Continually Scratching Shih Tzu/Poodle Cross Part 2 (Update on previous log)

[denby04]

I took Lucy for her annual booster jab today and mentioned the excessive chin scratching. He asked if she was shaking her head and I said yes, plus she rubbed her head in the lawn. He said it could be an allergy but on checking her ears he said they were quite inflamed. So it was an injection to help with an "external or internal" invasions (pollen, bugs, food etc.,), ear drops but no booster jab today. So, the pet owner whose vet has a nice boat it was £38.30 (£19.34 consultation, £10.43 Ear Drops, £6.32 for the injection, £2.71 worming tablet less a massive 50p discount and £5.77 VAT)'. The booster will be around £21.00 and she needs microchipping at another £21.00. So £80 in total. I'm still concerned about what he said about the possible allergy. Don't get me wrong as she is worth every penny and I felt awful that she has suffered for a few days because of her ears. Lucy is insured but I am now also setting up a monthly saving account just in case. Future pet owners on a small budget please be aware.

[lankeela]

I think that is very reasonable. Some vets charge over £25 just to walk through the door. But when you think about it, we do expect them to have all the latest equipment and be on call 24 hours a day, plus have an infinite knowledge of what is wrong with our pets. At least he did not insist on blood tests, which a lot seem to do these days for anything and everything. Very pleased to hear he would not vaccinate at the same time. Sounds like you have got a good one there.

[denby04]

24 hours later. Lucy is still scratching but I calculate 80% less than what she was although I am having trouble trying to prescribe the ear drops. Currently she is cleaning "teddy" - phantom pregnancy number 2.
Lankeela, thank you for your comment. Strangely enough the 10 yr old dog owner in the waiting room was waiting results of a blood test!!! Booster for Lucy booked for this Friday. Oh, forgot to add another £26 for grooming (wash, trim, nails).

[woofgang]

My boy (one of, I have two brothers) has ears problems caused by allergy...called atopy. Our vet thinks its probably dietary but as we take him for runs in the new forest, where nourishment of various sources abounds, a true exclusion diet is just about impossible. We have been using oral steroid, (prednidale) but the side effects made him so miserable that we are now using atopical cortisone spray called cortavance. My boy is quite blase about ear care now provided it is me who does it but if you are having problems, two things that have worked for me are as follows. they are both a bit messy and more wasteful of product than dripping in but they might work if dripping in doesn't.
If the drops are thin, measure them into a very small cap (eg off a small bottle but washed well) and tip the drops into the ear, i don't know why this works but it seems too. For the thicker drops I put on a disposable glove and dispense the drops onto my finger then rub the finger around the ear. You need short short nails if you do this as even through a glove, a long nail can catch a sore ear.