I put out a post last week when Kasey was doing a lot of head shaking, and the vet said there was a wax plug up against his ear drum. She said we could try using Ottomax (an Rx drop used for yeast and bacterial infections) for 10 days - it is a very greasy thick liquid that also is sometimes useful to help break up the wax. After a few days Kasey's was worse and the inside of his ears were fire engine red.

I wrote the post because it was a Friday night and the vet was on vacation until Monday, and I was thinking about using some ear wash and trying to flush out the wax to speed things along. i wasn't sure whether it was a good idea or not. Some of us tossed around different ideas ranging from putting in olive oil, mineral oil, different 'homemade' solutions, etc. I opted for calling the vet that was on call. Glad I did.

Turns out he was allergic to the Ottomax and the stuff was actually 'burning' his ears. Which only made him shake his head more - poor thing!

But I'm writing this because if I would have done any of those things there would have been a risk of causing deafness. The wax was right up against that eardrum and using oils or some homemade treatments can help bacteria grow in there and that infection can lead to hearing loss. The vet (who is very conservative with procedures and drugs) said it is so tempting for people to try and self-treat ears to save money, but unless you know for sure what is going on in there, she has seem people rupture eardrums with ear washes, encourage yeast and bacteria growth, and even try to use q-tips to try and get the unknown problem cleared up.

We had to end up sedating Kasey today so they could go in and remove that wax. There was a small infection starting behind that wax, that she could not see until it was removed. So I just wanted to share how dangerous it is to try and treat ears without seeing a vet first to determine what's down there!

Our vet has Finn on MalAcetic Otic. It I think the vet said has boric acid in it. Doesnt hurt his ears at all and has I think a good smell. We use it every other day to break up the wax build up in his ears, or if goes swimming to help with the yeast.

At his first vet check up, his ears were red and slightly yeasty smelling. This stuff has worked out great so far. She said its even ok to use after his 14 days are up. I know he gets dirty ears very quickly. Spaniel thing I guess.



Edited by Mary McKeever (07/13/2010 11:30 PM)
Edit reason: typed the wrong word

 Quote: Lori Hall

So I just wanted to share how dangerous it is to try and treat ears without seeing a vet first to determine what's down there!

Good advice!

And, I hope your pup recovers totally from the whole incident.

leih

Great posts Lori and good follow up as well!
Wishing Kasey heals up fast!

Thank you, Lori, for posting this update to http://leerburg.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Board=134&Number=283921&Searchpage=1&Main=26728&Words=+Lori+Hall&topic=0&Search=true#Post283921


"But I'm writing this because if I would have done any of those things there would have been a risk of causing deafness. The wax was right up against that eardrum and using oils or some homemade treatments can help bacteria grow in there and that infection can lead to hearing loss. The vet (who is very conservative with procedures and drugs) said it is so tempting for people to try and self-treat ears to save money, but unless you know for sure what is going on in there, she has seem people rupture eardrums with ear washes, encourage yeast and bacteria growth, and even try to use q-tips to try and get the unknown problem cleared up.

We had to end up sedating Kasey today so they could go in and remove that wax. There was a small infection starting behind that wax, that she could not see until it was removed. So I just wanted to share how dangerous it is to try and treat ears without seeing a vet first to determine what's down there!"



I've adopted one and fostered one who were both deaf after (I imagine well-intentioned) "home treatment" of ear issues that needed a vet. The pain alone of an inner ear infection or a foreign object that needs antibiotics and/or a procedure under sedation makes me cringe.

I'm so glad you got someone on the weekend who gave you such good advice.