Environmental Allergies and Ear Infections

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Forgive me because I often skip the discussions on allergies, environmental allergies, and other discussions on ear infections.  I did not think we had allergies.

But I have a combination that I wanted to run by the discussions.

Forever, I have just accepted the fact that I have a dog with poodle genes that is predisposed to ear problems. But really I found his ear infections odd. No matter how much good care I give his ears,  they return.

Until today, it was never brought to my attention that this may be allergy.  But looks like it is.

Spud has had his share of ear infections. Always in one ear.  The right ear.  Once it starts it seems impossible to get rid of the  cycle of allergy, then infection, then allergy, still infection.......

His eye also becomes flared with white goopey discharge. That is always one of the first signs.

We have been battling this last infection for almost a month.  It is worse than ever.

Today we were told that these infections are first allergies that eventually become inflamed and irritated enough to fester up bacteria. Even with antibiotics the infection clears only to return because of the allergy.  Get the picture?

They do seem to come in early Spring and late Summer/Fall. 

I know those of you with Atopic Dermatitis I've read you wash your dogs paws.  What the heck can I do for environmental allergies and an angry ear?

Maybe it is not environmental at all?  Could be the ear wash, the Thornit ( actually this was a good thing for awhile), and the antibiotic gel we were applying.  Something caused an allergic reaction and a nasty cycle of infection and swelling.

He did have a steroid shot today and started on a different antibiotic orally and drops.  Everything has changed.  That's a good thing because he certainly is no better.  What a sick and miserable puppy  :(

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

That's the way I feel about Jack's dermatology specialist. It just gets to a point where they are so uncomfortable, and you are so confused about how to help them and so tired of guessing, you really have to have an expert managing the treatment and getting to the bottom of things.

Joanne, Christine's advice is the advice I would have given you if I'd gotten here first. :)

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Poor Spud! (and poor you) I hope they can figure this out fast! No advice, just good wishes. Keep us posted?

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Yes poor Spud, ear infections are really horrible and seem to be so hard to get rid of.  I do think taking a culture is a good idea but that would only deal with infection and not the cause which may be allergies.  I know when I got terrible allergic eye problems they often turned infectious so I think it's plausable to assume an allergic component.  I have often thought of tying Riley's ears up in some way to allow  the air to circulate I do shave the hair close under his ears and pluck out the hair regularly and so far so good, but if so much as scratches an ear I am in there fast!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Poor Spud....I can imagine how frustrating this would be.  I have no advice.  Murph's seasonal allergies are bad right now, and I treat with Claritin and paw wiping, but he does not get ear infections.  Good luck....I hope you're able to get to the bottom of this.  Give that Spud a big hug for me.

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

Joanne, I'm sorry to hear about Spud's ears.  We recently dealt with a pretty bad double ear infection in Ollie and it seemed to get worse the longer we continued to treat it.  The vet had us using an antibiotic ointment and after 2.5 tubes he began to whimper and flinch if I tried to even look in his ears.  After more cultures and a lot of discussion, my vet determined that he is probably sensitive to something in that ointment and that is what caused the adverse reaction and made his infection seem worse. 

If the treatment you are using isn't working, talk to the vet about your other options.  We did a couple of in office cultures that came back positive and then when I finally asked to have one sent out to find out exactly what type of bacteria we were dealing with, the stupid thing came back negative (go figure). 

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Oh how frustrating! I agree that the tube we were using the last two weeks may have made it all worse. After two weeks he should have gotten better but he took a really bad turn. So that med was stopped, meds were changed, and a more aggressive approach was taken yesterday.
I did save the box the med came in so I remember to never give that med again.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Thanks for all your help. I'm just so surprised and upset that I've been dealing with this so long and have completely ignored the fact that this may ( is) allergies.
Even real old DK dog owners can learn new tricks. Sad, I had to learn the hard way. I'm feeling really bad that my ignorance has caused him some serious misery. Onward.