Lab cronic ear infections

ryser · 07-31-2005, 04:21 PM

Need help with my lab. She has real bad ear infections and no matter what I do I don't seem to be able to rid her of them. Have taken her to the vet and had all the perscriptions the vet can think of and still her ears get infected.

A while back I know I was reading on ifish and you all were talking about some ear wash for the dogs ears. I have tried all kinds of searches and to noavail I don't seem to be able to locate the info.

So I was curious what you folks use on your labs ears to clean them? or what home remidy you use that works?

any help would be appreciated. Thanks

jmcvo · 07-31-2005, 06:03 PM

ryser, our current lab has chronic ear issues, too. Don't know whether the cause is same as for your dog (and I'm NOT a vet!), but FWIW, as long as ours has her ears cleaned out about once a day with "ChlorhexiDerm(tm)", the problem is minimized. We just saturate a cotton ball with the stuff and wipe her ears.

jmcvo

Lured In · 07-31-2005, 06:44 PM

Our lab had repeated ear funk for her first year or two. We used "Oti-clean" on a regular basis which minimized the problem. Eventually she outgrew it.

You might also consider a food change. Food allergies are not unheard of in the dog world. Perhaps switching to another formula such as lamb and rice, might also be worth checking into.

Good luck.

fish boss · 07-31-2005, 07:17 PM

You might also consider a food change. Food allergies are not unheard of in the dog world. Perhaps switching to another formula such as lamb and rice, might also be worth checking into.

Good luck.

[/quote]

my lab had trouble with her left ear, i did change her diet and no more trouble

BrotherWolf · 07-31-2005, 07:22 PM

Ditto what Lured In and fish Boss says
this was posted on the refuge and I also have just learned about this problem.

This was posted on the refuge Buy MikeT

My BLF has a history of ear infections, inflamed feet, and dry skin/thin coat. Three different vets have checked her out and all thought the problems were due to food allergies, but I went through a lot of different foods before I found one she does well on.

I've been feeding her Natural Balance Potato and Duck formula for about 4 months now and her health has turned around 100%. It has no grain products at all, using potato as the carbohydrate source, and I'm now convinced she can't tolerate eating grain. I just wish there were other, cheaper foods available that don't use grain.
It runs about $42 for a 30-lb. bag.

baltz526 · 07-31-2005, 07:38 PM

my last yellow lab was cured of cronic ear problems by switching him to purina hipro

steelhead22 · 07-31-2005, 08:14 PM

ryser-

I'm in the same boat, and have been for quite some time now. It was probably my post which you are referring to. The problem with my lab got so bad that he almost lost his hearing, and for a period of time, was EXTREMELY gun shy. I thought I lost a bird dog, as most "experts" will tell you that once a dog goes gun shy, you might as well get yourself another dog and start over. Not so.

Back to your question. I've used ALL the ear washes and he get regular shots that help every few months. I've switch foods, which seems to help. The AWESOME vet I go to (Oregon City Vet), told me that if you are going to switch foods you need to change your dogs food to something COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. Don't just change from Iam's beef and rice to chicken and rice. You need to change to "Kangaroo and rubarb", I'm just kiddin', but that's what he told me. Stay away from wheat products used for "filler" in foods. I went to a 100% vegetarian food made as a hypoallergenic food. It help....for awhile. Now, his ears are as bad as ever again, but it's been about 6-8 months or so. It could simply be that he's allergic to something outside as well. It's just hard to tell.

Go to OC vet, get yourself the "blue ear wash" and some Otomax. Change your dog's food to a hypoallergenic food (a Rx from your vet may be in order, and get ready to drop some $$$). Wash your dog every week when you are not in hunting season. I don't particularly like to do this, because most of the dogs I find that are washed regularly have serious skin problems, but it's help some with mine, so I wash him regularly in the off-season with a GENTLE soap (sometime's none at all).

There you have it. OC vet is a little place right down the street from the Abernathy Center in OC. It looks ghetto, but they are AWESOME.

Feel free to PM me if you want some more info.

SH22

bigamefisher2 · 07-31-2005, 08:31 PM

My gf has a choclate that has had chronic ear infections as well. Finally after using the "blue" ear wash solution all the time, with minimal results, she asked her vet to check for allergies.......time for a food change...finally determined that Jazz was allergic to corn and corn byproducts. Her vet told that alot of dogs can have some sort of food allergy. Lately after she has been in the water or even had her ears drenched, she hasn't had an infection. She used to have them atleast once a month. It's been almost three months with no ear problems since we changed her food to Nuetro for sensitive stomaces. No corn or animal byproducts, and it has rice, chicken (just the meat, nothing else), and oatmeal. She is doing great on it.

