Bad bad ear infections :( - Poodle Forum - Standard Poodle, Toy Poodle, Miniature Poodle Forum ALL Poodle owners too!

CharismaticMillie · 07-20-2011, 03:27 PM

Millie and Tiger were both given meds for bacterial ear infections last week. Today they had their re-check appt. Unfortunately, Millie's ear infection has worsened, and her other ear is now infected.

Both of Tiger's ears were always infected, and have not improved. They both have ulcerations, redness, swelling and discharge.

The vet is wondering if possibly the ointment caused a reaction. He flushed their ears with water and is taking them off the ointment. On Monday, I bring them back in to have their ears cultured for whatever specific bacteria has developed. (Today there was nothing present under the microscope, as they were on the ointment).

I am bummed! I feel so bad. How did they get such bad infections? Why have they gotten worse?

I am seriously thinking of shaving Millie's ears to help her get some air circulating, especially with this terrible heat and humidity. Does anyone have photos of their poodle with clipped ears? I'd like to keep her in her Miami, so I am not sure if clipped ears would even look nice.

littlestitches · 07-20-2011, 04:09 PM

Do the vets do a culture before they prescribe an antibiotics? Since the infections are ongoing, could it be a strain that needs a different type of antibiotics? Can they also be bothered by thrush?

I know this is something completely different, but when my middle son was a baby, he had a terrible diaper rash that we just could not get rid of, after about a month, we finally got a prescription for a cream that was an antibiotic/antifungal and it had a steroid for the inflammation. Since the ear canals would be in a similar environment (minus the contents of the diaper), with the moisture and the dark. Perhaps she needs a combination medication.

Paula

CharismaticMillie · 07-20-2011, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by littlestitches

Do the vets do a culture before they prescribe an antibiotics? Since the infections are ongoing, could it be a strain that needs a different type of antibiotics? Can they also be bothered by thrush?

I know this is something completely different, but when my middle son was a baby, he had a terrible diaper rash that we just could not get rid of, after about a month, we finally got a prescription for a cream that was an antibiotic/antifungal and it had a steroid for the inflammation. Since the ear canals would be in a similar environment (minus the contents of the diaper), with the moisture and the dark. Perhaps she needs a combination medication.

Paula

They went to the vet last week and he swabbed the ear and looked under the microscope. Neither dog had yeast present but both had ulcerations in the ear and the presence of bacteria under the microscope. He prescribed an antibiotic/antifungal ointment and told me to come back in a week. He said that it was pretty odd that they both had identical ulcerations and bacterial ear infections with no yeast.

So, I brought them back and they have in fact worsened. Millie how has two infected ears instead of one. Well, Tiger's ulcerations have improved, but the ears are still nasty. He swabbed again and looked at both dogs' swabs under the microscope. There is no bacteria or yeast present in either ear! Now, this makes sense since they are on antibiotic ointment. Here's the weird thing - Millie's left ear, the newly infected ear, has NOT had any antibiotic/antifungal ointment put in it. Yet, it still showed no bacteria or yeast. Weird, huh?

So, I come back Monday (free of charge), 5 days after being taken off meds, and he will do a culture to see what specifically is happening. We need to wait because they have been on the antibiotic/antifungal ointment.

He gave them both Prednisone to reduce swelling and pain until Monday.

Something is bothering all 4 of those ears! Now I am wondering - could it be an allergy? What could they be allergic to? Millie eats a homemade raw diet. It is not likely that she is having an allergy as allergies to raw protein are extremely rare. She does not get any supplements aside from probiotics. She usually has very clear ears and never itches, sneezes or anything. Her eyes never water.

Tiger does eat kibble and pre-made raw, so an allergy is more possible, but...I just don't know. :(

Rowan · 07-20-2011, 04:22 PM

I feel your pain, CM! All of my rescues arrived with horrific ear infections, some bacterial and some yeast. Yuck.

The vet did a culture and for the bacterial, they were put on oral antibiotics and ear drops. For the yeast infection, just the ear drops (tresaderm--refrigerated).

Merlin's didn't clear up on the Tresaderm so the vet switched us to another drop. I highly recommend the Virbac Epi-Otic Advanced ear cleaner. Merlin's cleared up (but are still red from scratching), but I cleaned his ears with the Virbac and I think it helped. I cleaned them in the evenings before putting the drops in (didn't use the cleaner every day, mind you. More like once a week. You might be able to use it more often but ear cleaners always worry me)!

I hope that helps. Oh, and I've never had to shave the ears. Just fed home cooked and the infections never came back.

CharismaticMillie · 07-20-2011, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rowan

I feel your pain, CM! All of my rescues arrived with horrific ear infections, some bacterial and some yeast. Yuck.

The vet did a culture and for the bacterial, they were put on oral antibiotics and ear drops. For the yeast infection, just the ear drops (tresaderm--refrigerated).

Merlin's didn't clear up on the Tresaderm so the vet switched us to another drop. I highly recommend the Virbac Epi-Otic Advanced ear cleaner. Merlin's cleared up (but are still red from scratching), but I cleaned his ears with the Virbac and I think it helped. I cleaned them in the evenings before putting the drops in (didn't use the cleaner every day, mind you. More like once a week. You might be able to use it more often but ear cleaners always worry me)!

