Dog Question....

[Hound dog]

Maggie has an ear that is all red. She's flapping her ears and clawing at the sore ear. She's done this off and on for about 3 days.

Now I just put the dogs flea medication on them sunday. I tried cleaning her ears with a solution the vet gave me for doing so. Is there some way a bug or something (yes even a parasite) could've gotten into her ear? It is clearly driving the poor girl insane.

I may have Travis help me flush her ear again with the solution later, but I was wondering if anyone else had any other ideas??

 

[Hound dog]

I just looked at the ear again. It's angry red. She does not want to let me look inside it either. I did finally manage to flush it with the solution again. Made the poor baby yelp......and the tip of the container was no where near the flesh on the inside. So it's quite sore.

 

[DammitJanet]

obviously something is wrong. I would think a bug could have crawled into her ear fairly easily. I would try to flush it out and if that doesnt work maybe its an ear infection. Can you get liquid antibiotics at your tractor supply? Or even liquid cortisone to put in the ear.

 

[Hound dog]

I think it's a bug..........from the way she is acting. Or at least it feels like it to her. She is desperately scratching the devil out of that ear. If there is something inside I sure can't see it..........then again she is not really holding very still either.

 

[Hound dog]

I hope it's not an ear infection. I guess if the solution doesn't seem to help today I'll have to make her an appointment. Don't really like to do that when I'll be paying out for her spaying and 3rd set of shots plus rabies in a week.........ugh. But don't want her miserable either.

 

[DaisyFace]

Hound -

A dog's ear canal makes a 90 degree turn a few inches down. If a bug (or something) was in there, you'd never be able to see it.

If the wash doesn't work...you may need to get to a vet.

 

[DammitJanet]

Wouldnt the wash drown it though? Thats why Im wondering about the OTC cortisone drops they have for ears. They may soothe the irritation.

 

[InsaneCdn]

My first reaction was... infection.
Does she have floppy ears? Those kinds of ears are more likely to get an infection.

 

[Star*]

She probably has a yeast infection......only a vet can diagnose this ------BUT I can tell you (OHHHHHHHH about $600.00 ago) that the ONLY thing for an ear infection is Zymox. It's about $25.00 prescribed only.....AND if you do NOT get the ear taken care of soon? You are going to end up with possibly a few problems.....

They can shake and shake and bust a blood vessel in their ear and end up with a hematoma. THOSE are SO painful.....their ear swells up, ENORMOUS size, fills with blood. HAS TO BE LANCED, STITCHED, and surgery is not cheap....IF you do NOTHING? It's the most painful thing you can leave to a dog untreated, and the ear will SHRINK, and SHIRNK and look like cauliflower. WHen I see owners that don't take care of this? It makes me want to run up to them and box THEIR ears several times then say "HOW DOES THAT FEEL? " because you have a choice....turn your dog in for treatment at the humane society.....put it to sleep.......or get it surgery but letting it suffer? SHAME on you.

Another thing it could be if it's yeast is HORRIBLE ----painful, red, itching....and you can TRY a warmed up couple of cap fulls of peroxide and a warm wet wash cloth and a few cotton balls. The cotton balls to keep the peroxide from dripping all over....(do not keep it in the ear) let it run the infection out....and the warm wash cloth to help with the pain. HOWEVER if it is NOT a yeast infection? Peroxide will aggrivate the infection...and cause more problems. You'll know after a couple tries a day. Ouixa gets yeast infections....we flip her flaps out...and do peroxide clean the ear canal gently.....then warm cloth, then dry.....then try to air her ear out....and if not better in a day or so with this treatment 2 or 3 x a day? Then she's off for ZYMOX....AND ANTIBIOTICS. cEPHALEXIN. IT'S SPENDY BUT MAN DOES IT WORK. pRESCRIPTION ONLY.


iF SHE HAS BROWN GUNK IN HER EARS.....it's ear mites...and thats nothing to play with either. They can burrow through the ear drum into the ear canal and into the brain and make a dog go mad. They sell cleaner (which is what you probably have) and mite treatment at most pet stores. But I'd rathter get mine from the vet.

Hope this helps.

The red isn't just from her rubbing....You can try witch hazel to help with the swelling but it's not any kind of a cure, just a temporary relief.

 

[susiestar]

it could be a tick deep down. Can Travis help you hold her still so you can get a good look? You may have to get a big towel or a blanket and wrap her up tight to get the look you need. I would have needle nose pliers on hand so that if it is a tick then you can pull it out.

