flapping ears

[mullers3acers]

Our mixed breed beloved dog Abbie is constantly flapping her ears as if something is in them or hurting. It's not so bad during the day but she sleeps in our room at night and it keeps waking me and my husband up.

We have spend odals of money at the vet but it keeps coming back. Her ears are not infected just slightly pink and irritated. If you scrath them you are her best friend till you stop. The ear wash helps for about 24 hrs and then she's flapping again. We are open to any suggestions! HELP!

 

[lurky]

The vet can do a culture(swab) of the ear and send it to a lab to find out whats going on and treat it properly. I had a brittany with ear problems for 6 years of his life........i finally found a vet that did just that. It turned out there were 2 kinds of issues. A yeast infection and an inner ear infection. So all the different creams they tried would help one, but not the other. so they were never treating both and it would all come back. So the culture that the good vet did, allowed them to finally correct the ear problem. It would have saved alot of money and pain for the dog if they had done an ear culture in the first place. I hope all that made sense

 

[snugglepup]

If her ears are inflamed constantly, I'd consider a food allergy. Try a diet trial for 8-12 wks. They usually switch to Fish and Potato food. And no other treats, at all, nothing.

 

[helmstead]

I had a Huskey/Aussie mix who had a constant problem with yeast infections in her ears, too. Used Monistat cream on her daily. LOL I finally had to explain myself to the cashier at the local CVS!

 

[texasgirl]

I'd bet allergies as well. Maybe food or environmental allergies. If it's environmental then Benadryl may help (1mg/lb).
Doesn't hurt to do a food trial as well. Like snugglepup suggested, try a food that she has never eaten before, like fish or venison or buffalo. You also have to cut out all treats and table food, with no exceptions.
Hope you get her to feeling better. A lot of old school vets continue to treat dogs for things like ear mites and infection when actually ear mites in dogs are pretty uncommon and allergies, unfortunately, are extremely common.

 

[palabeco]

I agree, unless your dog was recently in a kennel, or around other dogs in close confinement it would't be mites. I would definetly check for allergies.

 

[mullers3acers]

Well I went to town and bought the generic of Monostat 7. Rubbed it into Abbie's ears and now it's the waiting game. I figure that I'll wait till Sat. and see what happens.

Any other input is welcome.

 

[Redfeathers]

This works like a charm every time for long eared dogs like my Irish Setters. It kills all yeast and it's very little money. It was passed down by an old school vet to our club and most of the members use it on their dogs.

INGREDIENTS:

16 oz bottle of Isopropyl Alcohol (standard 70%)

4 tablespoons of boric acid powder

16 drops of Gentian Violet solution (you can either get this @ the local pharmacy if they carry it or have the pharmacist order it……I had him order it)

Mix together in the alcohol bottle (drain about ¼ “ to ½” of the alcohol before you mix it…..it has a tendency to “fizz” a little). You will need to shake the solution every time you use it to disperse the boric acid powder which will settle to the bottom. I use a 5ml syringe but a hair dye bottle can also be used. I use the syringe so that I can control the amount I put into the ear. Also make sure you do the treatment outside or in a “mud” room. The Gentian will stain clothes, carpets etc. All of the ingredients cost less than $5.00.

 

[picklespickles]

great tips.

 

[mullers3acers]

Well Abbie and I slept downstairs because she flapped quite a bit again last night. But we are going to keep trying. I'll keep you'all updated.