Wanted:Advice for Lab,

TundraIII · 06-19-2002, 06:41 AM

I have a chocolate lab that has a bad ear infection that I just cant get cured. I will be taking
him to the vet today for another round of meds but I have little hope that his ear will get better
Does anyone on this board have a lab with the same problem? What worked for you? The infection
is in just one ear and it gets full of black crap and is constantly wet deep down inside with some
sort of clear discharge. Pretty nasty, I clean it and flush it then dry his ear out every two or
three days and then it gets bad again. Nothing the vets have given me so far has worked. He's a
beautiful dog and I am really tired of seeing him dragging that limp ear around so anyone with
some advice on how to get my buddy fixed up, I would really appreciate it. Thanks Mike

finner · 06-19-2002, 06:52 AM

My black lab has the same problem every once and awhile. Since new vets have moved into Timberland Animal Clinic I've gotten much better help. They think my dog might just have an allergy. If it gets really bad they want to put him on some special food (Kangaroo), or test for allergies. In the meantime I use Otomax and an Aloa rinse once a week. Might not hurt to have a second vet take a look. In fact, I'd say you owe it to your lab. Sounds like a great dog. I can't say enough about this vet! I believe her name is Becky, and the number is 503/665-1194.

Labsforme · 06-19-2002, 10:55 AM

Unfortunately this is pretty common.It depends on what type of infection the dog has
bacterial,fungal, or yeast.The vets usually use an antibiotic to start.If that doesn't work go down the rest of the list.Fungus infections occur in wet ears.One of our cats loves our 7 year old lab female Rilla(not Tilla) :tongue: and licks her ears and causes said infection.We have now trained them both that this isn't ok(may have to get burlap sack and rocks out).So have the vet check for the type of infection.Wilsonville Vet Clinic is very good as the owner/main vet is a Wirehair field trialer and knows sporting breeds.

TundraIII · 06-20-2002, 06:14 AM

Thanks for the advice guys. Took him in last night and have some new powerful stuff to try on that infection (plus the vet said my dog needs to loose 10 lbs). Hopefully in two months he will be slim and trim with two perky ears instead of one :grin:

Predator Dawg · 06-20-2002, 01:34 PM

My lab and I have been fighting this for the last 6-7 years (she's going on 12 now). She was on no less than 12 sets of meds over the last few years until I got worried they would no longer be effective when we really need them. Tried different opinions, meds, etc. with no true luck. At times it would clear up for a while but with a little humidity or if she found some water to jump in, it would return. I used to clean it religiously but that didn't do much. I haven't touched in over a year now and notice it is still there but greatly reduced. Her body may have equalized or whatever, but it doesn't stink like it used to, or bother her as much.

The Vet thinks it is the size of the ear canal that lets moisture get in but not out real well. Tends to grow 'yogurt' pretty fast once its trapped. Pretty wierd factoid - I took her camping about 4 years ago over by Potholes and let her swim around since the ear was already in full bloom. About a week and a half later, it was completely cleared up and looked better than it ever has. The Doc felt it was due to the high alkilinity of the lakes over there that negated what was happening. Maybe we should get some water from there to clean the ears with on a regular basis???

I feel your pain - its brutally frustrating to deal with and very sad to see your good friend so uncomfortable.

Mr. Fisherman · 06-24-2002, 08:09 PM

I sure wish you luck. My brother in law had to put his dog (lab) down because o fthis. He tried everything he could. I am pretty nervous about the whole thing cause I have a famtastic pup right now that is VERY promising. Let us know how things come out...

Capin' Dan · 06-24-2002, 11:33 PM

Tundra III, I 'm going to go a little outside of the box on this one. I have seen quite a bit over the years and read quite a bit on these things. So here goes.

I want you to get a book called give a dog a bone.

With that said try this diet. It is really easy once you learn it. You will have a healthier dog and this WILL clear up that ear infection. It generally takes about two or three weeks to detox or for the chemicals that is in most dog foods to fully clear out of the dogs systems. If this is an out of the question diet for your dog then try high quality dog foods I mean like solid gold or such they are out there. Even science diet, ukanuba, and those are not the healthiest diets for our dogs. Ntohing can replace good old raw meat, fish, and raw bones for our dogs.

Once again it is thinking out side of the box but it does work. the chemicals and persevatives in our dog foods today are litterally killing our dogs. There are neumerous books out there on this subject. Contact me if you want more info on this.

Dan!

Tilla · 06-25-2002, 06:26 PM

Danny,
You are waaaay outside the box over by the triangle

. We have had two of our dogs with the ear problem and we seem to have never got it solved. Now, the other dogs don't have it. It just seems to select certain dogs. I am going to look up the book.

Capin' Dan · 06-25-2002, 11:48 PM

Sorry Tilla, I don't think that this thing works for the chihuahua's that you use. Wait a second I guess I should not joke around with someone who may just be a judge at one of the hunt test that I attend in the future. sorry about the chihuahua thing. I hope to see you at some of the upcoming hunt test this fall. I hope to finish my male next month and have his american championship and then really start on his hunt test. He has one leg on his obediance already so that should be fairly easy to finish this year.. Good luck on your fishing trips we need to get together for a trip soon.