riversledder · 08-01-2005, 08:45 AM

Some thing to look at!!! My Lab had several ear infections. Each time he went on a stronger Antibiotic. Shortly there after he started having skin issues and dull hair. Always scratching and hair loss in patches. Tried the food allergy issues. Not it. Was about to give up and tried a post on another site. Had a vet mail me and he told me the Antibiotics killed the good bugs and every dose more my dog got, was making it worse. He had me put a couple tablespoons full of PLAIN NO FLAVOR UNSWEETENED YOGURT with the dogs food every day. Within 2 weeks the skin problems were going away. My dog now gets a spoon full of this with food every day and his coat is good. Not one ear infection since. All his health issues are gone. Coat and skin look great. Some times its the simple things. And one of my friends had the same ear issues with his Golden, and he had the same great results by doing this.
If you want the name of the Yogurt brand I used , PM me and I will pass it on. I would be happy to give you the info on the Vet that talked to me also if you want to discuss it with him.
Good luck

TheKing · 08-01-2005, 08:59 AM

Try feeding the dog plain yogurt daily as well.

slave4chrome · 08-01-2005, 12:42 PM

you could try this , its called "Alocetic" it is a green ear flush, fill the ear canal, massage then wipe out debrie from ear. it is an aloe based solution which is soothing ,along with all they necessay cleaners in it also for a good cleaning. google it , or call your local vet. i have a german shepard with ear problems!

win2run · 08-01-2005, 03:01 PM

Simply solution.......I had the same problem and don't have it anymore after using this concoxion....16oz. (500ml)Isopropyl Alcohol(95-97%)4 Tablespoons Boric Acid Powder,16 Drops Gentian Violet Solution 1%....Mix together in the Alcohol bottle and shake well.Shake each time before using because the boric acid powder will settle.To administer a dose,use a 5-10cc syringe or equivalent eye dropper.treat twice a day for first week,to two weeks,depending upon severity of ears.Treat once a day for next 1-2 weeks.Treat once a month after,depending on the dog.All ingredients can be found at pharmacy.If you swim you dog,use after swimming.BE CAREFUL.....because Gentian Violet does stain fabric,use outdoors if possible.The success rate for this treatment is 95-99%.Persistence is the key.Good luck,this does work if you keep at it.

duckdog310 · 08-01-2005, 04:55 PM

I've had three dogs who've developed chronic ear issues. All three have experienced recurrent yeast infections. All three responded very well to a slight change in food. I've also found adding essential fatty acid supplements to their food is very effective in preventing ear issues. Currently, I have four dogs. All are given the supplement and none (with all four spending substantial time adrift) have developed any problems. YRMV.

MarlinMark · 08-01-2005, 06:44 PM

Thanks guys, I'm going to try the yogurt this week....2 weeks and no improvements and I will switch to "kangaroo and rubharb..."

mark

STRUTTIN-1 · 08-02-2005, 05:28 PM

Switched my dog to BLACK GOLD.Great food. no more problems.

MarlinMark · 08-02-2005, 06:20 PM

Where do you get Black Gold and what are the main ingredients?

Thanks,

Mark

steelhead22 · 08-02-2005, 06:40 PM

I just wanted to give you an update on my dog (2 y.o. Chocolate Lab). He's doing MUCH better after switching him to yet another food called "Hill's Rx Diet Canine Z/D". You have to get it with an Rx from your vet. But, if I were you I'd start with this stuff. Basically, there are ZERO allergens in this food. So, if you're dog has a food allergy, start here and see if it helps. If the problem continues, must be somethin' else. Don't waste your money like I did trying all kinds of crap. Just go to OC Vet and get this stuff, then you'll know FOR SURE.

Seriously, OC Vet is the place to go. I can't believe how great this guy is. Usually, it's about $70 a bag for this Rx food, and with a 105 lb. lab, you go through that in no time. So, our vet said that he would give it to us at HIS COST!!! I'm telling you, these guys are stand up and really care about your pets/huntin' buds well being. Not to mention, they are freakin' CHEAP! Great service, low price, stand up guys, GO TO Oregon City Vet.!

llama77 · 08-04-2005, 02:25 PM

Im the guy riversledder talked about with the Golden with problems. Yogurt is so cheap itss the first place I would start.
We use to have to wash ears evry time she went to the pond. The yogurt stopped the problem plus her coat improved. WE got lazy and quit the yogurt for a month and bang, here came th eear infection. If you try and it works or not let us know.
There are probably some things the yogurt wont help, but riversledders dog had been through all kinds of tests without stopping the problem.

BrotherWolf · 08-04-2005, 05:16 PM

MarlinMark

http://www.blackgolddogfood.com/

ryser · 08-15-2005, 09:08 AM

Wanted to say THANKS for all the ideas and kind of bring you guy's up todate on my lab.
Have been using the ear wash solution that win2run sujested it has worked wonders her ears are looking really good. This solution is better than what I was getting at the vet's, she hatted to get her ears washed now she dosen't seem to mind this solution seems much easer on her.
Thanks again for all the sujestions.