Every year, annual, one-year .... all mean annual boosters.

Yes, rabies can be one-year or three-year formulations.

Rabies vax are a legal issue. (You still don't do it while a dog is unwell.)

No other vax has a legal booster requirement (with the possible exception of inter-state or international travel).

Some training clubs, some other orgs might require such vax. The law does not.

ETA
https://www.dogster.com/answers/question/are_yearly_dog_vaccinations_really_necessary-25884






Edited by Connie Sutherland (03/31/2012 10:50 PM)
Edit reason: eta

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

Do you know how to flush ears and then apply the drops? There's a detailed protocol that involves no probing, no Q-tips, that you do outdoors or in the bathroom (a little messy when he shakes his head from the Flush).


Tell us the label info (what is it?) for the flush and the drops.

We used to use Otomaz drops with Davis earmed boracetic flush. Today we we went to pick the stuff up we got the Otomax drops but we got a different flush, VET solutions ear cleansing solution.

ingredients of our usual ear flush:

Oder neutralizing agents
boric acid
acetic acid
aloe vera
lan-aqua-sol
proplyene glycol
cosmetic grade dye
phospholopid complex
ethanol
purified water


new one:

10% SD-alcohol 40-2
1.76% lactic acid
1.1% dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate
.15% benzoic acid
.1% salicylic acid
Aloe Vera

I did not question why they were different brands at all because I assumed my Father would of made it clear that Gunner had chronic yeast infections in both ears and needed more than just an occasional cleaner. But now looking at the ingredients I hope we did not get something we did not need. I think from now own I need to do the talking myself or else nothing gets accomplished LOL!

The Vet told use to clean his ears with paper towels but that did nothing. One day I decided to use q-tips instead and it was MUCH better, why do you say no q-tips? I know where not to poke and not to shove it down his ear. I always use a flashlight that I hold with my teeth so I can use both hands.

According to the intructions we liberally apply it to his ears, massage it, then clean. Then we dry his ears out and apply 8 drops of the Otomax. I do this twice daily. one on the morning and one at night, need to do his right now actually.

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

 Quote: Caitlin Beaumont

My mom said he would be put to sleep and they go deep in his ears with something. But at his age who knows if he would even survive it.

With what? Is the vet saying he needs cleaning under general anesthesia?

General anesthesia has come a LONG way. My seniors dogs (including the flat-face one) have had G/A dental workups with zero problem, with the anesthesia they have these days.

But is that what he was talking about?

Yes anesthesia. My mother was not very clear. She just told me they put him under, and clean his ears out somehow, there is a chance it might not work, and it costs $500.

 Quote: Caitlin Beaumont

The Vet told use to clean his ears with paper towels but that did nothing. One day I decided to use q-tips instead and it was MUCH better, why do you say no q-tips? I know where not to poke and not to shove it down his ear. I always use a flashlight that I hold with my teeth so I can use both hands.

According to the intructions we liberally apply it to his ears, massage it, then clean. Then we dry his ears out and apply 8 drops of the Otomax. I do this twice daily. one on the morning and one at night, need to do his right now actually.

The vet is right. If done properly, no probing is needed.

Go to the bathroom (even have the dog inside the tub) for this.

Squirt the flush in and fold the flap down. Massage gently but thoroughly with the flap down (hear it squish around). Now let go and stand back. The dog will shake his head vigorously and the debris will have moved towards the outer edges of the flap, away from the canal. Wipe it towards the edge and off with a soft cloth. Now look and see if there is a pathway for the drops. If not, repeat.

Now the other ear.

Now the drops. Shake the liquid down into the long tip first so you are not blowing air in at first. Apply the drops without touching the plastic tip to any remaining debris. Now again fold down the flap and gently massage the ear.

 Quote: Caitlin Beaumont

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

 Quote: Caitlin Beaumont

My mom said he would be put to sleep and they go deep in his ears with something. But at his age who knows if he would even survive it.

With what? Is the vet saying he needs cleaning under general anesthesia?

General anesthesia has come a LONG way. My seniors dogs (including the flat-face one) have had G/A dental workups with zero problem, with the anesthesia they have these days.

But is that what he was talking about?

Yes anesthesia. My mother was not very clear. She just told me they put him under, and clean his ears out somehow, there is a chance it might not work, and it costs $500.

Well, you can get more detail at the visit in two weeks.

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

 Quote: Caitlin Beaumont

The Vet told use to clean his ears with paper towels but that did nothing. One day I decided to use q-tips instead and it was MUCH better, why do you say no q-tips? I know where not to poke and not to shove it down his ear. I always use a flashlight that I hold with my teeth so I can use both hands.

According to the intructions we liberally apply it to his ears, massage it, then clean. Then we dry his ears out and apply 8 drops of the Otomax. I do this twice daily. one on the morning and one at night, need to do his right now actually.

The vet is right. If done properly, no probing is needed.

Go to the bathroom (even have the dog inside the tub) for this.

Squirt the flush in and fold the flap down. Massage gently but thoroughly with the flap down (hear it squish around). Now let go and stand back. The dog will shake his head vigorously and the debris will have moved towards the outer edges of the flap, away from the canal. Wipe it towards the edge and off with a soft cloth. Now look and see if there is a pathway for the drops. If not, repeat.

Now the other ear.

Now the drops. Shake the liquid down into the long tip first so you are not blowing air in at first. Apply the drops without touching the plastic tip to any remaining debris. Now again fold down the flap and gently massage the ear.

Yep that is exaclty what I have been doing, except the tub Lol. I will make sure to shake the liquid down the Otomax next time. And about the bumps on the Ear Cleaning thread I will post a pic up about it and his bumps in a few moments.

Another question I have is the types of vaccines. It showed that there are killed viruses and other types... Which one is the safest?

 Quote: Caitlin Beaumont

.... It showed that there are killed viruses and other types... Which one is the safest?

"It showed" .... what is "it"? What are you looking at?

Rabies vax are killed/Inactivated vaccines.

If you mean other vax, there are two (or more!) sides to the issue, and it's complicated. For example, distemper vax can be modified live vaccine, killed vaccine, and recombinant.

But for a dog of this one's age, who has had many annual boosters, the rabies vax is the only one I personally would be allowing for my senior dog (barring certain geographical or lifestyle factors).

The Q-tips are fine, just have to be careful not to pack ear wax down into the ear, and you have to be gentle. For a chronically infected swollen ear, Q-tips can be a little dangerous, the cotton head can come off inside the folds.
Ears don't have to be all cleaned up in one sitting --- take it a little bit at a time, as much as the dog will stand--- over a few days as healing begins there will be less "crud" in the ear, the swelling will begin to go down. As the redness gets less you can do a little better job, the dog will let you do more if you don't hurt him on day 1. Give plenty of treats!

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

 Quote: Caitlin Beaumont

.... It showed that there are killed viruses and other types... Which one is the safest?

"It showed" .... what is "it"? What are you looking at?

Rabies vax are killed/Inactivated vaccines.

If you mean other vax, there are two (or more!) sides to the issue, and it's complicated. For example, distemper vax can be modified live vaccine, killed vaccine, and recombinant.

But for a dog of this one's age, who has had many annual boosters, the rabies vax is the only one I personally would be allowing for my senior dog (barring certain geographical or lifestyle factors).

Oh...the information was on a link you gave me or another website was looking at myself. If it was not on one of your links you gave me I don't know how to find it again.