[Senna]

Hello!

My dog is a 95lb mix and after our recent lake trip he developed an ear infection consistent with bacterial infection. Shaking his head, walking with his head bent, (TMI)smelly ear, coffee ground looking flaky skin, itching and he licks his front paw to get it wet to scratch his poor ear

Vet check is out right now, having said that I have read up on quite a few home solutions...vinegar/alcohol, and OTC drops from the vet office. This is the first time he's ever had one, and he's 7.

Could you please give me any advice, and again the vet is not an option right now so please do go gentle on me for that...I"m asking for home remedy help not about being a bad dog mom Thank you in advance!!!:huddle:

 

[Dawnben]

Hello!

Could you please give me any advice, and again the vet is not an option right now so please do go gentle on me for that...I"m asking for home remedy help not about being a bad dog mom Thank you in advance!!!:huddle:

This worked better than anything the vet ever gave me.
Recalitol | Same active ingredients as Pellitol
You simply fill the ear canal and wait 7 days check and if not healed do a second time. This is the article that talks about it in detail under Treating infections
Chronic Ear Infections in Canine - Whole Dog Journal Article

 

[marbear]

Have you called the vet just to see? I had a dog that had chronic ear infections from allergies and the vet let me just come when I needed and pick up baytril otic for his ears. I think the medicine was $13? It was very inexpensive and I think a bottle would last for 2 infections but I can't be sure about that....it was a few years ago we went through all that. Regular cleaning will help if you can remember it. Anyway, just call and ask. They may shoot you down but you might be pleasantly surprised. Worth a shot. Those ear infections are very painful.

 

[ruthcatrin]

No alcohal.

Call the vet and ask, worst that happens is they say no way.

 

[awp]

Excellent idea, marbear.

There are quite a few remedies for ear infections...some of them even have antifungal and antibacterial properties. Clove and garlic oils and vinegars come to mind, but unfortunately, while they can be an effective part of prevention they are not very effective at curing existing infections. They can beat the infections back just enough so that it seems cured but becomes a recurring issue. They are especially less effective once the infection has really taken hold. The only sure cure is antibiotic /antifungal medicine.

A little FYI...the recalitol will require a scrpipt from your vet. I had looked into it's sister ointment, pellitol. It wasn't for an ear infection, though. Our dog jumped of a 5"+ rock wall and cut her chin pretty decently while we were away on vacation. With all the lake swimming and stuff, plus it seemed to be hurting a bit, i wanted to treat it. The pellitol wasn't available but I found the recalitol. Only...the information on that wasnt available. The pellitol info said it was for minor wound protection with pain/irritation relief as well as inflammation of the outer ear canal. The active ingredients between them compared the same. Recalitol 's were listed on a buy-on-line vet pharmacy site and pellitol's were listed on drugs.com. I ended up using neosporin w/out pain relief just to help keep infection out. Thankfully all was well. I would never put neo in her ear canal to cure an infection.

Good luck...try marbears idea first...it can't hurt.

Oh!...warm compresses on the ear may help with the pain in the meantime.

 

[LynneMarie]

I use Epi Otic to clean and dry out the ear. You do have to get it from a vet, but it is over the counter no appointment just walk in..Might be good to call first to make sure they carry it. Not expensive either.

Has he had other ear infections recently?

 

[Senna]

A good update...

:huddle:Thanks everyone

I am in a small town but surprisingly we have 2 veterinary offices :thumbsup: I went to my usual one first, they made me feel just awful about being a bad dog mom and not bringing him in. They did not answer many questions and I left feeling pretty bummed.

So, I thought I may as well get it over with and went to vet office #2...they were VERY helpful! I had done a fair bit of research prior to this and the vet tech was happy I could answer HER questions too

She gave me a bottle of OTC ear drops...it's VERY thick and green and smells like mint, it was under $7 and a promise to come in if it's not any better after the weekend. She was very understanding, made me feel much better about not being that bad of a dog mom, and was very knowledgeable and helpful.

I was there for over half an hour with her, she was so patient with all my questions, and we talked a bit about his hips and leg as he has arthritic hips and tore his cruciate ligament last year. My poor dog, he's been through a lot. She really put me at ease. I'm a strong person but when it comes to my dog, I can be a blubbering mess if he's hurt. He's my dog! I'm his protector as best I can be.

Whomever said diamonds were a girls best friend didn't own a dog

 

[LynneMarie]

Whomever said diamonds were a girls best friend didn't own a dog

You got that right.....Glad you found the help needed..

 

[Holly]

Glad you got some help.

This is consistent with a yeast ear infection probably, not bacterial...

And, the licking of the front foot may be just related to the ear with regards to rubbing, but I suspect there may be an underlying food allergy brewing too...

 

[marbear]

I think you know what vet to use in the future!

I am glad they helped you. I think they understand times get tough and it shows they care more about your animal's health than money. That's what I love about my vet...they paid my dog's cremation without me even asking because they said I had spent so much money on his cancer then they donated money in his honor to the state vet assosiation for education. Love them.

 

[awp]

Our vets seems happier to see our dog than the pediatritian is to see the kids.

 

[Senna]

I think they understand times get tough and it shows they care more about your animal's health than money.

That is exactly right

He's doing much better. I know it's not going to heal overnight, but that green goo was awful...kept his ear way too moist so we are doing just vinegar/water. He is much more receptive to me touching his ear with this and it is much drier, less red looking, and he's not trying to fuss with it near as much.

Ugh...I can feel my hair turn grey sometimes