Bad ears

[Rio&Nickysmommy]

I am at my witts end with Nicholas ears. SInce I have had him about 8 months (he is 3 going on 4) he has had the worst problems with his ears. I had him back at the vet this week and we got a shot and Otomax (i think thats it) and the cleaning stuff. But its and endless cycle. I clean them all the time. I never saw so much wax in my entire life and I have been a nurse for over 20 years. Any suggestions? I thought we had it under control for a while but it keeps coming back.
Rio&Nickysmommy

[StarWhisper]

I noticed when a dog has ear problems the underlying cause is almost always food allergies. What do you feed?

[suki]

Here is some quick info on food allergies. Please, to be used as a reference, only. As always, if in doubt, a DVM is ALWAYS your best bet.




How common are food allergies?


No one knows for sure how many pets have food allergies, but several numbers are frequently cited in the veterinary literature. Veterinary dermatologists suggest that adverse food reactions account for 1% to 6% of all dermatoses (skin diseases) in general practice and that food is the cause of 10% to 20% of allergic responses in dogs and cats. Food allergy is probably the third most common hypersensitivity skin disease in dogs and cats after flea allergy and atopy.

Food allergies affect the gastrointestinal tract, but we do not know how often. Food sensitivity probably is involved in some cases of the two most common causes of inflammatory bowel disease and chronic vomiting and diarrhea in cats and dogs—lymphoplasmacytic enteritis and eosinophilic enteritis.

What are the signs of food allergy?

The signs of a food allergy range from gastrointestinal (GI) signs such as vomiting and diarrhea to dermatologic (skin) reactions such as itching (pruritus), bumps (papules) and redness (erythema). In dogs, adverse food reactions typically occur as nonseasonal pruritic dermatitis, occasionally accompanied by GI signs. The pruritus varies in severity, and the lesions are often indistinguishable from those seen with atopy. One-fourth of dogs with adverse food reactions have lesions only around their ears. In cats, head and neck pruritus is a particularly common manifestation of food allergy.

Every part of the GI tract can be damaged by food allergies. The signs usually are the result of stomach and small bowel dysfunction, but inflammation of the large intestine (colitis) can occur. Vomiting and diarrhea are prominent features.

Gastrointestinal disturbances occur as well in 10% to 15% of dogs and cats with cutaneous manifestations of food sensitivity.

Can other allergies occur simultaneously with food allergies?

Yes. About 20% to 30% of dogs with suspected adverse food reactions have another allergic disease, such as flea-allergy dermatitis or atopy. Concurrent flea-allergy dermatitis or atopy may occur in as many as 30% of cats with suspected adverse food reactions.

Some veterinary dermatologists suspect that the effects of allergies are additive. That is, an animal that has both a flea allergy and a food allergy may reach some "allergen threshold" in which signs become apparent. However, in the presence of only one allergy, the pet may not have any signs. This hypothesis implies that controlling even one of multiple allergies may reduce or eliminate the signs.

How old are pets when food allergies occur?

Food allergy often occurs suddenly after the pet has consumed the culprit food for months or years. Affected pets can be as young as 2 to 6 months. In one study, almost half of the cats who developed a food allergy did so by 2 years of age.

Are adverse reactions to food and food allergies the same thing?

An adverse reaction to food is any abnormal response to an ingested food or food additive that usually is harmless. There are two general types: (1) allergies and (2) intolerances. In a true food allergy (hypersensitivity), the body's immune system overreacts to a food that is otherwise harmless. That is, food allergies have an immunologic basis. The pathogenic mechanisms that lead to a food allergy include interaction of the food with a biologic amplification system that leads to inflammation and clinical signs. On the other hand, a food intolerance is a nonimmune reaction that can have a variety of causes. For example, milk intolerance is caused by a deficiency of lactase, which breaks down milk sugar (lactose). The lactose thus remains in the intestine to be fermented by bacteria, causing gas and diarrhea. Another type of intolerance is overreaction of the blood vessels to vasoactive amines in food or abnormal responses to food additives.

