Potatoes and ear infections?

[Debbie and Belle]

Belle has been having repeated ear infections and I had heard that potatoes could contribute to this problem in some dogs. She has been eating Acana Grasslands which does contain potato. Should I change to a potato free diet? Belle has had sensitivities to chicken, grains and cheese, so I stay away from food with these ingredients.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

You would think these doodle breeders would discuss ear issues with puppy buyers. Poodle breeders do.

Unfortunately, many doodle breeders were never even in the same room with a poodle before they started breeding doodles. Many of them are familiar with the retrievers, but not very knowledgable about poodles. 

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

So true. I was clueless.

I did have a Lab with occasional ear issues but one Z-Pack and he was good to go.

No so with a doodle.. It is the most common issue and a tough one to get through.

[Debbie and Belle]

Belle was never given an oral treatment for the ear infections. They were yeast infections and we were told to put drops in her ears 2 x's a day for 10 days. The ear cleaner is once a week. I was just told over the weekend to not let water get in her ears during her bath, so I will be careful.

[Gail and Bailey]

My Bailey came to me at 6 months with ear infections.  We got through the first one with meds from the doc but she came down with a real doozie of an infection about a month later. This is what happened.......she was playing with my friend's dog and that dog kept sniffing Bailey's ear ....she would not quit sniffing it!  My friend and I joked about it and thought it was funny.  Bailey was not scratching her ear or shaking her head or showing any signs of discomfort.When we went to bed for the night Bailey was real tired from all the playing.  About 2am she woke me by crawling up to my face and wimpering...she was obviously in pain.  It was at that point that I smelled the infection in her ear.  The same ear my friend's dog had been sniffing just hours earlier!   I got up and held her and comforted her until the vet office opened and I could get her in to see the doc.  Turns out she had a raging infection in her one ear and the other one did not look so good either.  It was yeast.  The doc suggested I smell it and remember the smell.  Now I make sure I smell her sweet little ears about every other day....just to make sure they are not brewing anything.  Clean and dry = healthy ears.  She has not had an ear infection since!  

The only bad part of all this is that it happened before I got insurance for her so....ear infections are a pre-existing condition and will not be covered until 2 years after we started the insurance.   Just hoping we keep avoiding infections because I keep her ears in good condition! 

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Gail,

We had this experience with another dog smelling his ears.  Sure enough, it showed up a few days later.  I looked and saw nothing, but a dog's nose knows.

Maybe we should all have our dog's ears smelled by another dog for those hidden ear infections the humans cant detect in the early stages.

[Donna K & Quincy]

Does it count if a doodle scratches his ear and then smells his toes. :>) Yes, Quincy does that on occasion and I promptly look in his ears. So far the times he's done this he hasn't had an infection but I clean them out and put a little powder in to make sure it is nice and dry. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

LOL, Donna, my poodle did that all the time! 

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Donna, Yes!   Same here. 

And I run and get the powder too!  

GMTA

[Gail and Bailey]

You are so right about a dog's nose knows!  Just think about those dogs who can smell out certain cancers in people.  Amazing stuff!    :)

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Yes, there is segment on local  TV news tonight about this...again.  Slow news day maybe but always good stuff

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Debbie, I left a message on your page.