Post by: K Frame on April 16, 2008, 06:27:10 AM
This is the first drop-eared dog I've ever had, and I apparently wasn't taking care of his ears correctly.
So, I need to do drops for the next two weeks and do a better job of cleaning his ears going forward.
Fortunately he's pretty good about getting drops and about my cleaning his ears.
Even more fortunately, I just bought a pressure washer...
Post by: Boomhauer on April 16, 2008, 06:32:47 AM
Post by: charby on April 16, 2008, 06:35:28 AM
Post by: BlueStarLizzard on April 16, 2008, 06:48:36 AM
solution 2/3 (cider) vinager, 1/3 green alcohol (its a lot cheaper and works better then the stuff you buy). flush and let him shake, then use a cotten ball to wipe out goo. repeat until no more goo comes out. with a drop ear dog you want to check his ears pretty regular, just flap 'em open and look to see if its crusty or gooy. i know its gross, but give the ears a sniff, if they stink they need to be cleaned. if the smell like infection, clean them and then use otobotic (an antiboitic ointment) for a week or so.
if you have a dog thats prone to ear infections, talk your vet into letting you have a big bottle of otobotic as to avoid vet visits. its one of those things thats just good to have on hand.
Post by: Unisaw on April 16, 2008, 08:35:23 AM
Post by: K Frame on April 16, 2008, 08:40:43 AM
Post by: Nitrogen on April 16, 2008, 08:46:25 AM
Even more strangely enough, he's got an ear infection and is getting drops, too.
This reply has little else to do with your post, however.
Post by: Marnoot on April 16, 2008, 09:10:32 AM
Post by: Gewehr98 on April 16, 2008, 10:06:35 AM
My vet has done something different lately, he gave us medicated towelettes to clean the ears vs. going the antibiotic route.
We also get a rinse to use for the deeper part of the dog's ear canal.
The wet wipes are called MalAcetic, and come in the same type of dispenser as other handi-wipe products.
The active ingredients are 2% Acetic Acid, and 2% Boric Acid.
For deeper cleaning, we have what's called VET Solution, which is an ear-cleaning solution for cats and dogs. You squirt it into the deeper part of the ear and work it in with your hands over the dog's ear canal (which goes quite far down the base of the dog's skull)
You clean the excess off with a cotton ball, especially after he shakes it out. (Boy, do they shake it out!)
For treatment, we've used Animax Ointment, which is prescription nystatin-neomycin sulfate-thiostreptron-triamcinolone acetonide witches' brew to kill stubborn ear infections.
This latest bout of ear infections was a surprise to us, until the vet calmly asked if the dog was also chewing at his legs. He was, and right there he knew we were dealing with a food allergy. We had bought some Beneful stew prepackaged meals for his breakfast a few weeks ago, and had forgotten to look at whether the darned things had corn meal in them. They did, and sure enough, our dogs were not having a good time of it. So the Beneful got sent to the local Humane Society while we kept feeding them their normal Lamaderm. It takes about 4 weeks for the allergies to subside, from what I was told.
Evidently food allergies will manifest themselves with ear infections, too. You'll definitely smell the infections as you're working with the dog.
If the ear infections are painful enough, you'll have a fun time getting the big dogs to sit still while you work on their ears. So far, we're doing good with the MalAcetic wet wipes, though. He's not digging in his ears like he was prior to the treatment, too.
Good luck, hopefully Mason will be feeling better soon.
Post by: Iain on April 16, 2008, 11:41:54 AM
Post by: Unisaw on April 16, 2008, 12:40:04 PM
Post by: Perd Hapley on April 16, 2008, 06:59:58 PM
This is the first drop-eared dog I've ever had, and I apparently wasn't taking care of his ears correctly.
You have to take care of his ears?
