I have a question. Isn't that how it begins.

I haven't found a vet that I like yet and this last time has made my wife and I stop and think about what we should do the next time Kingston has an ear issue.

It started after taking Kingston down to the river. He ran into the water and was in over his head. I don't have a lot of experience with dogs, so did not dry out his ears when we got home.

A few days later my wife notice that his left ear was red and sore. We cleaned out the black ear wax/gunk that built up and waited a few days, cleaning his ear each day. Well, it didn't get better so off to the vet we went.

We came home with some 15 day supply of Amoxi pills and a bottle of Canaural ear drops. We also picked up some de-worming tablets.

The bill was a little too high for us. It felt like the vet had no idea what he was treating and gave us everything he could think about. The de-worming tablets were on my request but I feel like they were too expensive.

So, first question. Does anyone have any advice on what we should do next time. Can I buy anything say off the shelf at walmart? I really thought that chessies were "water" dogs.
Second, are there any special de-worming pills/tablets out there that I can buy cheaper that $8 a tablet at 4 tablets in one go?

Although Kingston's ear seems better now, I'm not convinced that this vet I took him to knew enough about what he was doing. Any thoughts?

Widgeon had ear problems like you are talking about! She would get the black crusties!! This would clog here ear up. The vet would give a an ear cleaner and a clear ointment to put in her ear after the cleaning. Forget what it was called!! This worked great!! As for the wormer? $8 is cheap considering its usually a one time application and kills all the worms in less than 24 hours!! JMO

Kingston probably ended up with a yeast infection in his ears which happens when moisture is allowed to stay in the ears. It happens because the ear flap covers the ear so no air can get in to dry it out. After you've had your dog in the water, I would rinse the ears out with a good quality ear wash and try to dry out the ear with cotton. Lisa posted a good mix somewhere else here on this board. I think it was 1/3 viegar, 1/3 betadyne, 1/3 alcohol. Flush ear liberaly with this mixture and let dog shake head to get rid of excess.

I have a Standard Poodle who seems to have chronic yeast infections due to very narrow ear canals and excessive hair. I am flushing his ears once a week with an ear flush that was recommended to me and can be purchased from Revival.com.

As far as treatment, there are a number of ear medications, but the one that worked the best for us was Baytril-otic, with a two week dose of ketaconizole (sp?). That what finally cleared it up, but his had been going on for some time.

Kathy Miller

Thanks Kathy, That is what i used and what Widgeon had!! Though i did get a flush from the vet that worked well.

I think the ear flush that I get from Revival is called Aloecetic. We had to get rid of the yeast infections first, now we use this for maintenance.

Kathy Miller

The Blue Stuff – Ear Cleaner
This recipe was given to me by my veterinarian, Dr. Joellen Gregory, to treat yeast and bacterial infections in dogs’ ears. She uses it regularly on her Otterhounds.

• 16 oz. Alcohol
• ¼ cup Boric Acid in powder form (This is found at the pharmacy, in the first aid section, often with the eye and ear cleaning supplies. My vet says that she can get it in large amounts at WalMart. Do NOT use the stuff for roaches as it has other ingredients.)
• 20 Drops Gentian Violet 1% Solution (ask your pharmacist to order this – they usually get this within a day and it’s over-the-counter)

Mix together in the alcohol bottle. Shake well. It is easiest to use if you have a small squirt bottle to transfer it to, but you can use it directly from the alcohol bottle if needed.

• Fill the ear canal and massage at the base of the ear. Shake the ear cleaner well before using and between ears – the boric acid will settle.
• The dog will shake it’s head, then wipe whater excess you see.
• Use the cleaner twice daily for a current infection, then once daily for about a week, then every couple of weeks as needed.
• This cleaner may also be used in facial folds or toes if there is yeast dermatitis.


Note: Internet research revealed that many people use witch hazel instead of alcohol.

Warning: The Gentian Violet will stain, so use this outdoors and give the dog plenty of time to shake.

quote:

The Blue Stuff – Ear Cleaner
This recipe was given to me by my veterinarian, Dr. Joellen Gregory, to treat yeast and bacterial infections in dogs’ ears. She uses it regularly on her Otterhounds.

Gina, all the poodle people recommend this mixture, so I got all the ingredients, made the stuff, and flushed Scottie's ears with it. He cried like a baby the minute the solution went into his ears, and I couldn't touch his ears for almost 5 days after that as he'd scream. Apparently the alcohol is too harsh for some dogs. We ended having to retreat his ears for two weeks with the baytrilotic and put him back on the ketaconazole, then went to the aloecetic from Revival.com that my friends with the Bassets recommended.

Just an FYI....I know the blue stuff works for some dogs, but it's too much for others.

Kathy Miller

[QUOTE]Originally posted by wiley:

We came home with some 15 day supply of Amoxi pills and a bottle of Canaural ear drops. We also picked up some de-worming tablets.

We almost never prescribe an oral antibiotic for an ear infection unless it is really bad (pus in the ear or sores in or around the ear). If it is just a yeast or bacterial infection which most ear infections are can be easly treated with a ear ointment. The ears should be cleaned during treatment with a ear solution that is ph balanced for the ear. We treat with ointment twice a day for 2 weeks.

The bill was a little too high for us. It felt like the vet had no idea what he was treating and gave us everything he could think about.

Did the vet do a ear cytology to find out what excatly was causing the ear infection so that he prescribed the correct ointment for it.
The de-worming tablets were on my request but I feel like they were too expensive.

So, first question. Does anyone have any advice on what we should do next time.
Next time after the infection is cleared up whenever done with being in water clean the ears out so they dry out and hopefully another infection won't start. You can clean the ears once a week on a maintenance plan also to help prevent ear infections.


Second, are there any special de-worming pills/tablets out there that I can buy cheaper that $8 a tablet at 4 tablets in one go?

Not usually if bought over the counter. The ones at the vet cover the apporiate parasites. Ones you buy over the counter usually only cover for roundworms and hookworms. If you are giving your dog a monthly heartworm pill then it is getting a monthly deworming also so don't necessarly need a dewormer unless it has parasites.

If the ear infections keep coming back it maybe a underlining allergy issue. Good luck.

QUOTE]

Thank you for all the input.

Kingston's ears seem to be better, although, we are still giving him his pills until they are finished.

Glad to hear the ears are getting better. It is good that you are finishing his antibiotics. If started and not finished that can lead to antibiotic sensitivity.