What causes food allergies?

Food allergens are almost exclusively medium-size to large proteins, which are large enough to be interpreted by the animal's immune system as "foreign." Most food allergens are partially resistant to heat and digestion. Therefore, they are not broken down by cooking or the gastrointestinal tract and retain their antigens.

What proteins most frequently cause food allergies?

Ten scientific studies have shown that certain proteins in beef, dairy products and wheat account for two-thirds of the reported cases of cutaneous food allergy in dogs. Beef, dairy products or fish account for almost 90% of the reported cases of cutaneous food allergy in cats. The veterinary literature does not say which proteins are most commonly involved in GI food allergies.

How do food allergies occur?

Food allergies are an unfortunate consequence of protein survival in the GI tract. Remember, once foreign protein has been hydrolyzed to small peptides and amino acids (normal digestion), it is no longer able to provoke an immune response. However, food protein that escapes digestion yet is absorbed may retain enough "foreignness" to generate an immune response. The body builds antibodies, which remain to attack the protein whenever it appears again. One result of this immune response is the development of obvious signs of food allergy. The mucosal lining of the GI tract does not keep out all large molecules. Approximately 0.02% of the daily dietary protein intake is absorbed intact. Some observers claim that as much as 2% of fed protein may be absorbed. In the 70-pound German shepherd dog, these numbers mean that as much as 40 lb of protein may be absorbed over the animal's lifetime. If it is not dealt with by the body, this large protein burden may be recognized by the immune system as foreign and therefore cause food allergy.

[suki]

now, for the ears...
One of the most important things you can do to keep your pet's ears clean and healthy is to clean them periodically, especially if they have been prone to infection. Pick a room that is quiet and free of small children.

Before we institute any cleaning of problem ears it is important to make a diagnosis. Not every case of ear infection is caused by ear mites, as many people are prone to think. Ear infections are commonly caused by bacterial infections, hypothyroidism (low thyroid), and allergies.

Cleaning
Never put anything in your pet's ear canal without proper restraint. As a general rule you should clean the ears by letting the cleaning solution bring the infection and discharge to the outside of the canal to be wiped away. You should not put Q-tips into your pets ears unless we tell you to and you have been shown the proper technique, and your pet is adequately restrained. Q-tips can damage the sensitive tissue that lines the ear canal. Also, an ear drum can easily be ruptured by placing objects in the ear canal, especially if the ear has an infection.






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The first thing to do is use a gauze to wipe away discharge that is on the surface.





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Gently pull up on the ear and partially fill the ear with the cleaning solution. By straightening out the ear you allow the cleaning solution to flow down the ear canal to where the infection and debris are located.



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After the canal had been partially filled massage the base of the ear canal very gently. Most pets find this part soothing.



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Let your pet shake its head if it wants to. Then use a gauze to soak up the fluid that comes out of the ear.



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Instill several drops of the actual medication after the cleaning solution is out of the ear and the ear is relatively free of discharge. Most pets do fine with daily cleaning and medicating, your doctor will let you know if it should be done more or less frequently than daily.

hope this helps you some.

[ZenTrainer]

And now for the holistic solution.
If your vet is giving you Otomax, your dog has a yeast infection. Ear mites look like coffee grounds, a yeast infection is brown gunky stuff.
Use a mixture of 1/3 peroxide, 1/3 white vinegar and 1/3 water.
Clean the ears out with cotton balls.
You'll get so good at it you can do it while your dog is walking.
I don't know if you said what kind of dog you have. Yeast grows in dark moist places so certain breeds are prone to this problem, like Spaniels and Goldens etc.
A tablespoon or two of yogurt (non fat, plain) will prevent this but if the ears get bad you can use acidophilus capsules (the active culture in yogurt).
Have fun!
I did this for 15 years with my Chow.

