Chronic Ear Infections..congestion....HELP!

abba1102 · 01-21-2013, 07:38 PM

I stumbled across this site while searching the internet and I am thrilled to have found it. Sorry my post is SO LONG!

We have 2 beagles, one is 9 and the other 4. The 9 year old has had numerous ear infections over the past couple years (7 or 8 I think) and the 4 year old has had (3) over just this past year.

Each time we go to the vet and spend lots of $$ to get meds and a few weeks/months after we are right back. Yes, I do clean out their ears!

It clicked with me that it might be food related in December as yet the 9 year old had another one. They did a full blood work up at that time because she was congested also and everything was normal. She does take thryoid medicine but has well before the ear infections started. She has been on Hill's Science Diet R/D for the past couple years and we just started giving our other one the R/D this past year and now he gets ear infections too!!!

I asked the vet and she agreed that it definitely could be food related and suggested we try Z/D Science Diet. I told her I'd wait until after the first of year to decide. I wanted to try some "grain free" on my own first. So, fast forward, we tried Taste of Wild for a few weeks (the 4 year old wouldn't eat very well) so we switched to Wellness Core - they both ate it much better but guess what...the 9 year old has YET another ear infection!!!!!

I am so frustrated and I am trying the Monistat at home first as I don't want her to keep taking the steroids and I just spent $500 at vet last month!!!

Any suggestions? Ideas, or comments will be greatly appreciated!!

Cassie · 01-21-2013, 08:44 PM

What are you cleaning the ears with?
Monistat is for treating yeast.

My vet prescribed Tresaderm, an antibiotic, which clears up the ears really quick. After the first treatment I had more in the little bottle and when I see bright rosey pink I put in a couple of drops in each ear and the ears look great in one day and I don't have to make a trip to the vet.

abba1102 · 01-21-2013, 08:59 PM

Oops - forgot to say all of the ear infections they both have had are "yeast" when they test it. I read on-line to try using Monistat on the ear since it is used for yeast infections.

My6beagles · 01-21-2013, 09:45 PM

I have used with great success Zymox ear cleaner and Zymox otic enzymatic with hydrocortisone if something is brewing in their ears. Several members of my pack need routine cleaning to keep things in check. I've often threatened my beagle Belle to use a clothes pin to keep her ears open. I don't think she believes me.

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abba1102 · 01-21-2013, 10:32 PM

Thanks. I just ordered some Zymox otic enzymatic with hydrocortisone. It did have great reviews off Amazon. Hoping it will work for her. Like I said above it so pricey to keep taking to vet and getting same meds only to have it happen over and over.

Does anyone have any food recommendations? Has anyone else had problems with Science Diet foods and ear infections/allergies? Are grains usually the problem?

techie · 01-22-2013, 01:46 PM

We think Rascal is allergic to Science Diet and have switched her over to Costco Sweet potato and salmon.
techie

abba1102 · 01-25-2013, 06:04 PM

I received the Zymox otic enzymatic with hydrocortisone and have used it the last 2 days. She doesn't seem to be digging at ears as much but they are still pretty pink looking. How long did you have to use before you noticed a difference in the skin color and could really tell they were clearing up?

Thanks!

My6beagles · 01-25-2013, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abba1102

I received the Zymox otic enzymatic with hydrocortisone and have used it the last 2 days. She doesn't seem to be digging at ears as much but they are still pretty pink looking. How long did you have to use before you noticed a difference in the skin color and could really tell they were clearing up?

Thanks!

I general use a gentle ear cleaner(zymox) then later that day put some of the zymox otic in. I have two beagles that I do this to at least once a week as they have chronic ear issues. Occasionally somebody else gets an infection and I'll use the cleaner then the otic for a week or so. I constantly monitor their ears. Use a cotton ball to wipe inside and get rid of excess.

