Tea Tree Oil?

[Stacy]

I'm forever fighting a losng battle with red itchy ears. I've been to the vet. They don't have ear infections, they have allergies. There doesn't seem to be any magic cure. I clean them. I use a drying solution in them, I use a topical steroid. I give them apoquel when their symtpoms are bad. Ava's getting allergy shots. But I still can't fix it. Some days they look better than others, but they always get red and itchy again. 

So my groomer recommended a product with tea tree oil in it. And additionally probiotics (though I have no idea the relationship between probiotics and their ears.) But I do love a second opinion. Is there any reason why trying tea tree oil would be harmful? I know all about the "magical healing properties" of apple cider vinger and how everyone feels about that. But I haven't heard anything about tea tree. 

Thanks! Stacy

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

It's another version of ACV and coconut oil, i.e. the miracle cure for everything. In fact...NOT. Because it can be mildly effective for certain types of infections (athlete's foot, nail fungus), the "natural cures-home remedies only" people have taken to recommending it for any kind of infection. There is no evidence whatsoever that it can help an ear infection, let alone itchy ears from allergies, and it can cause irritation, burning, and other unpleasant side effects. (It can also cause systemic, estrogen-like effects in humans when used topically, and I wouldn;t be sure that's not also true for dogs.)

 http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-113-tea%20...

I personally would not use it and take a chance of causing further discomfort. 
I also wouldn't take any advice about treating any kind of health issue from the groomer.

Probiotics also won't do a thing for ear problems.

[Stacy]

Is a miracle cure really too much to ask for? The vets don't seem to have one either. Other than hoping that Ava's allergy shots really start working and that winter helps, it's kind of keep doing what you're doing, you can try more benedryl. I just wish I could fix it for them. 

In other news, Katie always looks so tiny after she gets a hair cut. And Ava had her first grooming appointment today - I stayed with her the whole time. She did great! And we found her eyeballs again! 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Didn't your dermatologist recommend a different antihistamine than benadryl? 

And where are the pictures?? :)

[Stacy]

The dermatologist didn't really endorse a specific antihistamine. I told her we tried the zyrtec, claritin, allegra thing without much benefit. Her suggestion was apoquel. And I know that it's probably totally unrelated, but the tumor in Ava's mouth started not long after we started the Apoquel. And I do still give it on bad days, but after the dental surgery the idea of supressing her immune system freaks me out. 

And Katie really needs to go have allergy testing too, but I'm trying to postpone it just a little bit. The vet bills this year have been out of control!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I totally understand about vet bills being out of control, lol. 

Hopefully, both of your girls will be feeling much better in another month, when allergy season is typically over. Of course, this ridiculously warm weather we're having (here at least) will probably extend the pollen season. :(

[Stacy]

You're right - someone was saying the pollen count was ridiculously high for this time of year. It explains why I'm still waking up with itchy allergy eyes. Weather is weird!

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

I just sent you a friend request, Stacy. I have an idea that might help, but I'd like to send it to you in a private message. 

[Stacy]

Sure thing! I accepted your friend request.

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

Great. I just messaged you.