[RobDar]

Wow....
some very complex answers...
We rescue Beagles and Coonhounds. Two breeds very prone to ear problems. Damn floppy ears are cute...but problematic!

I agree with Star...allergies can sometimes be the cause.

Ear infections are like...bronchial infections in people...once a dog has gotten a bad one, they can be more prone to them...creating a maintanance issue.

The holistic solution that Zen posted is a good mix. We use it...but only for cleaning after infection has been cured. If we get a dog who has really bad ears, ones we just cannot keep up with and seem to continually be gunky...the first thing we do is take them to the vet for what we call an "Ear Enima" and a teeth cleaning. (Dirty Teeth, like people, cause bacterial build up and can show up in places like ears...stomach...intestines). Keep in mind, these proceedures require the dog be sedated...so I would not make a special trip just for a ear cleaning. We usually get it done when there is some other proceedure needed...anyway...
Once the ears are truley cleaned by the deep cleaning ear enima it is much easier to keep up with the problem.

I am surprised that people are suggesting cotton balls and gauze however. (the shiny, coated gauze is okay) The cotton balls and gauze can leave behind small strands of moisture absorbing threads. Moisture is an ears worst enemy!!!! We use lens cloths...like for cleaning glasses or camera lens's. They are washable and reusable and do not leave behind material that can hold moisture.

[ZenTrainer]

Well ok, actually I use Q Tips but I am very very good at this. I don't want to tell anyone else to and they perforate their dogs ear drum. Yikes!
My vet uses cotton balls on the ends of hemostats.
I don't do anything different for any level of ear infection. If it's yeast this is the way I treat it.
I've never seen one I couldn't deal with in this simple manner.
If I felt I needed antibiotics (which I never have) I would use collodial silver.
I have often thought of trying ear cones.
Has anyone ever tried that?

[LoveNewfies]

Are these ear infections bacterial or yeast?

Yes indeed, food could be the culprit, as could environmental allergies. Does this dog have any other issues?

[StarWhisper]

There have been some excellent advice given on remedies you can use but I personally always find the best remedy is finding the underlying cause of the problem and going from there.

I do not consider something a "cure" if it has to be used over the dogs lifetime. Hence why allergies popped into my head...ear problems generally stem from a food allergy...if your dogs ear problems are allergy related find the suspect food causing the issue and you will have solved the problem.

[ZenTrainer]

I'm not sure there is a cure for allergies is there? My little guy wasn't just allergic to certain foods, he was allergic to fleas, mosquito's and "no seeums" as well as all but three different kinds of grasses and many many trees and bushes.
So I controlled what I could. His food. And he got allergy shots after being tested by a board certified vet dermatologist/allergist.
I tried controlling the grass. I planted Bermuda. One day as I was watching a crew mow my neighbors grass with all the fescue blowing over into my yard I realized how silly I had been. I can't control the grass!
Dogs with long floopy ears tend to have more ear problems. Yeast grows in moist dark places. Lots of swimming can cause them also.

[LoveNewfies]

I don't necessarily think there's a cure for allergies - but, getting your dog healthier overall, including strengthening the immune system, will help the body cope with allergens far better and decrease the occurance of secondary infections, such as ear & skin infections.

Also, an intolerance versus an allergy can commonly create yeast infections, this is much easier to eliminate and actually heal than an allergy problem. Personally, I think environmental allergies are the hardest to deal with. Again, strengthening the immune system is of utmost importance whether it is a food allergy, environmental allergy or an intolerance. Much of the healing can be done through diet.

What I thought was an allergy causing my Newf lots of problems, including digestive, skin infections, ear infections, etc., turned out to be an intolerance of most carb sources - after being on a completely natural diet for a year, with a few herbal supplements to regulate her body and boost her immune system, she can now tolerate carbs, but, I don't take the chance of overloading her with them. No kibble for this girl.