Dan!

Tilla · 06-26-2002, 04:39 PM

Dan,
That darn Labsforme has a big mouth, ever since he saw me chase my wifes rat terrier around the boat ramp on mothers day! [img]graemlins/berry.gif[/img]
If anyone needs some dead pheasants or ducks for training,I can arrange a few July 6-7 at St Louis ponds. Ask for MaryJo. I'm judging master.

James in Idaho · 06-28-2002, 07:06 AM

Tilla:

You must be the Tilla that I know, aka the big dog at the Master National this year. This is your favorite chessie owner in Idaho. Met some of your home boys when I was judging the master up in Missoula last month, I think they learned a couple of things about terrian and hidden water! Speaking of your favorite chessie, we finished up his master in April. I'm judging the last test in Butte with Wade Brown, that should be fun.

Too bad you have the MN to do, my kid bro is getting married on 9/21 in Portland, you could take me fishing! I should have called you when I was there for Thanksgiving, but I had fun getting poured on fishing (not catching!) the Sandy.

Hope all is well with you and Maryjo. Take care.

james

Labsforme · 07-01-2002, 05:20 AM

Tilla, rat terrier?I thought that was one of those line-bred Max puppies and why you got button quail for training :tongue: .I don't think I'll make it to St.Louis this weekend but save me some ducks if you would.I'll have a new pup coming next week.It's out of a Shooter( a Max son) son bred to a daughter of Blue x Pricey.So it's doubled up Max.To keep to the thread I hope she has good ears.

Tilla · 07-05-2002, 10:10 PM

James , sorry it took awhile to respond (funeral duty). So I read this thread to MaryJo and she's thinkin' James? James? Then I say you know "Bob". Oh that James ! . I told Steve Elliott about your post too. Maybe you'll stop by the MN. We still could hook up, the judges should have it all done by Fri. There is some good fishing on your way into town. Say hi to Wade.
Don't listen to that "Rat Terrier" talk, and it does retrieve birds, that's all we know how to train.

James in Idaho · 07-08-2002, 09:42 AM

Tilla:

Sorry to hear about the funeral duty. I've been out on vacation (fishing, white water and hot air balloning) for the last week. Not sure when I'm getting to Portland for the wedding, depends on how many days my daughter can miss school. As things firm up I'll let you know. Don't think I'll be there too long, I drew a moose ticket here and got to spend some time trying to knock off bullwinkle.

James

Phish_on · 07-08-2002, 01:49 PM

All I can do is sympathize, my lab has the exact same chronic problem. Always the right ear.

If I was more diligent about cleaning her ears when they AREN'T all yucky, it would probably help.

The antibiotics from the vet seem to clear it up, Quadritop or Otomax - I wish I could buy it by the case without a prescription, it costs like $50 to have her checked out to enable me to spend another $20 on the goop.

One vet told me it's because they have the floppy ears, it stays nice and moist and dark in there so stuff can grow. He wanted me to pin her ears on top of her head once in a while... yeah that lasts about 20 seconds ...

Zen Leecher aka Bill W · 07-08-2002, 01:56 PM

Last October I got a lab from Capin' Dan that had a bad ear infection. We'd get it cleared up and it would come right back. The vet suggested putting her on prescription dog food that "would clear it right up". It didn't either.

Things did get settled once we took the dog in for allergy testing. Turned out she was allergic to dust mites and some outside pollen. Basically inside and outside allergies.

Also her ear infections and other site infections had come back.

She's been on shots since the end of May and everything's cleared up.

The yeast infections are secondary infections and won't clear up unless the main problem is treated.

Turns out allergy shots are cheaper than that prescription dog food the one vet touted. Also Echo looks much better on the new food.

So, you might consider allergy testing to determine the source of the problem rather than just guessing it's a food allergy.

Also it turned out Echo didn't have a food allergy like the first vet thought.

Dog doesn't even notice the shots as they're slid in just under the skin.

ScottD · 07-11-2002, 07:13 AM

How does the vet go about determining what the dog has an allergy to? My black Lab has a problem with his ears also right now. A couple times a year the problem gets bad enough that we have to take him to the vet and they put him on pregnosone and it clears up. They say that he probably has an allergy but they haven't ever suggested testing for the allergy. Testing for the allergy sounds a lot better than just randomly trying different foods. I think I will go find the book that Capn' Dan recommended.

Zen Leecher aka Bill W · 07-11-2002, 08:51 AM

The vet did skin testing just like is done with people. Give a little shot of a substance and see if there's a reaction to it. Dog was tested for about 30 to 40 different things.

Then the "shot" is mixed based on those results.

A vet saying "it looks like a food allergy" is only guessing, no matter how many years they went to school. Our regular vet made that determination and after about 6 months we went to a specialist to find out for sure.

One thing, it's not cheap as dogs don't have health insurance.