dogs health/ ears?

Question

my dog has and currently is being treated by vet for her ears. it started 3yrs ago when she gave birth.....dont know if thats significant.
first normal ear infection. 2 ear drops cortisone injection 2 stop her scratching..3 sterods injection. 4 ear drops canaueal and steroid tablets. she lost all hair on one ear and was keeping us up all nite crying shaking her head n ears. we clean her ears daily n still black goo comes out. on a bad day when she shakes wet wax hit the wall. shesa got bad again and we hav 2 c vet on friday, when she scratches her ears they sound as though water or oil is trapped right inside.....they squelch. wotz wrong wiv my dog? vet suggested allergy test costs 2 much n insurance wont pay because her treatmement started before policy ?

Answer 1

I don't know the answer to your dog's ear problem, but it sounds a lot like what we went through with ours for a long time - now he still gets an occasional 'outbreak' but this medication and treatment stop it within a few days. Here's my suggestion to you --
First do NOT use rubbing alcohol in his ears for cleaning -- that makes it worse and dries the ears out.
Second, use a washcloth for just his ears to keep the smell down until you can get these meds for him -- using warm water, wash them out by using the wet washcloth to clean off the stuff that you can see -- allow him to shake his head to remove the stuff down inside -- do NOT stick a q-tip in there.
Third, ask the vet to provide you with Rx: GlenHaven F 1/O Otic 4 oz. and have him demonstrate the way to properly wash out his ears with this product. (We use several cottonballs, squeeze a generous amount of this watery liquid onto the cotton balls. Hold the dogs ear STRAIGHT UP and push the squeeze the cotton balls against the inside of his earflap -- allowing all of that liquid to run down into the canal -- then still holding his ear up, gently squeeze the area just below his ear with your thumb and second finger -- you will be pushing the front part of his ear into the canal area and then squish it around. If you are in the right place and IF you have put enough of the liquid it, you will hear a water sound when you squish -- do that for several minutes -- the dog will probably love it cause it is itching in there! Next, stand back and let him SHAKE IT OUT!!! do not try to use a rag or q-tip -- the dog's shaking will get some of the 'stuff out' that you want out -- sounds like an outside job! Do the other ear if it also is 'infected' with that stuff.
Next, after he has shaken his head really well, the vet can give you some very long q-tips that they use for cleaning their ears -- again have him demonstrate how do to this part... but you again hold the ear flap straight up - this will cause the direction of the ear canal so that you won't injure his ear... Using the q-tip, gently wipe out any excess gunk - don't expect one treatment to fix the problem -- be ready to do this daily for about a week (maybe less) but to do it again at the first sign of a relapse.
Next, ask the vet to provide you with Rx: Gentam/Betameths/Clortrm Otic 15 ml. After the cleaning - above, you take this long necked tube of another slightly milky liquid and drop 10 drops twice daily. Be sure you hold the ear upright and put the tube down far enough that you can be sure the medication is going down into the canal -- you can't really count the drops, but do your best! Then, again, gently squeeze the area so that you are getting this medication dispersed into his ear canal.

He will shake and rub his head like crazy for a little while, but that is a good thing -- allow him to do that good after the cleaning before you apply the medication - that way he won't be shaking it right back out.

Our dog's ear problems were never ending - and I was told they were mites by a vet -- later another vet told me that dogs RARELY if ever get mites unless exposed to cats with ear mites -- once we stopped treating for mites and did this above program, we have never had another problem -- it clears up well, and when it seems to be starting again, I do this and it stops within a day or two!

Good luck - I would like to know if it works for you!

Answer 2

It might well be allergies.

My parents have a beagle who had a similar problem. They started feeding him a dog food with fewer synthetic additives such as preservatives, colorings, and flavorings. And the problem went away.

I hope this helps!