[StarWhisper]

I agree with LoveNewfies, while allergens can be hard to cure, especially enviromental allergens which you can't necessarily eliminate, the best defense is to ensure your pet has a healthy immune system.

This starts with a proper and healthy diet. Like LoveNewfies I also take a natural approach to feeding and will not even keep kibble in my house.

[Rio&Nickysmommy]

Sorry I posted and lost the thread for a while. Well from my first post Nickys ears seemed good kept cleaning with this new stuff they gave us Dermapet and using Otomax stuff and they seemed good. Well this week his ears really acted up and you could smell them across the room. By the way he was on Iams when he came to us so we have kept him on it. Vets says its good but I hear to much about it. Anyway went to vet today. It was horrible my first suspicion was he has psuedomonas cause I have taken care of people on respirators and when they get it, it has a certain smell you dont forget. I told the vet what I thought and since I only have Nicky like 8 months we got his records from when he lived in Vegas. He had had a ear infection (pesuedomonas) Prior to coming that obviously was not treated. Hence did a culture and we are treating him with Baytril 2 tabs per day for 3 weeks and baytril drops in his ear and they cleaned his ears out I thought I was gonna pass out. We made sure he was muzzled. Even though he is a gentle dog have to for that. Im thinking it also might be the food. I have been looking to find the best food for him and his brother that is healthier for them? Just at a loss and everyone I speak to has a diffrent answer? WIll let you know what happens. When all cleans up I am going to try the holistic cleaning you mentioned also didnt know you could give a dog acidophilus? Thanks guys I hope this all works I try to keep his ears short and dry I pray it works for him he has been suffering way to long and we keep going back and forth.
Rio&Nickysmommy

[DiggityDogs]

As far as dry dog food goes, Eagle Pack and Wellness are pretty good when it comes to that- also there's another called natural selection or nature's selection I think- one of my clients feeds it so I will try to find out, but these foods are free of wheat, corn and soy, which I hear can cause a lot of problems for dogs with allergies or intolerances, also they have single protein/single carb formulas, so you can try a fish and sweet potato or a duck and rice for example, and see if that helps by eliminating the other protein and carb sources for a while- I've never tried this type of 'elimination diet', but the same client I mentioned earlier is doing it now. It's tough because it requires the dog to stay on a strict diet of the one food, and NO treats, and if the condition clears up within a certain amount of time, then it was probably something in the other food that caused the problem... I have seen a few dogs (namely cockers) with HORRIBLE ears, that have improved dramatically on eagle pack. Hope this helps!

[LoveNewfies]

Wellness does tend to be quite grain heavy - not sure I would suggest it with ear problems as grains create problems for many. The fish and potato may be ok, but, still a bit carb heavy.

I might suggest starting with a grain free diet and see if that helps. Timberwolf Organics, Innova, Solid Gold and Natural Balance are just a few that make a good grain free food. I would probably try fish and potato or duck and potato, making sure whichever you choose does not have any rice, wheat, corn, etc. I will say that when my Newf was having problems like this, she couldn't even tolerate potato, but, many can. Natural Balance does use (allegedly - I have not yet personally confirmed this with Natural Balance) Menadione as a vitamin K source - so I personally would not choose Natural Balance. Also, I'd be a little nervous to those that use amaranth as a grain substitute as I have not yet received adequate information from FDA or any of the manufacturers that use amaranth proving the safety of high amounts in dog food.

If you don't see results with a grain free diet, then a true elimination diet would be the way to go.

Adding a probiotic (acidophilus) at this time would probably help as well.

[DiggityDogs]

I didn't even think about that- I used to feed wellness, and haven't read the ingredients for a while. I guess I forgot :rolleyes: But I definitely agree about the grain... I was not a believer at first, but like I said I've seen a lot of dogs clear up after going on Eagle pack... We sell it at the dogwash where I work, we started carrying it because we saw so many dogs with bad allergies.

