ear infection and antibiotics

[gigi d]

Hi,

Graycie is being treated for an ear infection since last Thursday with antibiotics and drops.  She definitely seems better now and not in pain.  Would it be unreasonable to ask doc if she can stop the antibiotics?  She was prescribed to take them for 2 weeks and has one week to go....

anyone have recommendations for preventative/maintenance tips to keep infections from recurring?  

It happened (coincidentally or not??) after a grooming....should I tell them not to get her ears wet next time?  

Thanks for any advice!

[Kamela & Beckett]

Don't have any input on antibiotics, but as far as prevention, here's what we do. I keep the hair under Beckett's ears clipped very short. We have ear cleaner from the vet (that contains a drying agent) that we are to use several times a week. If you bathe your pup or their head gets wet, dry ears as well as hair around the ears as much as possible. Apparently poodles are predisposed to ear infections. That combined with having furry, floppy ears (that don't get a lot of air circulation) are working against us. We found that our dog's ear infections were a part of an allergic response to ingredients in food he was reacting to, so if you continue to have issues, that may be one thing to consider (we've eliminated dairy & grains from Beck's diet and his overall itchiness & allergy issues have greatly decreased).

[F, Calla & Luca]

I would finish the drops as prescribed. One way to get resistant organisms is to stop antibiotics prematurely.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

One of my Poodles once developed an ear infection because the groomer was too rough with the hemostat when she removed the hair from her ear canal, and actually gouged the skin. So it's possible that the grooming did cause the infection, especially if it is a bacterial infection. It's impossible to bathe a dog without getting the ears wet, but they should be trying to keep water inside the ear to a minimum, and drying them thoroughly. 

Weekly cleanings with a good product that contains a drying agent, as Kamela mentioned, is essential for most dogs with Poodle type coats, to  help prevent ear infections.Kamela's other info is spot on as well. It's true that Poodles are prone to ear infections; chronic ear infections are referred to as "Poodle ear", lol. And it due to the abundance of woolly hair inside the ear canal (perfect medium to trap dirt, oils, and moisture, which fosters the growth of yeasts and bacteria) as well as the lack of air circulation and light.The anatomy of the ear canal itself also plays in a role, and that varies from one dog to the next. Nothing you can do about that part of it. With some dogs, the hair inside the canal does need to be removed gently on a regular basis. I find this is best done at the vet, and they may instruct you on how to do it yourself safely. 

I'd finish the antibiotics. Even when the symptoms have abated, the infection may still be present, and it's better to do the full 2 weeks than have to put her on another course of antibiotics in the near future. If you're not using a good probiotic, I highly recommend that you start one; Proviable and iFlora are both good choices. You could also give her plain unflavored nonfat yogurt a couple of times a day. Antibiotics can deplete the good gut bacteria necessary for proper stool formation, so probiotics are a good idea any time a dog is on antibiotic meds. Give the probiotics at least 2 hours apart from the meds (longer is better) and continue them for a couple of weeks after the meds are finished. 

[Priscilla]

I agree finish your antibiotics. I clean my boys ears weekly or after a swim. I used epic-otic. Since I have been doing it is had no more ear infection.

[gigi d]

Thank you all for your replies!  Much appreciated!!

[Lori, Winnie, Bob and Indie]

I agree with what the others have said- finish the antibiotics and use a good cleaner ( I use the Virbac Epi Otic that my vet recommended) on a regular basis.

And, yes, the infection could have been related to the grooming. Even if the ear hair wasn't disrupted. I made the VERY unfortunate mistake of not using the Epi Otic IMMEDIATELY after bathing my 2 doodles on a warm and humid day. Even though I dried them throughly and shaved a strip under their ears, the very NEXT MORNING both of them had red, itchy and grungy ears. Normally I would have taken them to the vet right away, but I was fairly certain it was a yeast problem and decided to try Zymox. WOW- that stuff really works! One week of diligent use and their ears are are fine. I'm not recommending it as a substitute for vet care for ear problems, but I am saying that I personally am going to use the Epi Otic on a more regular basis, and keep a bottle of Zymox on hand.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Epi-Otic is what I always used on my Poodles for routine weekly cleanings. I highly recommend it! 

[Amy and Annabelle]

Annabelle had an ear infection before her first visit to the groomers. I had been bathing and brushing but not doing anything to the ears. So after an expensive trip to the vet, we got them cleared up. She now has regular visits to the groomer that includes plucking the the ears. She hasn't had any more, just the one time. Since then though I keep Zymox on hand just in case. I had never heard of Epi Otic before a couple of days ago. I am going to order some. Humans are supposed to finish their antibiotics and I would think a dog is the same way.