Seconary Ear Infection In 13 Yo Dog

[Baileys mum]

Hi guys, my 13yo Aussie terrier x has suffered from ear problems for several years now. We have taken her to the vets many times & the vet just keeps diagnosing a yeast infection & that the only thing that they can do for her is treat with ear drops. So they have just givin us dermotic ear drops to treat her, which helps for a while but then it just comes back.Jessie has also had a couple of grass seeds removed from her ear in the last couple of years too.

Well my OH had to once again take her to the vet yesterday as her ear seems to be getting worst & she looks to be really uncomfortable & in pain, constantly scratching it & also crying at times too. (She also seems to be going deaf in that ear too. )

So From what my husband can understand from the vets diagnosis yesterday is that the yeast infection has now turned into a secondary ear infection & that her ear has polyps growing inside the ear canal too.

The vet said the only thing that can be done for her now is surgery to remove her ear canal, & that we have to be referred to a specialist for this. (The vet is getting back to us tomorrow with the referral.)

Our vet said that if we want to,we could also take her to Werribee animal hospital & they could also do the procedure there.

Our vet has told us that other than her ear problem & a little bit of arthritis in one of her back legs she is in pretty good health for her age, but if we don't get this precedure done she will surely suffer & most likely die, so we are definately going to go through with the surgery.

I was just wondering if anyone has had this problem with their dog & has had to have this procedure & if everything went ok.?

I'm just feeling a little worried about her getting surgery because of her age.(Just wan't to know how big the OP is & if anyone can give me some reassurance)

Also would we be better of going to the specialist that the vet refers us to? or should we just take her to Werribee? (I haven't had any dealings with Werribee, so not sure what they are like)

The vet has also given her a 10 day course of cortisone (Prednisolone 5mg ) to give to her, after this course she should be right for the OP.

Thanks guys any Info on this condition & operation would be really appreciated.

Nicole

Edited January 6, 2011 by Baileys mum

[Anissa Goemann]

Hi Nicole,

oh what a nightmare!

What are you feeding your pup and when did she get her last vaccination/worm treatment/spot on?

These kind of ear infections come from a low immune system and by removing the polyps this won't change and she most likely will get yeast infections again. The best preventative thing would be to feed a raw, natural diet and don't vaccinate.

Why did your vet give cortisone (anti inflammatory) if she has an infection? At least she should get antibiotics with it.

If your dog is fit I wouldn't be too worried about surgery. My Westhighland Terrier girl needed emergency surgery when she was 14,5 yo and did just fine.

If she get's painkillers try to stay away from opiates (Tramal) if you can.

My advice would be a classical homoeopathic treatment but dunno if you have any practitioners in your area...

Good luck,

Anissa

[persephone]

I think I would be taking her to Werribee for a second opinion, anyway Don't panic yet- get someone there to do an examination..give them ALL her history, including recently prescribed drugs... and then make your decisions.

[Baileys mum]

Hi Nicole,

oh what a nightmare!

What are you feeding your pup and when did she get her last vaccination/worm treatment/spot on?

These kind of ear infections come from a low immune system and by removing the polyps this won't change and she most likely will get yeast infections again. The best preventative thing would be to feed a raw, natural diet and don't vaccinate.

Why did your vet give cortisone (anti inflammatory) if she has an infection? At least she should get antibiotics with it.

If your dog is fit I wouldn't be too worried about surgery. My Westhighland Terrier girl needed emergency surgery when she was 14,5 yo and did just fine.

If she get's painkillers try to stay away from opiates (Tramal) if you can.

My advice would be a classical homoeopathic treatment but dunno if you have any practitioners in your area...

Good luck,

Anissa

Hi Anissa,Thanks for your post

We treat Jessie with Advocate monthly & she gets vaccinated every 3 years.

She's fed a combination of Dry food (Advance ) & raw.

