Kelly_Louise Posted July 31, 2010 Share Posted July 31, 2010 For the last couple of weeks, Chloe has appeared to have problems with her ears. A vet visit firstly plucked out a fur ball (not surprisingly - she's malting enough for 10 dogs - it's everywhere!!) and an infection. She was given antibiotics and ear drops. After the first 2 weeks using these - she still seemed irritated by her ears. She was taken back, given another dose of antibiotics and more drops. She has finished the second course of antibiotics, and it was recommended to still keep using the drops because one ear was still very slightly irritated (but not infected). She is not shaking her head or holding her ears at weird angles anymore, and doesn't seem to be bothered by them - which is a good sign. The bad news is... she seems to be deaf now. Chloe is going on 13 years old early next year... and has always shown signs of 'selective hearing', but has never appeared to show any other signs of deafness and could hear the rustle of the beef liver bag from miles away. Now... all the things she once used to be OCD about (slamming doors, opening and shutting windows, the neighbours - which as soon as she heard would send her into a barking frenzy), now just doesn't seem to bother her. She doesn't seem to hear anyone coming anymore, and sometimes gets startled and is genuinely surprised. She used to hear my car in the driveway, but doesn't seem to anymore. She's just had her cushings re-tested - all is well. She appears in good health, has the energy of a pup (still demanding to go for 2 walks a day - even with her arthritic old legs), bounces around and is happy... but, it's time to admit... my girl is getting old. I feel so terribly sad. My question, however, is has anyone else had this experience or it happening so quickly? Could it be related to the infection in her ears? Maybe it will improve? Could ear infections damage hearing? Or working the other way, could she have been going deaf and maybe because it was strange she has irritated her ears to the point of infecting them? I guess I'm just hoping that it's not old age catching up on her. Although she has cushings, arthritis, grey face etc - she has never acted old, never seemed old. I don't want to have to face that I'm just that much closer to losing her... Thanks for letting me share. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peaches Posted July 31, 2010 Share Posted July 31, 2010 I had a similar experience years ago. The deafness came a few days after the eardrops started and was quite a dramatic change, far too dramatic to be coincidental. I later found out through research that it was the gentamycin in the eardrops that caused the deafness. I think vets should inform people that this can happen when they prescribe that type of (very common) eardrop. I now always insist on gentamycin free eardrops. I felt terrible knowing that the eardrops I inserted had caused this especially since he reacted very badly to them going in at the time so I'm sorry if this makes you feel the same way but at least you don't have to feel that it is another ageing sign. My dog was 12yrs at the time and lived until he was 15yrs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelly_Louise Posted July 31, 2010 Author Share Posted July 31, 2010 So maybe I should stop the current drops? I will definitely check what's in them... and if it could possibly be the drops - then yes they should definitely warn people. That's shocking, a dog relies so much on it's senses. Was the deafness even a little reversible after you stopped using them? (I'm wishful thinking here...). I too, feel that it's too much of a coincidence. Firstly, Chloe has never had any issues with her ears, nor her hearing (apart from it being selective), and it's happened at the exact same time we have started putting the drops in/ear complaints. I would feel awful if I thought we'd contributed - however, if you don't know it can't be helped. Goodness, Chloe has cost me in excess of $30k, so I know I've done the very best I can for her... but it is awful to think she may have lost one of her senses, and that it could be due to something we've done to try and help her. Thanks for that info - will do some more research. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hafhafa Hounds Posted July 31, 2010 Share Posted July 31, 2010 It's a terrible feeling when the realisation that your dogs is *old* hits. I live with 3 oldies, 2 middle aged and one youngster. The older dogs are 14/15/16 years two are deaf/going deaf. Some small tricks - when I want my dogs attention, clapping hands produces a much more dramatic result than yelling, hand signals can help a great deal and approaching from the front rather than behind helps too (and from the right front for Zoom, who's blind in the left eye as well!). Dogs get old. And they're never here quite long enough. But I have been saying that Sally (almost 17) is old for nearly 5 years now... so goes to show you they can go on for a while with all those symptoms of old age. Are you giving something for arthritis? Sonia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelly_Louise Posted July 31, 2010 Author Share Posted July 31, 2010 We were using Dermotic Ear & Skin Suspension for her ear issues. So far have not been able to find any link to it causing deafness - but will keep searching... just in case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelly_Louise Posted July 31, 2010 Author Share Posted July 31, 2010 It's a terrible feeling when the realisation that your dogs is *old* hits. I live with 3 oldies, 2 middle aged and one youngster. The older dogs are 14/15/16 years two are deaf/going deaf.Some small tricks - when I want my dogs attention, clapping hands produces a much more dramatic result than yelling, hand signals can help a great deal and approaching from the front rather than behind helps too (and from the right front for Zoom, who's blind in the left eye as well!). Dogs get old. And they're never here quite long enough. But I have been saying that Sally (almost 17) is old for nearly 5 years now... so goes to show you they can go on for a while with all those symptoms of old age. Are you giving something for arthritis? Sonia Thanks for the kind words and advice... I guess we're never ready for them getting old. Seems she was just a puppy not long ago... But it's just so coincidental to have happened now along with the ear infection. Regardless of why she has become deafer, we will need to put into place some things so that she doesn't get startled... last thing I want is her poor old heart giving out!!! Yes she takes Sasha's Blend daily, and has Previcox for her bad days - which are still only every now and then. But, for a dog that's had 2 knee operations and has mild elbow dysplasia... I have to say, you'd probably never tell if you saw her. She's more active than my 4 year old dog She's not as agile... but she'd beat any youngun' in a race if she had to!!! She IS old now, but she just doesn't seem like other old dogs (thank goodness). I guess we can take heart from that, and be thankful she is as healthy as possible otherwise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peaches Posted July 31, 2010 Share Posted July 31, 2010 Unfortunaltely the deafnesst was permanent for my dog but evidently it can be temporary for some dogs and some are just left hearing impaired. I haven't used the products that you mention so don't know what is in them. Chloe sounds like she's going really well for her age so hopefully she will have quite a few good years yet even if she is quite deaf. Good Luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pugmum Posted July 31, 2010 Share Posted July 31, 2010 I have had a very similar story with my boy's ears. Oatie is nearly 11yo, About a year ago we realised he could not hear, I was fairly certain that it had come on to him suddenly as he seemed quite disturbed by not being able to hear - it was'nt immediately noticable though as he was following the lead of the other dog, if she ran to the door so did he etc. He's apparently got narrow ear passages (or whatever they called it) so occasinaly has trouble with infections. When we took him to the vet he had a look and did some noise tests and determined Oatie was 100% deaf and there was nothing we could do about it. There was apparently no infection. I insisted on trying some drops and anti-biotics anyway. After the course of antibiotics I didn't know how long to use the dermotic drops (twice a day) so I htink I did it for about 3 weeks all up. He still could not hear. Then after a few days his ears dried out and his hearing returned. We were thrilled, and he was a happy boy again. Its since happened two more times. I took himto the vets to check for infection and they say 'no' there is none...i'm puzzled as to why it happenes though. I give him the drops anyway - I figure It cant hurt and may help....and it does. The last time was only a few weeks ago,I didn't bother going to the vet, I had a full dose of Baytril left over from my other dog so I gave it to Oatie along with the drops and he's hearing again. Its something I have to get a better answer for though. But as far as the Dermotic is concerned you do have to wait for it to dry out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelly_Louise Posted August 1, 2010 Author Share Posted August 1, 2010 Oh okay... well we were told to use them for another week, as there was still some irritation and redness, so will check her again after they have dried out. I did a bit of a test on her today... and while she has probably lost some hearing, she can still definitel hear. I tested her on things that she only reacts to when I say it, and at normal/lowish tone near her she could hear me. But when we were outside and she was further away, I had to say it louder a second time before she reacted. With the window, I did open it and it was pretty quiet and she didn't react, but when I jiggled the arm and it made a little bit of noise (not overly loud) she did start barking and carrying on like a pork chop as usual I've never really been so happy to see her being pork-choppy!! I still just can't believe she is almost 13 and just doesn't look or behave like an 'old' dog, even with her illnesses and injuries. Maybe no one's told her she's old Goodness I adore her though. I was looking at her in the sunshine today... I remember her as a puppy like it was yesterday... and she still has that devil glint in her eye. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelly_Louise Posted August 4, 2010 Author Share Posted August 4, 2010 But as far as the Dermotic is concerned you do have to wait for it to dry out. I think you were spoton Pugmum, since stopping the drops for a couple of days, Chloe's hearing seems to have improved Or maybe she just feels like listening now?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pugmum Posted August 4, 2010 Share Posted August 4, 2010 (edited) So pleased to hear that Chloes hearing has returned - no pun intended I had accepted that Oatie had gone deaf, but was immensley relieved when it turned out he wasn't. I still need to find some regimen for keeping him that way. ha ha - theres no accounting for selective deafness in them Edited August 4, 2010 by Pugmum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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