[Aidan]

Dodger I believe is about 2 years old now, or a bit older. I have her akc paperwork and such and could check to be sure once im back in town but i know she's at least 2.

 

[cbrand]

These type of ear infections are almost always food related. I'd take out all chicken products (chicken meal, poultry meal, poultry fat etc). It would not hurt to take grains out too (wheat, corn, rice, barley)

Also.... stop the excessive plucking. It is not necessary.

 

[WonderPup]

These type of ear infections are almost always food related. I'd take out all chicken products (chicken meal, poultry meal, poultry fat etc). It would not hurt to take grains out too (wheat, corn, rice, barley)

I heard from a vet a loooonng time ago, like when I ws 13 or 14 that chicken was the usual suspect so to speak in protein allergies. I think I saaw it on TV once too. Is that true then? (I dont feel like researching just now, just curious on opinions)
Saleen has been on chicken and rice formuals on various foods since we got her. Jazz was on pedigree when we adopted her which I am pretty sure has chicken in it... somewhere past all the corn on the lable. We put everyone on lamb and rice and then couldn't get the blue lamb and rice reliably so chicken it was... I would assume Jazz doesn't have any type of food allergies since she was in decent health on pedigree but Saleen I wonder about. Come to think of it I don't think the tibbies have ever been on a chicken based food (except when we were feeding raw) in their lives until this year when we took them off the Solid gold, which I believe was bison if memory serves. I have trouble buying the food allergy = ear issue in my household since Jazz never had them before we got Saleen and neither did the tibbies. It didn't start until the summer and with the tibs it was just two months ago with the ear cleaning drama. It's an interesting concept though... I can switch within the same brand of food I am using now to Lamb. I think a little experimenting is on the way I'm having a problem with itchy skin all of a sudden too and haven't nailed down the cause just yet. We DO have a corn allergy in the house (howie and wonder both) so we check and double check lables for corn in any form and avoid those foods.

 

[Spencer]

You have to be careful about getting lamb stuff too. ProblemChild is allergic to lamb and boy does it give him some smelly toots and he has to go the bathroom ALL THE TIME. The vet told us that a LOT of dogs are allergic to lamb as well as chicken. Sure enough, as soon as we took him off of the lamb, he was back to normal.

Our vet said that she feeds raw (beef), or if she has to feed kibble, she buys "wild" stuff like eukanuba and a few other brands have out right now that are duck or venison/etc. Wild stuff that if a dog were on it's own, it might variably eat. (Which I believe. TheGrey caught a bird mid-swoop and was very unhappy he wasn't allowed to eat it!)

 

[taxtell]

I know I'll probably get flamed for suggesting this, but I've done this with both my cav and my grey with great success...I really like the laboratory food panel.


It is basically bloodwork to determine what your dog is allergic to (foodwise), and recommendation on what to feed.

My poor old grey was allergic to so much stuff, and when I cut it out of her diet, she did perfectly.

My little cav is allergic to less, but sadly I was feeding him a kibble that had one of the allergens, I swapped him to Orijen and he's doing great. It doesn't have the protein source that was bothering him. His ears and eyes look great.

 

[Lovedbypoodles]

Ho! I'm so sorry to hear that you are fighting ear infcts. I use an all natural ear oil called "wallys ear oil" it's for humans but you can use it on dogs. I use it after they get into water and at least once a week. I've treated friends dogs who battle infections and it works like a charm. Although, I don't pluck, I trim the ear canal hair of it's not too bad.
The plucked hair leaves an open pore waiting for infection. That's my experience though. And when I do pluck the ear, I use the oil.

Also, for her allergies I reccomend using raw all natural red cider vinegar. I put in on my spoos backs in between their shoulder blades. It not only helps w flees but it helps with allergies. Sometimes if a dog has it bad you can put a tablespoon on it's food each day. It's a natural cleanser. Just be sure to get the raw all natural and unfiltered one.

Hope this helps.

 

[TinyPoodles]

Thanks! Yeah, I read that article about the blue powder and im going to go up to the pharmacy today. I believe i'll be able to find the first two ingredients the alcohol and boric acid powder but i've never heard of the third. I'll look though.

DROPS-GENTIAN VIOLET SOLUTION 1%
(AVAILABLE AT CVS & THRIFTY & SOME INDEPENDENTS)

If you ask the Pharmasist they will make some up for you.
That is what I did as they didn't carry it. Most often the smaller old time pharmacies will do this for you. for hoof and mouth treatment in the olden days.

 

[814]

I use the blue power as well on my cockapoo Harry, It was the only thing that cleared it up. I went to this after spending lots of bucks at the vet. Now I use it when ever I groom him and no more infections, I also switched him to a raw diet because of allergies. Ginger used to get infections when ever I pulled the hair in her ears so now I don't pull, I just clip as close as I can and no infections. If you have a dog with sores in his ears you can use Wichazel intead of alcohol, It doesn't sting. I have to say I swear by this stuff!!