I would try having Travis help hold the dog and put peroxide in her ear. I use it in our ears, and we ewre told for cats/dogs that it was safe. You use just a few drops, and if you want you can use 1/2 peroxide and 1/2 water. We held Gracie while we used it in her ears. You have to hold her for 2-3 min while the peroxide fizzes, and then you help her turn her head and let the peroxide run out - keep paper towels, tissues or an old rag to catch the peroxide because it can bleach clothes/carpet. It may sting if she has scratched it raw, but it will help an ear infection greatly. This actually worked faster than antibiotics when the kids got ear infections. One of the ENT specialists told us to do that when we saw any sign of pain and often with thank you we stopped the ear infection before it got bad enough for a doctor to be able to see it. Often ear infections are painful before they are visible, which many docs will not tell you.

I hope she feels better soon.

 

[Hound dog]

The inner ear part looks sort of dirty.....like brown gunk. So maybe it's a mite then.

I thought Molly had mites though but it was an infection that required special salve antibiotic and oral antibiotic.

I dunno about infection. Maggie will yip LOUD as if something bit her then start digging at the ear. Many times she will come to me for "help". I notice Molly has started scratching her ears too. D@mn. So maybe it is mites. Molly has had them before years ago and we used something OTC that did the trick well and fast. Have to try to remember what it was. If I can't find it again I'll have to pick some up at the vet.

I'm not sure I could hold Maggie down for much of anything.......even with Travis' help. She may be no bigger than Molly but she is strong and wriggly as all get out. I've got all I can do to get the solution dripped in there to sort of flush/wash it. No way would I try to remove a tic or any other bug on my own.......I would risk puncturing her ear drum. But if it is a tick.......I just gave her a dose of Revolution sunday. It should kill the darn tick itself.

I think I'll call the vet in the morning. I don't think I could possibly get her in until thursday if they can squeeze her in. I work past their closing hours. And no way will she see the other 2 vets in town. One is an idiot and the other charges so much I'd stroke.

 

[Hound dog]

Well, mites or not...........

Maggie's poor ear is obviously terribly infected. Right ear is starting up tonight. I cleaned them again..........she thinks I'm killing her, it's a bit traumatic due to being so painful. I'm rewarding her with cheese, but she is wary coming near me for a bit after. She was sleeping soundly and sudden woke up yelping and flapping her ears. Poor baby.

I'll call the vet soon as she opens in the morning. Maybe they can slide her in after the last appointment or something. (we also have to remember she's in heat ugh)

 

[buddy]

Glad you're going ....ear stuff is so painful. Star one of my cats had that big ear blowing up thing...she had skin issues and scratched so hard it kept happening every time the cone came off. We had a drain put in to keep it draining. It was awful. Looked like it would explode ...as if someone turned the ear into a balloon. She suffered so much we finally had to put her to sleep. It was awful!

 

[donna723]

Star said what I was going to say. Did the redness and irritation come up suddenly? My Katy was fine one night and then woke up the next morning with the whole inside of one ear bright red and irritated. The vet said it was a yeast infection in her ear and gave us a little bottle of liquid to put inside her ear and in a day or so it was completely cleared up.

 

[DammitJanet]

Yes I imagine yeast could grow mighty fast in ears. I will have to watch for that in Abby's ears because she has those little short flappy ears. I have never had a problem with that yet though. I did check her ears last night.

 

[Hound dog]

Maggie goes to the vet in the morning. Thankfully they could squeeze her in.

 

[Star*]

STOP cleaning the ear.....first of all - that cleaner that you have has alcohol in it and is going to IRRITATE it......and IS making it worse. Secondly --it's not helping. That cleaner I don't think is getting rid of the mites. If the ear is THAT infected? She needs to be on antibiotics and get the ear professional irrigated.

If you feel the need to clean it ? WITCH HAZEL - (it's what's in preparatiion H - shrinks swelling of tissue) and it's NON irritating. ALSO hydrogen peroxide - is NON irritating....But at this point? HER EAR is RAW from the other cleaner.

The only thing I would attempt? Is peroxide .....and warm it a little .....pour it in her ear canal and take the bottom of her ear and massage it (take the entire ear in your hand and massage at the base) Then use a cotton ball DO NOT USE A QTIP.....and a wet warm wash cloth........and try to clean the brown gunk oiut - thats ear mite POOP......AND be warned.......if one of your dogs has ear mites...THE OTHERS WILL GET THEM. So you're going to have to treat EVERYONE.