Yeah I was confused why the vet didn't prescribe antibiotics aswell , & wondered why the need for the cortisone,

(vet told my hubby it was to treat the inflammation)

The vet also said that Polyps won't grow back if the ear canal is removed, (which is what she is getting the surgery for)

Not to sure about the homoeopathic treatment, I will have to look into it.

Thank you for your advice.

[Baileys mum]

I think I would be taking her to Werribee for a second opinion, anyway Don't panic yet- get someone there to do an examination..give them ALL her history, including recently prescribed drugs... and then make your decisions.

Yes that's what my Hubby said last night that we should get her looked at by the vets at Werribee & see what they think before proceeding.

I think that might be the best option at this stage.

[Guest Ams]

The vet is advising total removal of the ear canal not just removal of the polyps. It must be pretty bad for them to be suggesting this. It is surgery that only a specialist should perform as it is difficult surgery and not something the average vet would deal with. The cortisone would mostly be to help reduce the inflammation in the ear canal caused by the infection.

The removal of the whole ear canal will mean no more polyps = no more pain. The downside is with no ear canal obviously the dog will be deaf in that ear.

Get the specialist opinion and if they say it is the best option then go for it. If your dog is healthy otherwise then being deaf in one ear won't change his quality of life.

[Baileys mum]

The vet is advising total removal of the ear canal not just removal of the polyps. It must be pretty bad for them to be suggesting this. It is surgery that only a specialist should perform as it is difficult surgery and not something the average vet would deal with. The cortisone would mostly be to help reduce the inflammation in the ear canal caused by the infection.

The removal of the whole ear canal will mean no more polyps = no more pain. The downside is with no ear canal obviously the dog will be deaf in that ear.

Get the specialist opinion and if they say it is the best option then go for it. If your dog is healthy otherwise then being deaf in one ear won't change his quality of life.

Thanks Ams, that's exactly what the vet explained to my hubby, I don't mind (& I don't think Jessie will care) if she has no hearing from that ear, aslong as it means no more pain & suffering, I think it's the best option for her at this stage.

[Anissa Goemann]

Hi Anissa,Thanks for your post

We treat Jessie with Advocate monthly & she gets vaccinated every 3 years.

She's fed a combination of Dry food (Advance ) & raw.

Yeah I was confused why the vet didn't prescribe antibiotics aswell , & wondered why the need for the cortisone,

(vet told my hubby it was to treat the inflammation)

The vet also said that Polyps won't grow back if the ear canal is removed, (which is what she is getting the surgery for)

Not to sure about the homoeopathic treatment, I will have to look into it.

Thank you for your advice. :D

Hi Nicole,

I personally would not give the advocate on a monthly basis as this is weakening the immune system every time. When was her last vaccination. It's ver common to get these type of problems after a vaccination, that's why I ask.

I would also stay clear of carbohydrates as much as possible. A meal of protein & fat and just a bit of veggies is much better for dogs that seem to have trouble with Mallassezia.

And just a thought on the side: since this seems to be such an ongoing problem with those yeast infections, has your vet ever checked the thyroid? This kind of trouble sometimes come from a malfunction of the thyroid.

The cortisone is will reduce any swelling but I would have guessed that an antibiotic would be needed, too.

But maybe also get a second opinion. I find the idea of having the whole ear canal removed quite scary.

Cheers, Anissa

[Baileys mum]

Hi Anissa,Thanks for your post

We treat Jessie with Advocate monthly & she gets vaccinated every 3 years.

She's fed a combination of Dry food (Advance ) & raw.

Yeah I was confused why the vet didn't prescribe antibiotics aswell , & wondered why the need for the cortisone,

(vet told my hubby it was to treat the inflammation)

The vet also said that Polyps won't grow back if the ear canal is removed, (which is what she is getting the surgery for)

Not to sure about the homoeopathic treatment, I will have to look into it.

Thank you for your advice. :D

Hi Nicole,

I personally would not give the advocate on a monthly basis as this is weakening the immune system every time. When was her last vaccination. It's ver common to get these type of problems after a vaccination, that's why I ask.

