Ear Infections With Dogs

[anthro-nerd]

My poor lil pooch has got an ear infection, for the first time. On doing some research I found that ear infections are often caused by food allergies, as a build up in yeast affects the balance in their ears. This was news to me, but I had bought him some new biscuits, so maybe that will be the cause? In the meantime it's antibiotic ear drops, poor thing! Did anyone else know about the allergies thing? And how often do you clean your dog's ears? (I was never told to but apparently I should have been!) Thanks :-)

[Sqad]

Yes.....the commonest cause of ear infections in dogs is .."allergy".
I am not sure that it is a food allergy but more of a contact or atopic dermatitis, due probably to the hairy ear canals.
This type needs treating with steroid drops combined with antifungal agents and this should clear up most ear problems.
Of course, there are many other causes of otitis externa ( ear infections) in dogs, but "allergy" is one of the commonest.
I am not sure that new dog biscuits has anything to do wity your dog's problem.

[anthro-nerd]

Squad, thanks, that's very helpful. Everywhere I read said that it would likely be a food allergy... nothing else in his lifestyle has changed bar the biscuits, of which he was getting 2-3 a day. No new cleaning products, no new shampoos or detergents... it's been a mystery and I just want to do everything I can to prevent him getting another. The vet did mention his hairy little ears too and I've been removing the hair inside as he showed me.

[anthro-nerd]

*Sqad! Not squad, very sorry!

[woofgang]

yes, food allergy showing in ears is common and often overlooked. My boy had dreadful ears when he was around 2, totally out of the blue. They were so bad he had to have a clean under GA. Vet (who I know well) said they were so bad they would have involved the RSPCA if they hadn't known me and known that I have been in and out to them dealing with the problem. Sorry but I don't think the antibio eardrops will help as the issue will be fungal. It might be the new biscuits but it might not. What sorted it for my boy was removing all pork duck and dairy from his diet and this includes any food, dog or human that does not list the actual ingredients on the packet.....To sort the inflammation in the ears......allergy causes inflammation, inflammation prevents ears drying so nice hot damp ear = fungal infection.....I used cortavance spray, you have to spray a little on the earflap, not into the ear, or spray a little into a tiny pot and drip it on the earlap so a tiny bit trickles into the ear. Its on prescription, talk to your vet. best and hardest thing with diet is to do an elimination diet, cook for the dog yourself, one carb and one new protein. If the inflammation subsides, then its likely a food thing give dog a month (six weeks is better) on elimination foods then gradually add back ingredients one at a time NO mixed foods or food that say things like "animal derivatives" without saying which animal. phew......shout if you want any more drivel :)

[anthro-nerd]

Woofgang, thank you so much. Yes, I've removed everything except his kibble - he's been on this for months and months with no issues so I feel that this is causing the problem.

The ear drops so far do seem to have helped a lot, after 3 days it's already looking a lot less sore and inflamed, he has a follow up appointment in a week with the vet so I'm hoping he'll be as a good as new by then if things keep going the way they are! We have also been given a cleaning solution that I need to do every other day whilst he's on the ear drops, and then twice monthly in both ears after that.

I really appreciate you taking the time to answer, thank you so much. It's so sad when they're not well.

[anthro-nerd]

*feel that this ISN'T causing the problem.

[woofgang]

Not to worry you but it may be the kibble......my dog had been eating pork and dairy for 2 years...from 8 weeks old when we got him and suddenly became allergic....its the same experience as when I got hay fever, out of the blue aged around 22....Do keep him on the kibble but be prepared to do the elim. diet if his ears don't clear up.

[anthro-nerd]

Woof, noted. And again, thank you so much for taking the time to answer :-) I'll keep a close eye on him. I guess if I just keep him on the kibble and there's no improvement then I know for sure that it's that. I checked over lunch and the kibble he has doesnt have any dairy etc. Can I ask what you feed your pooches?

It's this: https://www.jollyes.co.uk/jollyes-lifestage-adult-dog-lamb-12kg.html

[woofgang]

Mine get wafcol fish and potato plus meat and veg. Chews and treats used to come from zooplus where you are told which meat they are made from. Increasingly the more expensive packets of treats list ingredients as well. My dog in now 11 and can tolerate things like bonios now as well as small amounts of milk but until he was around 5 it was no let up vigilance. He used to have Royal Canin allergy support and did well on it until they changed the protein from fish to duck.....that's how we found out he was allergic to duck!

[woofgang]

PS its lovely to see more kibbles with a full ingredients list now....when my boy was bad with the ears, most dog foods would just list "meat and animal derivatives" I spent time emailing manufacturers to find out which of their treats had pork or dairy in....most were amazingly helpful when I explained why.

[anthro-nerd]

Woof, I see. I've heard good things about the food my boy is on, there's no nasties in it and a lot of my friends dogs have it too. But of course, every dog is different. Willis' ear is looking MUCH better today after just 3 days on the eardrops, so maybe they were fungal and not antibio like I thought, I assumed they were antibio... All in all, things are looking up I think! I'll keep a close eye on what he eats to avoid it reoccurring. And well done you on being so vigilant with your pooch, he's clearly very lucky to have you!

[woofgang]

I am so glad to hear he's improving....I think they do it to worry us!

[anthro-nerd]

Agreed!!!