I hope that helps. Oh, and I've never had to shave the ears. Just fed home cooked and the infections never came back.

Millie eats a homemade diet too. I am not supposed to use any cleaners for her ear because of the ulcerations - he said it would be extremely painful. :( Once this is all cleared up - he suggested cleaning weekly with Epi-Otic or a 50/50 mixture of vinegar and alcohol.

Rowan · 07-20-2011, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChocolateMillie

Millie eats a homemade diet too. I am not supposed to use any cleaners for her ear because of the ulcerations - he said it would be extremely painful. :( Once this is all cleared up - he suggested cleaning weekly with Epi-Otic or a 50/50 mixture of vinegar and alcohol.

Ah, it looks like we posted at the exact same time.

Oh the poor pups. Ulcerations! That sounds horrible. I can't figure out what causes these infections to save my life. Alex got ONE and my vet thinks his ear got wet during a bath. It wasn't bad though and cleared up in less than a week on meds. I'm really careful to keep their ears dry during bathing but sometimes all it takes is a drop and the perfect environment. :(

This may sound weird, but I give mine the raw Apple Cider Vinegar in their food and they haven't had an infection since. Could it be a contact allergy of some kind? (But then you'd think they'd be licking their paws too.)

I'm anxious to hear what your vet says as this is a mystery.

CharismaticMillie · 07-20-2011, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rowan

This may sound weird, but I give mine the raw Apple Cider Vinegar in their food and they haven't had an infection since. Could it be a contact allergy of some kind? (But then you'd think they'd be licking their paws too.)

Henry's the only one around here who licks his paws and his ears are crystal clear.

Actually, I add some ACV into their food occasionally too. I started doing it everyday since they got these infections!

sandooch · 07-20-2011, 05:10 PM

I don't have anymore to add, but I just wanted to say that I hope they both feel better soon. Gigi had double ear infections a few months ago, so I, too, feel your pain.

truelovepoodles · 07-20-2011, 06:16 PM

I find the epi-otic lotion works great if used everyday for at least 10 days. But I agree it would really hurt to put into ulcerated ears.

I think that it probably has something to do with heat and humidity....I know you are the diligent sort....but just in case..did you clean and DRY Millie's ears after she was swimming?

I ended up shaving Misstarry's ears because she was having recurring ear infections. After using the epi-otic cleaner I would get it cleared up and then they would return. Since I have done this I find she has not had an infection and I have been super-soaking her from the pool almost everyday lately. If you want a nice long ear still to go with the Miami look...the Tasseled ear can look lovely.

Did you notice if Millies' ear canal is small? (a small opening) Misstarry has a tiny little opening and I think this traps humidity and moisture.

Also when you pull or pluck Millie's ears do you put a small amount of anti biotic ointment where you plucked because sometimes the plucked site can get infected.

CharismaticMillie · 07-20-2011, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by truelovepoodles

I find the epi-otic lotion works great if used everyday for at least 10 days. But I agree it would really hurt to put into ulcerated ears.

I think that it probably has something to do with heat and humidity....I know you are the diligent sort....but just in case..did you clean and DRY Millie's ears after she was swimming?

I ended up shaving Misstarry's ears because she was having recurring ear infections. After using the epi-otic cleaner I would get it cleared up and then they would return. Since I have done this I find she has not had an infection and I have been super-soaking her from the pool almost everyday lately. If you want a nice long ear still to go with the Miami look...the Tasseled ear can look lovely.

Did you notice if Millies' ear canal is small? (a small opening) Misstarry has a tiny little opening and I think this traps humidity and moisture.

Also when you pull or pluck Millie's ears do you put a small amount of anti biotic ointment where you plucked because sometimes the plucked site can get infected.

Her ear canal looks pretty normal. Yes, I did clean her ears after swimming. The vet told me that I should not use a cotton ball in her ear when I bathe her, that I should let some water and some get in there and rinse it out. Then, following with the vineger/water solution or Epi-Otic. I hesitate to use Epi-Otic with her because when she was a puppy it really irritated her ears once. I use it on the other dogs, though.

Her ear canal looks pretty normal. Tiger's ear canal is HUGE. Here's the thing, Tiger has never been swimming and he has the double infection too. So, I'm not sure that swimming really had anything to do with it. Again, he found NO bacteria or yeast in Millie's left ear, which is now infected/inflamed but has not been treated with any ointment. So, he said this should not be from the pond water unless there was something weird in the water that irritated her ears. But, again, Tiger never went swimming. So, who knows.

Honestly, I did pluck their ears a bit a few weeks ago and maybe this is how it all started. This is definitely one of my theories. Although, I used Dermachlor K Flush (antibacterial and antifungal flush) after I plucked and a tiny bit of Posatex in their ears, though, so I really don't know what is going on.

I do know that I probably won't be plucking Millie's ears anymore. The vet said he recommends not plucking when a dog is prone to infections because it can leave those little scratches that can get infected.