I would also stay clear of carbohydrates as much as possible. A meal of protein & fat and just a bit of veggies is much better for dogs that seem to have trouble with Mallassezia.

And just a thought on the side: since this seems to be such an ongoing problem with those yeast infections, has your vet ever checked the thyroid? This kind of trouble sometimes come from a malfunction of the thyroid.

The cortisone is will reduce any swelling but I would have guessed that an antibiotic would be needed, too.

But maybe also get a second opinion. I find the idea of having the whole ear canal removed quite scary.

Cheers, Anissa

Thanks Anissa for your advice

Jessie's last vaccination was about 18 months ago, however she has had this ear problem for years now, not just since she was vaccinated.

We will look at cutting the carbs out of her diet & we will be getting her checked at Werribee, so we'll mention getting her thyroid looked at too.

Thank you

Nicole

[Anissa Goemann]

Thanks Anissa for your advice

Jessie's last vaccination was about 18 months ago, however she has had this ear problem for years now, not just since she was vaccinated.

We will look at cutting the carbs out of her diet & we will be getting her checked at Werribee, so we'll mention getting her thyroid looked at too.

Thank you :D

Nicole

You wrote that earlier that she had it for quite some time now. I just thought that maybe the latest reaction was linked to a vaccination.

We call it "ear career" in Germany. Quite an upsetting thing for dog and owner. It's like a cicle: bad ear - ear drops - better - stop ear drop - bad ear and back to start!

Hope it'll be solved soon for your doggie!

Cheers, Anissa

[Baileys mum]

Thanks Anissa for your advice :D

Jessie's last vaccination was about 18 months ago, however she has had this ear problem for years now, not just since she was vaccinated.

We will look at cutting the carbs out of her diet & we will be getting her checked at Werribee, so we'll mention getting her thyroid looked at too.

Thank you

Nicole

You wrote that earlier that she had it for quite some time now. I just thought that maybe the latest reaction was linked to a vaccination.

We call it "ear career" in Germany. Quite an upsetting thing for dog and owner. It's like a cicle: bad ear - ear drops - better - stop ear drop - bad ear and back to start!

Hope it'll be solved soon for your doggie!

Cheers, Anissa

Yep that's exactly whats it like Anissa, & when she first got it about 4 years ago, the vet told us at the time that she will probably never truely be cured of it,& that it will keep coming back.

It's been pretty distressing for both us & Jessie.

[Guest Ams]

Antibiotics don't seem to have a useful effect when the yeast infection is in their ears. The dermotic is a topical steriod which is used in the ears to treat. It's not like a normal "infection" and you can't administer AB's via the ear canal.

I'm curious as to whether the vet has only ever prescribed Surolan/dermotic or whether they've tried Otomax or Topigen (both of these are far more potent). I have one shar pei girl here who needs to go on Otomax about twice a year for 10 days when she flares up and the standard dermotic drops don't work.

[Baileys mum]

Antibiotics don't seem to have a useful effect when the yeast infection is in their ears. The dermotic is a topical steriod which is used in the ears to treat. It's not like a normal "infection" and you can't administer AB's via the ear canal.

I'm curious as to whether the vet has only ever prescribed Surolan/dermotic or whether they've tried Otomax or Topigen (both of these are far more potent). I have one shar pei girl here who needs to go on Otomax about twice a year for 10 days when she flares up and the standard dermotic drops don't work.

I'm pretty sure the vet has given her Topigen in the past, It certainly rings a bell, but I will have to dig out her vet records to be sure.

[stormie]

Sometimes dogs just have chronic ear problems due to the general shape and position of the ears. No amount of drugs, diet changes etc can help.

I have seen a few dogs go through this and their quality of live improved 10 fold. In a lot of cases, people reported having 'a new dog' and they realised how much discomfort their dog must have been in prior to the surgery.

The polyps will be growing due to the constant inflammation and are only going to make things worse. Her ear will have thickened making it very difficult to resolve further problems. A Dermatologist opinion isn't a bad idea, but if they also suggest it, I'd do it.