears.

Common signs of ear infection are:

Shaking of the head and ears
Scratching or rubbing the ears and face
Discharge or even bleeding from the ears
Foul smell coming from the ears
Sensitivity to touching in the ear area
General irritability
There are a number of causes of ear infection and common culprits include bacteria, yeasts and mites. Less commonly, allergies may have a role to play in inflammation and subsequent infection of the ears.

What are ear mites?

Ear mites, or Otodectes cynotis, are small, parasitic creatures that usually live in the ears of your pets causing severe itching and inflammation. These mites can also live on the head or body of dogs and cats - with the same effects. They are often large enough to see with the naked eye, can live off a pet’s skin for some time and are very mobile - allowing easy movement between host animals. These mites are highly contagious and will spread between pets in the same household very easily. They may affect both cats and dogs and even humans may pick up these little critters.

Secondary infections in pets with ear mites are common and generally involve bacteria or yeasts.

What is the conventional treatment?

Usual treatment of ear infections in pets involves antibiotics and, in the case of mites, medications and products also used for flea control. In severe infestations and multiple pet households, insecticides are sometimes used for treating the house or living environment.

How can herbal remedies help?

As ear infections are so often treated with antibiotics, chronic and recurrent ear infections are a growing problem and usually occur with decreased immune functioning - a frequent side-effect of antibiotic drugs.

Natural remedies can treat and prevent infections of the ear without any of the side-effects and adverse effects on immune functioning that antibiotics do.

What is PetAlive Ear Dr.?

PetAlive Ear Dr. contains a blend of natural, herbal ingredients in a medicinal olive oil base, all specially selected to treat and prevent ear infections and ear mites without the side effects of prescription drugs or the health and environmental risks associated with commercial synthetic pesticides.

Ear Dr. can provide safe yet effective relief from your pet's ear problems and helps to prevent the spread of mites from one pet to another.

Answer 6

I would suggest using two different products. One that is for keeping infection to a minimum and another for removing the excess wax.

You could try this product:
http://erinsedge.zoovy.com/product/KEN008EAR

The same product for sensitive ears:
http://erinsedge.zoovy.com/product/KEN009SENSEAR

Combined with either of these two prodcts - or another specifically for removing wax-:
http://erinsedge.zoovy.com/product/DG003EAR
http://erinsedge.zoovy.com/product/NAP004EAR

Good-luck!

Answer 7

take a look at these sites. The first will provide different types of medication and the second how to administer them yourself safely.

Answer 8

hi my dog sufferes with the same thing try warm salty water and change its diet to chicken and veges also include fish dont give it beef. may work wonders

Answer 9

I belong to this lab board, you should find answers there.

http://www.lab-retriever.net/board/index.php