Category: Animal House
On Saturday night while I was at a ceramony mom cleaned the dog's ears out. I came home and mom told me the dog (not a service/guide dog) had wax build up in one of her ears and some wax beginning to build up in the other ear. A couple days later I noticed the dog was scratching alot near her left ear. I gently scratched under the flaps and not in the ears, I removed my right hand and continued with the left (using the right hand to hold her head still.). While using said left hand, her foot began to twitch rapidly as when she twiches her foot thats a sight that she's either sensitive in that area or it tickles. She didn't do it with the right ear.
Because I have little vision, I asked dad to look into her ears. And he noticed there wasn't a smell to either ones (when wax builds, I've noticed her ears have a bit of a funky smell to them.) but he watched what was going on to notice that she was getting upset. So he looked into both ears, right ear normal as can be. Left ear, red. Dad seems to think she may have over scratched in that ear OR she might have a ear in fection. Her father (as a adult male) had a ear infection but I can't remember what age.
Besides calling the vet (who hasn't called yet. I think this is one of those days they're backed up with clients or today is a surgery day and getting ahold of her is impossible.) we've kept a eye on her and when we see the leg go up to scratch, we simply correct her and tell her not to scratch. So my question here is: Has this happened to your dog? If so what was the diagnosis? Wax build up, bites, allergies or a infection in the ear? It looked to dad a little inflamed. So I'm a little worried as for the past 9 years of her life, she's gone without having ear problems except for the occational ear cleaning.
Hello,
Ear infection is possible and if that is the case antibiotics will probably be given. That's what they did with Addy, my guide. I do weekly cleanings with ear cleaning solution but the infection did happen nonetheless... It was really red and inflamed looking in his right ear though not his left.
Hope that helps you some. Hope the vet calls you soon.
In him,
Shanda and Addy
it sounds like canker you will know from a strong smell constant scratching and a black or dark brown discharge, if the weather has been wet, it can happen as the coat is getting continually wet. I'd go to a pet store and see if they have something to treat her and watch it as she might snap due to the pain...hope it helps PS keep an eye out for it returning, canker does, once it starts.
Hello. I have nine dogs in my household, including my guide dog. This problem could be one of many things. As you suspect, it could very well be an ear infection, some kind of bite, or it could also be ear mites. I'd definitely get the dog to the vet. Even if the ear looks okay to your family, deep down, something could seriously be going on. I think I'd stay away from any kind of ear cleaning solutions, until you get her to the vet, and find out exactly what's going on. These kinds of products could irritate the area, and make it worse. However, when you do get her to the vet, and the vet prescribes whatever will be needed to help, be sure that you make sure to keep her ears clean, by using either a recommended dog ear cleaning solution, or you can use baby oil. Hope this helps.
I just got a new dog! So this advice has been helpful to me!
It's a slight ear infection in its beginning stages. Mom and I took her to the vet this morning. I gave the vet the exact description and events that happened from Saturday night up until today. He looked at her right ear: clean as could be. Checked the left and found it's a definate infection. He took her back to a seperate room where he took a sample of what was in the ear and looked it under the microscope. He said it could be fox tail or yeast, turns out it's yeast. So twice a day, 7 days a week we're to clean her left ear out with a solution, and then let dry and administer the antibotic and massage it in. The clenser she doesn't mind it's the antibotic that she can't stand up until the massage. And of course if she scratches during the 7 day antibotics period, she'll have one of those weird bonnets on.
We heard her wimper while the sample was being removed, and she came trotting out when it was done. She, wanted, out, of, there. She tripped over me (vet thought it was funny) and then tried yanking me out the door (don't know how to heal a dog with a cane, I know it can be done but how?) when we needed to wait for her antibotics and clenser.
We're quite puzzled as to how she got the infection in the first place as I didn't ask what fox tail is. But mom seems to think it's a type of plant. She doesn't bother plants. But I know we have wild cats occationally come in our yard and I was told that if a cat/dog has a ear infection, it can be passed around. Because when we took Omega to see her dad one last time (we asked first and was told no) before moving, we were told the reason why we were denied request was that the dad had a ear infection and that those kinds of things can be passed around.
Oh yeah, ear infections and things like that can definitely be passed from animal to animal. My sister and brother in law have a dog, and he had gotten an ear infection, and they had to do pretty much the same thing that you have to do. they had to use an antibiotic and they had to massage in some kind of cream, to help get rid of it. I have no idea how he got the ear infection in the first place. It's just one of those things that happens. That's why it's so important for animal owners to keep there pets ears clean.
Yeast infections are nasty. Floppy-eared breeds like labs and spaniels are especially prone to them, as the ears are dark and wet, ideal breeding grounds for bacteria and yeast can also grow well in these conditions. I have seen cases where the antibiotics and mediscines weren't enough. The dog owner had to tape the dog's ear up on top of it's head so that it could dry out. All this in addition to using the prescribed mediscines. I know it sounds strange, but it worked quite nicely. They used a special tape that breeders of shelties often use on puppies to tape the tips of their ear flaps down, so that they will acquire the propper shape. If you ever see an ear infection coming on and you can''t get to the vet right away, try neosporen cream, as that is an antibacterial cream, and it has a very mild surface pain killer. That would reduce the itching, and thus the scratching. I hope she starts feeling better soon.
Jackson has had ear infections off and on over the years. He has this cone that he had to wear after surgery on one of his feet, to stop him from licking the bandage. God, does he hate that thing. lol