Ear Infection nightmare - help!!!!

[Sue, Lola, Pongo & Hubby]

Hi everyone.....

So our poor Lola has yet another yeast ear infection (she's had them on and off since she was a pup)...this one is never-ending, though (it's been over a month). We're on our third batch of ear drops from the vet. Our vet has also cleaned out her ear multiple times over the past month, revealing large wax buildup. So her last recheck was about a week ago, and when the vet looked into her ear, there was still a lot of wax buildup...so more drops.

Has anyone found a "natural" way of fighting this, or is there anything I could do in addition to the strict cleaning/medicating regimen we're on??

 

Any advice would be great....my poor baby needs some help!!!!!

[Sue, Lola, Pongo & Hubby]

Hey!! We actually had a re-check just last week and finally got the "all-clear"!!!! After MONTHS of drops, and cleaning, and drops, and cleaning, and pills and cleaning, she's finally good!!! Just in time, too...because now she has a hot spot we have the joy to deal with :)

[Jess and Pippin]

Great news.  I'm sure that's a relief for all of you.  I've been following thru some of the discussion threads.  What did you end up choosing for food?  (I know that infections and hot spots can often be symptoms of allergies for the dogs).  Chicken and grains (wheat, corn) are often big culprits

[Sue, Lola, Pongo & Hubby]

We tried the Orijen 6-fish formula, which brought on a pretty disgusting bout of diarrhea (and we DID give it a couple of weeks)...we then switched to the Orijen Regional Red, which is also causing some soft/loose stools....but we've now added a spoon or two of pumpkin into the mix which has solidified everything, and we're back on track!!! Sounds like the food might just have a little too much protein. I don't know what we'll do after this bag of food is done...if we'll continue with the regional red and pumpkin or if we'll try to find something else....

[Jess and Pippin]

I heard that about Orijen (loose stools), and it is to do with the higher protein in it.  Pumpkin is great!  We use it too.  Pippin is on Acana, made by the same company that makes Orijen.  Another Canadian company is FirstMate (google them as I've spelled it).  They are located in the Fraser Valley of BC. I believe that have single protein foods.  I considered putting Pippin on it, but Acana came out just ahead in any reviews that I found and FirstMate didn't have a puppy formula (higher fat and protein). Our local independant pet store changed hands recently.  The new owner worked for FirstMate as a rep and what I've heard from him and reviewed online looks good.

[Sue, Lola, Pongo & Hubby]

Thanks, Jess. We were thinking about Acana. The guy who works at our local pet store is really knowledgeable (We just started going there, and already have learned a lot from him!), and I think DH mentioned something about Acana the last time we went there. We'll probably end up getting a few small bags to see what works best. I'll look up FirstMate - thanks for all the info!

[Jess and Pippin]

You are so welcome.  Hope you find something that she likes and that works well.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

I know it's probably too late to contribute, but for what it's worth, my breeder swears by Thornit Ear Powder, which you have to order online from the UK. She said her dogs have never had an infection. I of course, didn't get around to ordering it so when Sophie had an infection I was putting drops from the vet in twice per day for two weeks before it cleaned up... she hates having her ears cleaned so this was quite an ordeal :(

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

I use Thonit too. Have been using it routinely since his last infection cleared up, but also he kept him from swimming since then too and moved out of a very humid climate. So not sure what the final solution was. Now with putting in a pool, I will know something by the end of the year as far as swimming and ear infections and if the Thornit can help prevent them.

 

[Sue, Lola, Pongo & Hubby]

Keep us updated...I'd love to hear whether or not the pool will have an effect on his ears!