Labs ears

[Crawdaddct]

I have a year and a half old lab. I grew up around them, but this is my first one. Great dog. Training is going well. However, every time I take him out to the marsh to work, he ends up with a ear infection in his left ear. It seems to get worse every time. It seems like the vet is just taking my money every time I go in the door. Does anyone have any recomendations for ways to avoid this? Last time out I washed him as soon as I got home, cleaned his ear, and flushed with some stuff I found at pet smart. Two days later, he is walking around head sideways. Any help would be appriciated.

[bgizzle]

Mine gets ear infections. I got a savve I put in his ear canal when it flares up but don't know about preventing it.

[cajunforeman]

I've been through this and have spent $1000 at the vet on ear infections. You need 3 things if is just the water and not a food allergy. I ended up having to switch to a all natural food. Google purple stuff ear wash. They will give you a recipe that you can mix up. Make sure you flush with this after every trip in the water. I also buy a solution from my vet that I flush his ears with every week. If you still get the infection get your vet to give you baytril. Flush with purple stuff 2 times a day and then put the baytril in their ears.

[yigodiver]

Have you ruled out ear mites. My lab used to have them bad, thought was infection, by the time I learned what was up, he had permanent damage and was more suseptable to infections. I think he got from catching squirrels in the yard.

[southern151]

Wife just told me that my little dog has a staph (sp?) in his right ear. Another shot and, another round of antibiotics...These free dogs are breaking me!

[Crawdaddct]

Thanks for the infor everyone. When I cleaned his ears it look like a fungal thing. I have had dogs with ear mites before, it just looked diferent.

[aquaholic]

Most ear infections in labs are yeast infections-brownish ear discharge and smells like a wet dog . Yeast infections are secondary infections 99.99% of the time. About 80% are secondary to atopy- hay fever. 20% secondary to food allergy. Food allergy is year round and in theory hay fever is seasonal. Since we know yeast infections are secondary we must concentrate on the primary allergy to decrease relapses. Hay fever in dogs-they lick their feet( 90% do this), scratch belly and sides, rub and scratch face, and have ear problems. Food allergy have recurrent gi issues and/or skin/ear problems. Many labs have both allergies. Management for hay fever-otc cetirizine(generic zyrtec) 2-3 tabs twice daily plus frequent baths or swimming to the percutaneous absoption of the offnding substance. For food I'll start with sensitive skin/stomach foods and proceed from there. If food is a concern make sure all treats and food are beef and dairy free. Hope this helps on why the problems come back after treatment. I go through this whole diatribe multiple times a day. Good luck!!

[kb7722]

2-3 Zyrtec twice a day seems like a high dose. Is that the 24 hr pills? My lab gets 2 zrytec 24 hr once per day and fish oil gel caps. This per my vet's (my wife) instructions

[aquaholic]

LSU-SVM 93 Zyrtec(cetirizine) is the active portion of hydroxyzine. In theory yes it is a 24hr dose. In ppl per Dr can take up to 5/day. I routinely take 1 twice daily. Cetirizine doesn't work well once a day in dogs but works great twice a day. I'm sure there is a high end dose but not in any literature that I researched. Omega 3 fatty acids help also but not to the same extent as the cetirizine in my hands.