[Lucky098]

Here is my beef with ear infections and lazy vets.

First of all, every time the dog comes back with a flare up of an ear infection, it should be swabbed and looked at. Not too long ago, the vet and I caught a pretty bad ear infection that was being treated with the same medicine every single time the dog came into their former vet for more drops. The owner said it was a major yeast infection.. in reality it was a major bacterial infection with SOME yeast. We treated the dog with a different medicine both in pill form and ear drop form.

I doubt the ears and eyes are the same.

An eye that appears dry and has a crusty, thick discharge and dry appearance.. I think of Chronic dry eye. Smaller dogs are prone to it, but any dog can get it.

He could also have a plugged tear duct.

A basic conjunctivitis.. pink eye.. is possible.. which would explain the swelling of the 3rd membrane and red appearance. Conjunctivitis is painful and can cause the eye to dry up a bit.

Oh and I have long eared dogs and they don't have ear infections :P Some breeds are more prone to it than others.

[JudyKayTee]

I'm not Lucky, Bella, Shazzy BUT I have had eye and ear problems with my dogs. One of my labs had to have surgery to open up, clean out his ear canal because no matter what we did his ear infections kept coming back. My GSD has had at least two ear infections a year since the day I got her - but she's been infection clear for the past year, a record for her, without rhyme or reason.

As far as eyes - your description is how my GSD's eye looked before the lower membrane began to bulge. In her case it's a damaged nerve, and the eye clouds over and clears up on a "who knows" basis.

I also went straight to a Vet who specializes in eye problems. She wasn't cheap BUT she did in one visit but my Vet couldn't accomplish in 5. Yes, 5.

I don't know if there are specialists in your area, but I have found them to be well worth the money.

Let me know how the shark pee works out for you - I have this rash...

[Lucky098]

Shark pee? Lol!

[Aurora_Bell]

Just to clarify I didn't mean they were the same, but yes, they can be connected :) Of course humans are different, but when ever I get a sinus infection my ears get infected as well as my eyes -- pink eye -- Which is not from poop in the as my 5 year old proceeds to tell me ;)

When I first got Lady her ears and eyes were all infected and it was treated by one pill. Vet said most likely a sinus infection. Anyway, I can't diagnose, I was just offering different, organic suggestions on what's helped me and my fam lately.

I could take a million guesses or a long list of what it could be, but it's not going to help her in the end.

[Alty]

Thanks everyone. Judy, I'll look into a specialty vet. We're just sick of the constant ear infections. As soon as one clears up, he gets another, and the vet always gives us the same drops that never work long term. Our poodle had constant ear infections too, and it wasn't until we went to a different vet (can't remember what he prescribed as I was only 14 at the time) that he finally got over it.

Bella, I know you can't diagnose, and believe me, I'm not looking for a diagnosis. I know I need to go to the vet for that, and we are going to go no matter what. But I thank you for all the suggestions, and I'm most definitely going to give them a try. Truth told, I'd much rather go holistic than trust the crap that's prescribed. I do believe that most of our ailments, and dogs ailments, can be treated naturally, it's just easier to go to the vet and get a bottle of man made medication, than it is to try and find something natural that works. But now that I have options, I'm definitely giving them a try.

Lucky, thanks for posting. I didn't even think of pink eye. Rod got an eye wash last night and we've used it twice so far. Chewy's eye is looking much better already. I'm now wondering if he just had something in his eye, and the eye wash washed it out. I'm hoping that's the case.

He goes to the vet tonight, so we'll see what the vet says. Crossing my fingers I don't have to sell one of my children to pay for this visit. ;)

[JudyKayTee]

I'm not interested in buying one of your children but I MIGHT be interested in buying Rod.

Let me know -

[Alty]

I'm not interested in buying one of your children but I MIGHT be interested in buying Rod.

Let me know -

Why would you want a slightly pudgy, balding, lazy, messy, 42 year old man?

He is handy at fixing things, and he's got a great sense of humor, but really, in the long run, you'd be better off with one of the kids. They can still be taught. ;)

Wait a minute. What am I saying? How much are you offering? ;)

[Wondergirl]

Why would you want a slightly pudgy, balding, lazy, messy, 42 year old man?

He is handy at fixing things, and he's got a great sense of humor, but really, in the long run, you'd be better off with one of the kids. They can still be taught. ;)

Wait a minute. What am I saying? How much are you offering? ;)

Or she might be happy just with the fish.

[JudyKayTee]

How good is he at fixing things? For example, could he repair deck railings?

[Alty]

How good is he at fixing things? For example, could he repair deck railings?

He could build you a whole new deck, and it would be an awesome deck. The only problem is, he's all gung ho when he starts, and then fizzles out. He's been repairing my deck for... hmmm... this summer will be year 2. He tore down the stairs! He's a great starter, and when he finishes the work he does is great, but getting him to finish what he started, takes a lot of work.

The fish can't fix anything but they're pretty, and I'll deliver, as soon as I get my passport. Hmmmm, you, I've been talking about my passport for how many years now? Maybe I'm not such a great finisher either. :(

[Alty]

Here's an update on Chewy.

We've been using the eye wash Rod bought and his eye is now fine. I'm thinking that there was something in it that got flushed with the eye wash and I over reacted.

We did go to the vet, she looked at his eye and did say it was a bit red, but other than that she didn't see a problem with it and did agree that the eye wash probably washed out any irritant that was causing the issue I noticed.

She swabbed his ears again, and again gave us the same drops we always get, the Surolan.

Well, we decided to try the epsom salts, UP honey and coconut oil instead. It's been almost two days now, we're using the epsom salts and UP honey, but have yet to find coconut oil anywhere. But, in just two applications of the honey his ears are already noticeably better. In fact, if I hadn't seen it myself I wouldn't have believed it. His ears are healing, he's not itching as much, and I'm in shock.

Bella, thank you so much for your suggestion. He's on the road to recovery, and I have no doubt that that's what will happen. The change in just two uses is amazing! Why don't more people know about this?

Oh, he is a bit sticky, after all it's honey, but I don't care! It's so worth a sticky eared dog. We're calling him our little honey badger. :)

I'll keep you posted on how it goes, but so far so great! Again Bella, thank you thank you thank you!

[JudyKayTee]

So does this mean I don't get Rod?

[Alty]

So does this mean I don't get Rod?

LOL! I think I'm going to have to keep him, he's the one that buys the honey. We need the honey.

The goldfish are still available. They don't work hard, but they're a little less messy than Rod. They're also entertaining.

[Aurora_Bell]

I am glad it's working! If you ever go to Costco, they also sell it there, and Superstore/Sobeys sells it in their natural food isles (cco)

[tickle]

I am not highjacking but Brook has been making herself dizzy shaking head for one ear. Her ears are long and sometimes it looks like she may whip herself to death. Vet said no infection, I say ear mites (but is this even the season for them? ).

And by the way, she has had to have ligament attached on other leg now and goes for hydrotherapy (on a treadmill).

[Lucky098]

Typically if ear mites are present, there is dark ear wax present and they do smell a bit. An at home test... you can swab her ear with a qtip and smear the wax onto a black piece of paper.. it is said that you can see the ear mites... they're light brown.

Allergies or just plain irritation can cause a dog to shake and scratch at its ears... I know around here allergies are going haywire and lots of dogs, cats and people are suffering from itchy, dry skin... You could try just doing a soothing ear wash.. something with aloe in it would work.

[tickle]

@Lucky098, thank you, will try the aloe. As soon as she sees me coming with anything for her ears, she's gone !