As far as that stuff you put on her for a tick? It may not remove a deeply embeded one.....but I don't think you have a tick.....I stand by my original diagnosis.s.......

 

[Hound dog]

Star, the solution I'm cleaning her ears with is the same solution the vet gave me to clean Molly's with her last ear infection. I picked up more to keep Molly's ears clean in hopes of preventing a future infection. Vet thought it a good idea. I don't think, I'm pretty sure it doesn't have alcohol in it. I could check but I'm clear across the room and too tired after chasing 2 toddlers for 10 hrs to get up and check. lol Molly's ears were horribly infected last time.......and it didn't cause her to yelp. Can't say she was thrilled either but didn't seem to inflict pain.

Vet puts Molly on the antibiotic you recommended. Most likely Maggie will come home with the same.

None of the animals should have a deeply embedded tick as they've stayed on flea medications all season due to the warm winter last year and the ungodly amount of fleas and other bugs. It's why they're still using them. By now I've normally stopped until spring.

She's not been digging at it so much today. When I catch her I tell her to stop. Oddly, she does. (maybe she thinks if she doesn't I'll clean them again lol ) I've only caught her at it a couple of times. Still, I'll feel better once the vet looks at it.

 

[DammitJanet]

Are dogs enough like humans that a bit of warmed sweet oil would help with the pain?

 

[Hound dog]

Verdict?

Yeast infection, that looks about 100 times better this morning than it did when I made the appointment. Of course, that is always the way. lol Still, it would just get worse......and she has her medications now so should be fine.

Maggie just seriously loves everyone/everything. Not much phases this little girl of mine. I'd say it was socialization but honestly........she's had about the same socialization as all my other dogs......in other words....limited. Enough to make them not afraid of people/other animals......yet not so much they think everyone is part of their pack. With Maggie, I think it is her personality to just love everyone. lol

She loves the vet. Seriously, she does. So far Maggie thinks the sun rises and sets on this man. Which since he has a much much better rapport with animals than humans (his people skills are not so hot most of the time), doesn't surprise me too much......but Maggie has taken it to a new level than my other dogs. (she sees the husband, Molly sees the wife) She loves the vet tech. She loves the clients and their dogs. lol

Mom went packing liver snacks, just in case. I do not want to deal with another dog terrified of the vet if I can help it. Molly is enough, trust me. I want it to be as positive an experience each time she goes as it can be. We did have to coax her onto the scale with liver snacks, then reward her once she was on and laid down. Otherwise........it was easy peasy with a few snacks to reinforce her good calm friendly behavior. Her tail was thumping the whole time. I thought she was going to cover his face in kisses while he listened to her heart. lol

Her skin is in great condition. He checked really closely due to the yeast in her ears. He seemed pleased that she'd not had a bath in months. DDD I thought I'd add that he said that for you.

You know what? I pay out 18.00 per month for this Revolution she uses for flea/tick protection. (found out it does come in larger doses for larger weights and price is the same) The more I find out what it does, the more I like it. Vet acts like it's a stiff price. Honestly, with what I paid for Molly's frontline plus at the pet store (yes stupid of me I know) it's actually a bargain. It not only does the fleas/ticks but it kills all the worms including heart worms AND today I found out she'll never have to worry about mites on it either......seems it nixes those buggers too. Considering what I'd pay for flea/tick then wormer, then heart worm medications......and possible mite medications should she get one?? I think that 18 bucks is more than worth it. It does an awesome job on fleas/ticks too by the way.

We had a good laugh over the whole "shepard/st. bernard" mix deal. Maybe some of the other pups in the litter were st. b mixes, but no way Maggie was one. The GS part is obvious, as to what else? Well mom was a GS mix, so who the heck knows. Maggie is already taller than her mom and her mom had goldie texture/type fur that was just beautiful. Maggie is still growing.......and she's a bit taller than Molly now. I dunno how big she'll wind up, not that it matters.....but she has no characteristics of a st. b or any other really large breed dog. She's strong as an ox (literally) but she doesn't have that stocky body build to her. Vet said his best guess could be beagle......but then could be 2 or 3 or more other things too given mom was also a mix.

Whatever breed mixes, it worked well with Maggie.