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brandypup · 02-02-2013, 12:34 PM

Watch the foods
easy on the vaccinations

DogAware.com Health: Ear Infections in Dogs

01-21-2013, 07:38 PM	#1 (permalink)
abba1102 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 5	Chronic Ear Infections..congestion....HELP! I stumbled across this site while searching the internet and I am thrilled to have found it. Sorry my post is SO LONG! We have 2 beagles, one is 9 and the other 4. The 9 year old has had numerous ear infections over the past couple years (7 or 8 I think) and the 4 year old has had (3) over just this past year. Each time we go to the vet and spend lots of $$ to get meds and a few weeks/months after we are right back. Yes, I do clean out their ears! It clicked with me that it might be food related in December as yet the 9 year old had another one. They did a full blood work up at that time because she was congested also and everything was normal. She does take thryoid medicine but has well before the ear infections started. She has been on Hill's Science Diet R/D for the past couple years and we just started giving our other one the R/D this past year and now he gets ear infections too!!! I asked the vet and she agreed that it definitely could be food related and suggested we try Z/D Science Diet. I told her I'd wait until after the first of year to decide. I wanted to try some "grain free" on my own first. So, fast forward, we tried Taste of Wild for a few weeks (the 4 year old wouldn't eat very well) so we switched to Wellness Core - they both ate it much better but guess what...the 9 year old has YET another ear infection!!!!! I am so frustrated and I am trying the Monistat at home first as I don't want her to keep taking the steroids and I just spent $500 at vet last month!!! Any suggestions? Ideas, or comments will be greatly appreciated!!

01-21-2013, 09:45 PM	#4 (permalink)
My6beagles Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Ohio,USA Posts: 587	Chronic Ear Infections..congestion....HELP! I have used with great success Zymox ear cleaner and Zymox otic enzymatic with hydrocortisone if something is brewing in their ears. Several members of my pack need routine cleaning to keep things in check. I've often threatened my beagle Belle to use a clothes pin to keep her ears open. I don't think she believes me. Sent from my iPhone using Petguide.com Free App __________________ Sometimes when I get up in the morning, I feel very peculiar. I feel like I've just got to bite a cat! I feel like if I don't bite a cat before sundown, I'll go crazy! But then I just take a deep breath and forget about it. That's what is known as real maturity. Peanuts Snoopy

02-02-2013, 12:34 PM	#9 (permalink)
brandypup Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Atlanta Posts: 2,270	Watch the foods easy on the vaccinations DogAware.com Health: Ear Infections in Dogs __________________ Prevention is Kinder then Destruction. Spay and Neuter. BE EDUCATED. If you breed, breed RESPONSIBLY 8,109 homeless beagles on Petfinder right now. Why are their breeders not stepping up? http://www.wonderpuppy.net/1breeding.php Research, All I can do is open new doors for you to explore. Act and buy responsibly, your choice is the future of the breed. http://www.learntobreed.com/ New Vaccine standards! Miss Bones 2002-2010

01-21-2013, 08:44 PM	#2 (permalink)
Cassie Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: California Posts: 869	What are you cleaning the ears with? Monistat is for treating yeast. My vet prescribed Tresaderm, an antibiotic, which clears up the ears really quick. After the first treatment I had more in the little bottle and when I see bright rosey pink I put in a couple of drops in each ear and the ears look great in one day and I don't have to make a trip to the vet.

01-21-2013, 08:59 PM	#3 (permalink)
abba1102 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 5	Oops - forgot to say all of the ear infections they both have had are "yeast" when they test it. I read on-line to try using Monistat on the ear since it is used for yeast infections.

01-21-2013, 10:32 PM	#5 (permalink)
abba1102 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 5	Thanks. I just ordered some Zymox otic enzymatic with hydrocortisone. It did have great reviews off Amazon. Hoping it will work for her. Like I said above it so pricey to keep taking to vet and getting same meds only to have it happen over and over. Does anyone have any food recommendations? Has anyone else had problems with Science Diet foods and ear infections/allergies? Are grains usually the problem?

01-22-2013, 01:46 PM	#6 (permalink)
techie Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Mid Willamette Valley, Oregon Posts: 467	We think Rascal is allergic to Science Diet and have switched her over to Costco Sweet potato and salmon. techie

01-25-2013, 06:04 PM	#7 (permalink)
abba1102 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 5	I received the Zymox otic enzymatic with hydrocortisone and have used it the last 2 days. She doesn't seem to be digging at ears as much but they are still pretty pink looking. How long did you have to use before you noticed a difference in the skin color and could really tell they were clearing up? Thanks!

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