Our Very Expensive Mistake.

[Camilla and Darwin]

I learned a lesson about procrastination today. See, we bathe Darwin quite a bit. And I know you are supposed to buy ear wash, put cotton balls in their ears, pluck hair, etc. to avoid ear infections. But we don't have any ear wash, and he has never had an infection before so I just put off buying it. For some reason I just didn't worry.

Well, we went to a lake this past week, and guess who got an ear infection? Yep, poor Darwin has yeasty, red ears. We took him to the vet today and left 200 dollars poorer. It just frustrates me that we could have easily avoided this, but I was too negligent to think about it. Now poor Darwin is uncomfortable, and I feel awful! So if you are putting something like this off, DON'T! It's not worth it!

[Amanda and Quinn]

I'm so sorry! Don't feel too guilty, though - as others have said, if they're prone to them they do tend to happen with or without cleaning. Quinn's had them off and on since he was a fairly young puppy no matter what we do. When an infection flares up, we usually walk away with the $200-ish bill too. Lucy and Sophie's mom, I want your vet!! I would fall over in shock if I got a bill that low from mine.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I totally understand. I actually had to add a recurring note to my calendar to "do ears" each week...otherwise I just know I'd forget. I don't have much luck getting them to sit still while I clean with cotton balls. I usually just squirt the ear cleaner in and then rub the outside of the ear. They do lots of "head shaking" that works it in pretty well.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I think the troubling part (aside from the ear infection of course) is the $200 vet bill for an ear infection! That seems outrageous to me. I took both my girls for their yearly visits a couple weeks ago. So I got shots, yearly well exams, Sophie had an ear infection, so I got ear drops and antibiotics for Sophie, I got antibiotics for Lucy and Antihistimines for Lucy, toe nails clipped, fecal check and heartwork check on Sophie for Therapy work, and Lucy's hips checked, along with a box of heartworm/flea meds and my bill was just $235 total for both dogs. I certainly hope Darwin is feeling much much better.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

OH and one more thing---( don't do this but I am get tempted ) Tie his ears up with a hair scrunchie. It will allow them to dry out better. :)

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Here is a Great Shortcut--I get comfortable ( lazy ) and Spud is not a nice dog to work on so if all else fails do this trick.
Instead of the cotton balls and wiping and cleaning --Just squirt the solution into the ears, rub a sec, then let them shake. It's quick and fast. Yeah, it would be better if I used the cotton balls and tweezed ear hair but I can't always do this.
When Spud was eight weeks old we were warned that he has, " The Ears For Trouble "
We truly are lucky we haven't had more problems. Today was our first ear infection this year. Spud is a swimmer so I expect more problems. I take the solution to the lake. As soon as he gets in the car he gets a squirt and off I drive. OH and buy the BIG BOTTLE

Darwin, here's a hug from us. I am so sorry you are not feeling well.

[F, Calla & Luca]

And Joanne of Spud and Starlit just took Spud in with an ear infection from swimming and she does clean his ears regularly. So you can try to prevent the infections, and should, but it's not foolproof.

[Adrianne Matzkin]

My girls go to the beach almost every weekend and they have never gotten an ear infection - TG! I don't always remember to clean their ears after but I will take heed and thrill them (WOL!) shortly, I am sure they will thank you!