Pseudomonas ear infection

[Janet Murray]

I have two goldendoodles ... ages 8 and 5.  My 8 year-old has always battled yeast type ear infections forever.  We went close to a year "grain free"...and fed him NOTHING but dog food for that time.  No biscuits, treats, table scraps - nothing.  The ear problems came and went.  He now has been battling a pseudomonas bacterial infection, which I am hearing is basically antibiotic resistant.  I am a single mom with three kids, am nearly $3,000.00 into this over a year's time, and am at a loss of what else to do.  He's got black nasty discharge constantly in the fur around his ears, shakes his head a lot, and smells horrifying.  Over the past year, he's had his ears plucked, has had different antibiotic type "concoctions" mixed at a laboratory that required being inserted into his ears via catheter, has had two deep cleanings under anesthesia (which worked for awhile), has had Triz-Ultra + Keto mixed with Baytril, oral antibiotics, I can't even think of what else. I just started him on an acidophilius probiotic (can't hurt). I have pretty much drained my bank accounts on all of the "let's try this" ... all of which seems to work for awhile.  I love my vet, no complaints there.  They're trying their best, I know they are.  He just can't seem to shake this infection.  Has anyone else ever experienced this type of infection?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

There have been others here whose dogs had chronic severe ear infections. Here are a couple of links to previous discussions about similar situations and what was done: 

http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/flushing-the-ears

http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/i-m-at-a-loss-several-mont...

[Ginny Nightingale]

no--I have not but wanted to tel you how sorry I am you are going thru this--just one thing to suggest--and it won't help remove the infection, but may help with future issues if this one ever clears up-- have the groomer SHAVE the area under the ear flap--and go all the way around under the chin and connect the saved area under the other ear flap--this will help air to circulate--and get the hair on the ears down as well--thin it out and cut the ears to the end of the leather rather than having them hang down long--the lighter the ears are, the better the ear flow.

One other thing--if the grain free food contains chicken or turkey, that could be a problem--lots of dogs develop allergies to those ingredients which leads to runny ears and that gets the bacteria going....

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Allergies can cause ear problems, but they typically cause other symptoms as well. It is rarely limited to the ears.  And while we do hear a lot about dogs who can't tolerate chicken, I have not heard of "lots of dogs" having allergies to turkey. Food allergies are specific to a protein, and a molecule of turkey protein is very different from a molecule of chicken protein, despite the fact that they are both poultry, lol.  The antibody for chicken would not "recognize" turkey any more than it would recognize lamb. Turkey is fed successfully to many, many dogs with chicken allergies. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

And here is a good article on pseudomonas ear infections and treatments from the Univ. of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine: 

http://www.vet.utk.edu/dermvet/pseudomonas-otitis.php

[Gail and Bailey]

Janet,  I am sorry you are going through this with your dog.  Sorry for the suffering dog too!!  I imagine it is quite painful for him!  I know how horrible a pseudomonas bacterial infection smells so I am sure it is disturbing to all of you!  I sincerely hope you and your vet can get this infection cleared up and your dog can get relief from the pain!   Please keep us up to date on his progress .....we care!!  Doodle hugs being sent.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Ditto.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I am so sorry for you and for your doodle. My Springer gets lots of ear infections, but we are able to clear them up with meds and cleaning. I think keeping air circulating as much as you can is certainly worth a try. Shaving under the ear and pulling the ears back with a loose scrunchy, making sure the ears don't get wet when you bathe them or they swim might be helpful.

[Gail and Bailey]

Janet,     how is your doodle doing?  Is the infection any better at all??  Please let us know how everything is going!  Thinking about you!!