Charlie has always been prone to ear infections...really struggled with them. About a month ago, we started treating the latest one with a stronger AB ear drop from the vet. I take him to the vet every week for a check up on his ear and we decide what to try next. It sort of cleared up, but his ear was still a bit red. For the last 2 weeks we've been cleaning it every night as the vet said the infection had gone, but there was a lot of wax in his ear. Tonight, I was cleaning his ear and there was a bit of blood on the tissue. Never seen this before. Worried and shocked. What can it be? Obviously will go straight down to the vet first thing. Ah, these blasted ear infections.....
Re: Ear infection - now with blood! Julie, I have just been reading about dust mite allergies from dried food in a Facebook group. The dog in question had persistent ear infections and was finally diagnosed with a dust mite allergy. A vet in the group who strongly advocates raw feeding suggested to anyone who couldn't feed raw to freeze the dry food which kills off the dust mites. I'm not sure how far you are into your new feeding routine but might be worth a try. Of course Charlie's ear problems might be caused by something completely different.
Re: Ear infection - now with blood! Thanks Heidrun - am definitely going to try raw feeding. I stalled a bit as I started reading into it, and realised how little I knew, so felt I had to read some more. Perhaps I need to stop reading about it, and just do it! I'm sure it must be some kind of allergy, just about everything else has been ruled out now.
Re: Ear infection - now with blood! What a stress Ears are very well supplied with blood vessels so it would not take much of tear in the skin to produce blood... Agree that you may well find that a raw/preservative-free/wholefood diet will help with this kind of skin-related thing. Making the switch had a dramatic effect on the chronic skin infections that my previous dog developed on kibble. Fingers are certainly crossed here for improvement in the ear department.
Re: Ear infection - now with blood! Yeesh, what a worry! Poor Charlie and poor you!! I (thankfully) have no experience with ear infections - my collies never had one and so far, neither has Simba. So all I can do is offer support and hope that you can get to the bottom of it soon.
Re: Ear infection - now with blood! Oh what a fright,blood.Poor Charlie,these ear flare ups are a nuisance for you all.i bet you will definately notice a difference if you change to raw.hope they aren't too sore for him when the vet checks later x
Re: Ear infection - now with blood! Oh that's rubbish, poor Charlie and poor you! I hope the vet can fix him up quick smart and it doesn't affect his swimming xxx
Re: Ear infection - now with blood! Hmmm, fresh blood from an ear always makes me think of a Pseudomonas infection. They can be nasty and I've seen three dogs pick them up from hydrotherapy units - it's a very difficult bug to kill, will live in chlorinated water, chlorhexidine, etc etc, it's a complete nightmare to sterilise our video otoscope after we treat one. I would be doing some cytology from that ear (dry swab down the ear, smear onto slide and stain) and if the bugs look like Pseudomonas I'd be doing a bacterial culture and sensitivity pronto. Hope it's nothing though.....
Re: Ear infection - now with blood! [quote author=Lochan link=topic=4318.msg52159#msg52159 date=1391502201] Hmmm, fresh blood from an ear always makes me think of a Pseudomonas infection. They can be nasty and I've seen three dogs pick them up from hydrotherapy units - it's a very difficult bug to kill, will live in chlorinated water, chlorhexidine, etc etc, it's a complete nightmare to sterilise our video otoscope after we treat one. I would be doing some cytology from that ear (dry swab down the ear, smear onto slide and stain) and if the bugs look like Pseudomonas I'd be doing a bacterial culture and sensitivity pronto. Hope it's nothing though..... [/quote] Thank you so much - I'm going to insist some proper tests get carried out, none have been done yet, we just keep getting more and more ABs.
Re: Ear infection - now with blood! Well, we got a 9am appointment, and swabs have been taken and samples sent off. The vet said Charlie has a little nick in his ear, and the blood isn't coming from his ear canal. He thought it was unlikely it was anything more than a standard ear infection - but I looked determined - and he took the swabs and sent them off. It will take a few days to grow the culture. The vet didn't look at the samples under a microscope himself. In the meantime, back on the Aurizon. In terms of the water treadmill, the hydro place already knows about Charlie's ear infections, but the vet said to give them a call - he said Charlie will be fine, but he might be infectious to other dogs. Oh no, I hope swimming isn't off the agenda.
Re: Ear infection - now with blood! Oh for heavens sake, one thing after another for you , big hugs to you and Charlie x
Re: Ear infection - now with blood! No, phew, it's ok - Hydro and Vet confab decides it's too important for Charlie and the hydro must continue so he can go. Hydro place say they can control it on the watertread mill, but couldn't allow him in the pool, so all is fine. Big relief, I honestly don't think I could go back to the days were we didn't get the 3 weekly energy blow off on the treadmill. Plus, we've got a common outing with the dog walker all planned for this afternoon (treadmill before new walk area is absolutely essential).
Re: Ear infection - now with blood! Well thank god for that!! Everyone seems to be on your team too, which is great. So good to have that resolved so quickly!
Re: Ear infection - now with blood! [quote author=Oberon link=topic=4318.msg52182#msg52182 date=1391509598] Well thank god for that!! Everyone seems to be on your team too, which is great. So good to have that resolved so quickly! [/quote] Yes - I have to say the co-ordination between the hydro, physio, vet and surgeon is now very smooth. Took me a bit of time and nagging to get that going ;D but it works now.
