Ask Me Help Desk

Ask Me Help Desk (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/forum.php)
-   Dogs (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/forumdisplay.php?f=417)
-   -   Dog ear infection (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=572916)

  • Apr 26, 2011, 10:44 AM
    edl1135
    Dog ear infection
    I gave my 6 month old beagle amoxicillian('bout 2 weeks so far) thinking she had an ear infection, but she still is shaking and scratching (mostly at nigt) her ears. There was never any drainage, smell, I can rub her ears and there doesn't seem to be any discomfort. What else is there?
  • Apr 26, 2011, 10:46 AM
    JudyKayTee

    Allergy, injury, nervous habit. What does your Vet say?
  • Apr 26, 2011, 10:51 AM
    shazamataz

    Amoxicillin is an antibiotic, but not one for ear infections.

    To treat an infection you need to administer drops inside the ear canal.
    Unfortunately there isn't any over the counter products you can use, you will need to get them directly from your vet.
    Your vet will most likely take a swab of the ear an examine under a microscope to check for mites.

    Another possibility is allergies.
  • Apr 26, 2011, 11:20 AM
    Godschild13
    She might have fleas no offense. You should see her vet.
  • Apr 26, 2011, 11:36 AM
    southamerica

    Floppy eared dogs are more prone to certain infections cause by moist, warm environments (e.g. yeast infections). There are several at-home remedies people try-and some work in some instances.

    Without knowing the nature of the infection/allergy, I'm hesitant to recommend anything you could try at home. I suggest that, if you haven't already, you go to the vet to have the pup's ears looked at.

    Let us know what your vet said/says.
  • Apr 26, 2011, 09:01 PM
    Lucky098

    Ear infections can be tricky to cure. You'll have to see your vet on this one. Specific types of infections need specific types of antibiotics. Amoxi isn't a good medicine for ear problems.

    What you can do to help is to clean her ear out. Get an ear cleaner made for dogs. Moisten a cotton ball and try and get as deep as you can. You can't hurt her because you cannot reach her ear drum itself. Don't put the solution directly into the ear like a levage just in case there is a problem with the ear drum itself. But the key to helping ear infections on top of antibiotics is keeping the ear extra clean. During treatment, the ear will drain. Chunks of wax will appear and you need to clean it out before the wax builds and creates a bigger ear infection.

    Same rules apply for yeasty ears. The vet will have to find a mixture that will kill the yeast buds.
  • Apr 27, 2011, 04:38 AM
    JudyKayTee

    I'm wondering where the medication came from - that's why I asked about the Vet. Is this medication "left over" from something else or was it prescribed for this particular dog?
  • Apr 27, 2011, 07:46 AM
    edl1135
    Comment on JudyKayTee's post
    Leftover, I'm in a really bad spot right now and just can't come up with the extra money right now to c a vet
  • Apr 27, 2011, 07:47 AM
    edl1135
    Comment on Godschild13's post
    Nope, no fleas. I'm very allergic, I would definitely know
  • Apr 27, 2011, 07:47 AM
    edl1135
    Comment on shazamataz's post
    Anything I can do wothout a costly vet visit, I'm in a bad spot at the moment
  • Apr 27, 2011, 07:50 AM
    JudyKayTee

    It is extremely dangerous to use left over medication for a variety of reasons, including strength changing over time. Also, unless you give the full course of any medication it very likely will not be completely effective.

    If you absolutely cannot afford a Vet visit I would try an over the counter ear wash, flushing solution.
  • Apr 27, 2011, 07:56 AM
    southamerica

    Dog ear cleaning instructions.

    Give some at home ear cleaning solutions a try, but be careful where you get your info. I've seen some people recommend hydrogen peroxide, and as far as I know that is not a good recommendation.

    If she does start to show discomfort to the touch, then she needs to go to the vet.

    If this is a food allergy, check her dog food for common allergens. Here's a good article on food allergies for dogs.
  • Apr 27, 2011, 01:40 PM
    southamerica

    Quote:

    JudyKayTee finds this helpful : Great research, good post - I actually didn't know not to use peroxide in dog ears. I always check first with my Vet but still... very good info and thank you.
    Peroxide might be good, I haven't cleared it with my vet one way or another. I just was told by my aunt that it wasn't a good idea. She's not a vet though, so if someone has better info that'd be great. I'll ask my vet this Friday.
  • Apr 27, 2011, 01:47 PM
    shazamataz

    The thing is we don't know if it is an infection or not.
    If it is an allergy and the ears are irritated or rashed, not infected, then products may make the problem worse.
    Infections are usually (but not always) accompanied by dark, almost black discharge and smell.

    You could try calling your vet or just popping down and getting an opinion from one of the vet nurses. It is really hard to say what it could be without seeing it.
  • Apr 27, 2011, 01:52 PM
    southamerica

    Will just cleaning out the ear with OTC products hurt an infection or allergy?

    And It doesn't hurt to try out different foods to see if that helps. Since there's no discharge, smell, or discomfort-I would think that testing out different foods would be a good route if one can't afford a vet (unless, as you suggest, she can get a free consultation somehow).

    My dog's yeast infection didn't have any discharge, but it did smell awful and the skin in his ear was really dry.
  • Apr 27, 2011, 02:02 PM
    shazamataz

    Over the counter just ear cleaning products would be fine, I am probably being over cautious but I am unsure what products you guys have available over there.

    Changing the food is an excellent suggestion.
    One of mine has a terrible allergy to beef, he itches all over, especially on his face. He scratched to the point of bleeding many times before I figured out what it was.
  • Apr 27, 2011, 02:33 PM
    JudyKayTee

    I looked it up in my dog health book and it says use hydrogen peroxide only when diluted MORE than 75%.

    Never heard that before - of course, I never actually thought about it before.

  • All times are GMT -7. The time now is 01:57 PM.