Murphy is a hot mess!UPDATE July 5.

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

Poor Murphy has had a rough week. He started with a flaming red ear last Tuesday morning and then the head shaking, scratching and black gonky ears. Ofcourse we can't forget the smell. So I treated with Zymox with hydrocortisone for a few days to see what I could do at home, which helped about 50%, and as that was getting better, I noticed him licking his paw. This went on for a day or so when I decided its becoming a problem, so I assessed it and found a big tight mat. Ok, cut the mat, that should be the end of the licking. Oh no, that would be too easy. So now I am treating ears and trying to keep his paw clean and dry and licker free.
So neither is working, ear not looking any better than it did by the fourth or fifth day and his paw between two toes is redder and more irritated.
So wrap the foot with a sock, clean the ears again and off to the vet today. $200 and 4 medications later, and we are hopefully on our way to feeling better. The worst part is he has been looking so sad and not himself today and now I am giving him prednisone which always makes him so hungry and thirsty. As for him, I think the worst part is staying out of the pool for a week. Poor poor Murphy. I know ear infections are not the worst thing, but he has more than one doodles share of them in his lifetime.

 

 

Murphy just got back from the Vet for his follow-up for his ear infection. All clear, not inflammation, redness or debris! Yeah! We can go swimming again. He is so ready. He has been so well behaved and following the "NO POOL" command for 2 weeks now.

Moving forward, we will continue to use Epi-Otic everyday and keep his ear hair plucked. I will use the Thornit powder too except his ears are pretty much always wet, so I will wait till theres a period of not swimming to apply that. Thank you all for thinking of my Murphy. Today is Murphy Spa day to celebrate. Had a long luxurious bath, with conditioner and blow dry, had a pedicure at the vets and now we are heading into the grooming room to give him his short short summer cut.

I will post some before and after pictures when done.

[Adina P]

Sometimes I think the head shaking makes it worse...which makes them shake more...and so on.  Sorry Murph is struggling with the ear stuff.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm sorry to hear that Murphy is not feeling well. The prednisone should help a lot.

JD says, I know how you feel Murph! Itchy paws are no fun! Feel better soon, buddy!

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

Poor Murphy indeed!  Hope the meds - or your treatments - take care of both issues and he's back to 100% soon!

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

Thank you all. The yeast idea wasnt mentioned BUT he is now licking his back paw too. All same side , left, as ear infection. Good work Adrianne. I will do a vinager wash and lotromin today and keep socks on him. We dont have a cone but the sock seems to be working. He is on an antibiotic to so if its yeast it will get worse im afraid. Its a broad spectrum, for dogs only and will research today. Vet was very easy to talk to about giving me an RX for whatever people meds i could get at the pharmacy. She said her prednisone w antihistimine is $35.00. Gave script for pred. Which was $4.00 and generic zyrtec which was 3.00. So that helped. I really encourage people to ask for prescriptions!
He is good about ear drops now, but he does try to avoid me when he sees cotton balls and qtips in my hand. I gently coax him to me, lots of lovin and patience till he stands still or lays down. He has had really bad ear infections and some tramatic vet visits but this vet is SOOO good with him and understands his anxiety that its getting much easier to treat and examine him. Not great, but better. Thank you all again, i will update. As for Bella, shes just a Hot Mess all the time!!!! ;)

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I hope Murphy feels better soon.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Oh no, poor guy.  Guinness has the beginning of an ear infection too....started him on the meds yesterday and hopefully can beat a full blown episode.  I sure hope Murphy feels better soon and can be back in the pool.  Does he give you trouble with giving the ear meds?  Guinness hates it....runs and hides under the bed.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Poor Murphy, I do hope he's better very soon.  I was also wondering if the two things are linked?

[Kimmy & Chewie]

Poor Murphy :( Hope he feels better soon.

You might also want to put a cone on him too. It not only prevents him licking his paws, but also keep him from scratching his ears (with his back paws).

My previous dog, a golden retriever, had an ear infection and made it worst by scratching as his powerful back paws managed to burst the tiny blood vessels on the ear flaps. The ear flap then swelled up with blood and the vet had to cut it open to let the blood out :(

This is Bu with pink bandages on one ear which made him look like a cow. LOL.

 

 

[Adrianne Matzkin]

Sue - did the vet say that it was a yeast infection that he might have gotten on his paw from scratching his ear? Samantha had a yeast infection between her paw pads from a licking a mat against the skin between her paw pads. I worried she might spread it to her ear.