Ear Infections (Cocker)

Free Republic ^ | 02/24/08 | Me

[txroadkill]

Need Freeper Help. I have a 3 yr old cocker spaniel that has really bad ear infections. I knew it would probably be an issue when I got him but for the first 2 years he never had any problems. Now, however, he has had re-occurring infections and now the vet says that his ear canals have calcified to the point that they need to be “scraped out”, a procedure that will leave him deaf. Does anybody know of a better solution?

[Katya]

there’s an old fashioned remedy for built up ear wax and ear infections... try using an ear candle. A lot of health food co-ops stock them, try a natural food store. No pain at all involved. It’s basically a hollow wax/paper tube which you light at one end.

[Peace4EarthNow]

Advice needed doggie ping!!

[LucyJo]

Vet Solutions Ear Cleansing Solution

[Kimmers]

You were smart to ask FReeper help.

I did this before my dog had TPLO surgery....

Good luck with your pooch and that type of surgery sounds like it should be the very last resort.....I like the idea of H2O@ and sweet oil......you might want to ask the breeder of your pup......

[Vinnie]

My poodle used to get ear fungus infections after I bathed her.
The moisture.
I’d treat her with a micazole lotion the vet supplied. It took about a week-10 days to clear it up . But it leaves a white gooey residue that I wanted to wash off, starting the infection process all over again.
Now I squirt Otirinse (from vet) in her ears twice a day for 2-3 days after her bath and it dries them up. Prevents the fungus and softens the wax.
Also pluck her ears.
(they need to invent Nair for ears :)

[brytlea]

Good advice on the thread. One thing I would add. If this is an ongoing problem, have the dog’s thyroid checked. Also, consider food allergies. Either of those two things can cause recurrent ear infections that are difficult to clear up.

[potlatch]

I would definitely get a second opinion. After reading the links about calcification it does sound more serious. I hope his hearing can be saved!

[kalee]

Google “Blue Power Ear Treatment” I do Cocker rescue and this is what I use. INGREDIENTS: 16 oz. Isopropyl Alcohol 4 Tablespoons Boric Acid Powder 16 drops Gentian Violet Solution 1% Mix together in alcohol bottle and shake well. You will also need to shake solution every time you use it to disperse the Boric Acid Powder. TREATMENT: Evaluate condition of ears before treating and if very inflamed and sore do not attempt to pull hair or clean out ear at all. Wait until inflammation has subsided which will be about 2 days. Shake the bottle each time before using. Flood the ear with solution (gently squirt bottle), massage gently to the count of 60, wipe with a tissue, and leave alone without massage. The dog will shake out the excess, which can be wiped with a tissue; the Gentian Violet does stain fabrics. The SCHEDULE of treatment is as follows: Treat 2 X per day for the first week to two weeks, depending upon severity of ears. Treat 1 X per day for the next 1 to 2 weeks. Treat 1 X per month (or even less frequently) depending on the dog. All of these ingredients should be available at a pharmacy. We have found that, despite the alcohol, the dog will not object to even the first treatment. The Boric Acid Powder soothes the ear. The Gentian Violet Solution is an anti-infection agent. The solution appears to work well on any and all ear problems from mites to wax to canker. After the 2nd or 3rd day, you can clean out the ear with a Q-tip or cotton ball. The success rate for this treatment is 95% to 99%. Those who do not succeed have usually not done the treatment long enough or have not been regular about it. Dogs on the verge of ear canal surgery have been returned to normal with only the regular follow-up treatment to keep the ear healthy. If an infection seems to be remaining in the treated ear after the above course of treatment, you may also have some Pseudomonas bacteria in the site. This can be eradicated by using a gentle flush of raw apple cider vinegar and water (warm). Use 2 Tablespoons of vinegar to one cup of water, 2 X per week. Remember it is for external use only and be careful not to get into the eyes.

[TASMANIANRED]

I’ve been seeing every one’s suggestions for ear washes.

My 2cents worth..When you make your dilution use warm water.

Cold water hurts and may be part of the problem with dogs objecting so much.

