Chronic yeast ear infections

[Adrienne]

Anyone else deal with chronic yeast ear infections in their dogs?

Gunnar suffers from them on a regular basis even with regular ear cleaning. When it's bugging him he gets them cleaned daily.

He has been seen numerous times for them, the majority of the times it is just an over abundance of yeast but on occasion that imbalance causes a bacterial infection to boot.

The only other option I have been given is when it becomes bacterial to have him sedated and the ear vacuummed out and then packed with antibiotics.

It is quite frustrating to have him constantly getting them, you feel so bad for him and he hates the ear cleaner.

The vet has said it is not diet related but sometimes I wonder. It seems more common when he is on the Canidae and less so on the Innova. We are currently trying the Eagle holistic lamb/rice but are still in transition from the remaining Canidae.

Anyone have any idea's or similar issues? It would truly be a bummer if it was a chronic, life long problem for him.

 

[Mordy]

Adrienne, please feel free to email me. I have some information that might be able to help.

 

[Roxy's CD]

My parents dog Brutus gets at least one yeast infection in his ear a month. They have stuff from the vet to use and someone gave them a homemade remedy that works just as well.

His ear gets red, has black stuff in it and is very stinky.

I'm sure the fact that my parents have him on crap food (Alpo) is one of the main reasons he gets them *so* often, but when they got him from the pound he had it then. So maybe he's just more prone to it. A better food couldn't hurt him but...

 

[doberkim]

i would absolutely say it IS diet related - it is not normal for a HEALTHY animal to have chronic ANYTHING, and yeast infections are one of the most common manifestations of an allergy - including food allergy (the other being atopy - or environmental allergies).

i would get yourself to a board certified dermatologists. any one of them worth their beans will clear it up.

has he been on systemic anti-fungals? what ear cleaners and meds are you using? have you tried an elimination diet?

 

[Bobsk8]

I would try one of the anti Allergy Foods like Natural Balance Venison and Brown rice and see what happens.

 

[Adrienne]

Since the vet originally told me it wouldn't be diet related (I know way to listen to your vet) we had not really tried an elimination diet although I did just start to switch him over to eagle pack lamb and rice. It was recently brought to my attention though that eagle pack may contain some product that he may also be allergic too and I plan to pick up a bag of the Natural balance sweet potatoe and fish. Mordy gave me some good tips on how to do the elimination diet so we will start that tomorrow.

He has been on antibiotics oral and topical in the ear in the past when the infection has gotten out of control and turned bacterial. He has also been on prednisone for a two week period this winter. It did eventually clear up only to return a short time later. I have been using the ear cleanser that the vet gave me, it's called Vet solutions but again, Mordy has given me a receipe for an ear cleanser I can make myself so I wil get the items tomorrow and start with that.

We have not been to a dermatologist yet although the vet had said something about sending an ear swab somewhere which I could swear he said would cost me $300. If I am unable to get it to clear up with the suggestions I have received I will be finding one in my area to take him to. If they get progressivly worse I will find one sooner but would like to hold off if possible. Reason being Gunnar just got neutered and Neva got her teeth clean and a senior blood panel and that was a $500 bill. We do have money put away but I would prefer not to touch it if I don't have to.

On average he clears up for a day or two, I continue the cleaning everyday and then it's right back again. It is really frustrating, and I am sure miserable for him when it get's real bad. Hopefully it will turn out to be a diet issue and we can avoid it once we pinpoint it.

Thanks again guys

 

[doberkim]

how long has he had this problem? how old is he?
what ear meds are you using?

 

[Adrienne]

He is 20 months old, has suffered off and on since last winter, and is currently just on the ear cleanser Vet Solutions.

When he was under for the neuter they cleaned his ear out well for me as he had another infection at the time that showed an overabudance of yeast.

 

[Barb04]

My dog seems to do well on Canidae. If I try giving him Innova, EVO, etc., the ear infections start coming back. My vet said the same thing about it not being food related, but I say it is.

 

[Debi]

hi. in human ears one of the worst things you can do is clean with a Q-tip. the cotton tip can make tiny abrasions in the ear tissue which then traps bacteria. I've seen some pretty nasty looking ears with puss (sorry) that were just surface and not internal bacterial infections. so, I don't know this for fact and am just tossing it out as a possibility....but if you clean with cotton balls the same may apply. also any moisture from the solution trapped in the ear canal would be a haven for yeast/bacteria. (and a dog's canal has such a bend) if you've posted a recent picture of Gunnar, I'm sorry to have missed it...I bet he is gorgeous. take care. feel better Mr. Gunnar!

I just had this thought because you clean his ears so often, and it may be actually adding to the problem. Hammie also has 'crud magnets' for ears, so I truly understand the need. I've been using a soft cloth and keeping the rubbing to a minimum. someone told me shepherds were prone to ear problems, but I kinda just don't really believe that......but what the heck do I know. LOL Ham had a really horrible infection once, but (and yes, I'm knocking on wood here) I also agree to the diet thoughts.

 

[bigdaddyTank]

My parents have a cat that had the same problem for a long time, they took her to a dermitologist. She has an alergy to corn, so they switched her to a prescription cat food and its cleared up and not come back.

 

[Jaimie L]

Too much cleaning could be a contributing factor. It may be that Gunnar lacks the beneficial fauna to keep the yeast away. The same thing happens to us gals when we go on antibiotics. I would consider giving pro-biotics. You can find it in the natural foods store, usually it'll be chilled in the vitamin section. You could try to administer probiotics just as an infection is clearing up and also limit your ear cleanings to once a week, (or twice if they get very dirty) and whenever they get water in them. I hope this helps.

 

[MomOf7]

A good ear cleaning solution.
16 oz. bottle isopropyl alcohol (or witch hazel)
4 tablespoons Boric Acid Powder
16 drops Gentian Violet 1% Solution

Mix all ingredients in the alcohol bottle & shake. (make sure you shake before every application).

Treatment: Fill ear with solution & massage gently for 30 seconds and wipe with a tissue. Fill a second time and just wipe without massaging. The dog will shake the excess out. Be careful, the Gentian Violet could stain. I use a eye dropper to fill the ear.

Treatment:
2 times per day for the first 2 weeks
1 time per day for the next 2 weeks
1 time per month thereafter

If you are concerned about the alcohol burning the inside of the ear (it could if the dog has been scratching its ear), then you can substitute the alcohol with witch hazel.

I have found these ingrediants at walmart ask the pharmacy for help.

Could be from too much cleanining/anti-biotics, food allergy.
Where does he stay most of the time? Is it really dusty? Could be alot of dust and dirt is getting in there too. Just a thought

 

[Debi]

alcohol is tooooooooo drying and irritating. to humans, and dogs. the witch hazel is better by far. or....a bit of peroxide in a splash of water does the trick for a cleaner. for humans a peroxide solution is recommended as a wash to control wax build-up. hey.......what's good for us peeps, is good for our pups. my own thoughts here.....don't 'fill the ear' with solution. the canal is so very bended that moisture is a problem to collect there. human ears sometimes have a severe bend, dogs are even more. wipe, but don't let any fluid collect and settle in the canal.