[Rio&Nickysmommy]

Eagle Pck sounds pretty good I am going to look it up and try them on it. It would be wonderful to see all this clear up or get better for them. Thank you all so much.
Rio&Nickysmommy

[redwhitenblue]

i feed wellness and it is a great food. I ffeed fish and potatoe due to food allergy. they also have sensitive stomach so fish and sweet potatoe is awesome for that stuff... but as a vet nurse that hasnt done it for about 3 years i am not current on what remedies their are now adays... but i do know prince has a yeast infection from having his ears tapped up forso long and we are now just cleaning them very well and putting some very mild anti biotic to get it gone quickly so he doesnt have to deal with it again... cropped ears are great... for not having yeast infections except for after tapings or long periods....

im gonna try that white vinegar thingy hugs
liz

[Rio&Nickysmommy]

Well Nicky is on Baytril and Baytril drops and his ears are looking fabulous right now I hope this will fix his problem then we are going to switch his dog food. He hasnt had drainage or stinky ear smell in two days yippeee.
Rio&Nickysmommy

[LoveNewfies]

That's great. I'm glad to hear they're getting better.

Let us know how things go when you change the food.

[Rio&Nickysmommy]

I definetly will keep you posted. Glad he doesnt seem to be suffering right now and now mommy cant get some rest.
Rio&Nickysmommy

[Vinny4422]

Has anyone ever tried Apple Cider Viniger for their dogs? I have ben reading that it works great in their food and as a mixture for ear problems. If so, how do you give it to them, in their water or in their food. Also what would a good mixture be for their ears.

[Ramizzibug]

I am at my witts end with Nicholas ears. SInce I have had him about 8 months (he is 3 going on 4) he has had the worst problems with his ears. I had him back at the vet this week and we got a shot and Otomax (i think thats it) and the cleaning stuff. But its and endless cycle. I clean them all the time. I never saw so much wax in my entire life and I have been a nurse for over 20 years. Any suggestions? I thought we had it under control for a while but it keeps coming back.
Rio&Nickysmommy

I decided to treat my Peke's problem ears as if it was a fungal infection and they are a lot better. I think some dogs cannot digest certain grains and other foods without developing a candida reaction. I eliminated wheat and all dairy products and cut down on protein. She also has some colitis which improved greatly when I put her on this diet.

You might try this.

[GSP4619]

I am so glad his ears are ok for you now :)

[Rio&Nickysmommy]

Hi! Well Rio & Nickys ears knock wood have been doing pretty well. I make sure I clean them all the time so I am on top of anything from the get go. Thanks will make sure those adjustments are in their diet. I do give them cheese. The love cheese.
Rio&Nickysmommy

[surrupt]

I am at my witts end with Nicholas ears. SInce I have had him about 8 months (he is 3 going on 4) he has had the worst problems with his ears. I had him back at the vet this week and we got a shot and Otomax (i think thats it) and the cleaning stuff. But its and endless cycle. I clean them all the time. I never saw so much wax in my entire life and I have been a nurse for over 20 years. Any suggestions? I thought we had it under control for a while but it keeps coming back.
Rio&Nickysmommy
I have a neighbor who had this problem with a cocker, and, oddly enough, found that vagisil took care of it completely! Turns out that it is yeast, not wax, and the stuff they give you at the vet just isn't strong enough to really do the job. I hope this helps!

[GSP4619]

Good news!!!!

[Rio&Nickysmommy]

Knock wood Nicholas ears have been good with constant maintance. Good to know about the vagisil crea,m. Thanks so much.
RIo&Nickysmommy

[SlashtheMutt]

my dog always had horrible ear mite problems,, finally he had an ear canal ablation 2 years ago, they basically took out his ear canal and closed off his ears(he can no longer hear and his left eye cant close), his ears(and now eye) still bother him but in a different way, I wish I could have followed some of this advice and tryed taking a different route....