The other thing is 1/2 strength will go flat pretty quickly so don’t mix it up in advance.

If your dog is a chow hound, then a 2 person operation may be in order to ease the proceedure by distraction. Have them hold a treat in a tight pinch and let the dog nibble while you are doing the ear wash.

Just might distract her/him enough for you to do it without too much objection and it associates a juicy treat with letting you work on her ears.

[txroadkill]

Thanks, I'm ganna give that a shot. I think this is related to food allergies so I changed him to a fish diet. I'm also looking for a new vet because she was advising me that it was probably better to put him down because deaf cockers get mean.

My guy fits perfectly with my family, he has the same personality as we do, he enforces the pecking order (he assumed a higher rank than my children and they seem to be OK with it), and is extremely smart. He learns commands with little effort and understood house training on day one when we got him. I can count on one hand the number of accidents he had when training him and all of them were our fault for not letting him out.

[kalee]

I have never heard that deaf cockers get mean!!!! I have a blind one and she certainly can take up for hereself with our other one, but she is not mean.

I recommend a new vet.

BTW...the format on my former post was messed up. I do use Power Ear, but the rest of the post I got from Google. Power Ear does work for us though.

[AnAmericanMother]

There are a number of good foods on the market for skin allergies. Almost all dogs with ear issues have some sort of skin issue too - they go together.

Also get some sort of ear wash/ear drops.

The ear infections/fungus are very common in the dog breeds with long floppy ears. I keep an eye on my girls for the musky odor that signals fungus . . . and my vet gave me something called Zymox. It's sort of a cluster-bomb ear treatment - cortisone, anti-fungals, a mild antibiotic, and enzymes. It comes in drops, spray, and wipes.

I've found that combining the Zymox with a hypoallergenic food with skin conditioners keeps the problem at bay.

And I would DEFINITELY get a second opinion. Call your local vet school and ask the dean about his top honor graduates who are practicing in your area. Or go hang out at a dog show and ask the pros who they use.

[submarinerswife]

I have 3 cockers and have had ear problems.

PLEASE ask a vet before using hydrogen peroxide. In humans, HP causes very serious problems if you have an infection coming on (learned this the hard way)

If deafness is inevitable, then it would be better than the pain your dog is feeling now.

[Arizona Carolyn]

I currently have three cockers, have had cockers since 1979. Cockers do NOT do well on anything that contains grains, and my three do not do well with anything chicken, either... As long as I don’t feed grains or chicken their ears are fine... but if you do have ear problems follow the recipe on the Zim Family Cocker site — it works GREAT! There is some very good foods that don’t contain grains you can get for your dog... I feed a raw diet with a grain-free kibble for their breakfast.

[Arizona Carolyn]

No, never use hydrogen peroxide in their ears.

[Arizona Carolyn]

Most cocker ear infections are yeast. Which is why I never feed grains to my cockers. Grains turn to sugar in their systems and yeast loves sugar.

[Arizona Carolyn]

I would never use Tea Tree Oil on my dogs and people should know it can kill cats.

[Arizona Carolyn]

Here is two of my girls

and the other girl

[Arizona Carolyn]

I used to use blue power all the time, but lately have had much better results from the Zim Family recipe that contains Betadine.

[LaineyDee]

What is probiotics? Can you get it without a prescription from the vet.

It's the stuff that keeps their gut healthy with good flora/bacteria. If the dog has been given antibiotics or steroids....they usually suffer from an overgrowth of yeast....which results in stinky ears and gas.

I use Dinovite which is a supplement you can order on the net without a prescription. It's in powder form and I mix it with a small amount of wet canned food. You give it every day. I also add fish oil capsules on top.

I have two dogs (mutts) who had severe flea allergies and the waxy ears. Their fur fell out and they chewed themselves.....no matter what flea product I used. The vet wanted to start them on prednisone....but I've had such bad results from that in the past with other dogs... I decided to do a little research on more natural products. It took about 3 weeks of a daily regime before I began seeing real results. Their hair came back and they stopped the chewing......plus, the ear problems disappeared. It's worth a shot!