Nasty ear odor

[slik]

125 pound german shep does not like people poking at their ears with Q-tips.

This dog has been with us for 11 years. He is still in damn good shape (no leg problems). A while back I decided to let Petsmart bathe him (first time I let anyone other then me do it). Low and behold, the next thing I know he has black crap (wax) and stinky ears. Vet gave me a antibotic but said it is probably chronic. I used all of the antibotic and have been doing the 3 step cleaning stuff (powder to remove hair, cleaner, then drying agent.

It is killing me to watch this dog shake his head all the time. Also seems to effect his sinuses since he rubs his muzzle alot. The build up gets so bad in his ears sometimes, when he shakes chunks fly out.

Going to the vet again on Saturday.

Anyone have advice ?

 

[CMC122]

Being that it's chronic you'll have to do this routine all the time.


We have to constantly clean and put medicine in our dogs ears too. Vet told me to get stock in the stuff if I can

 

[Ponytail]

It COULD be allergy related. I suspect this is the case, especially with the runny nose too. NO kidding. Do you notice him licking or chewing on his paws alot? That's another indicator of doggy allergies.

I have some stuff left over from Daisy if ya want it. Dermapet ear cleaner and antibiotic drops. If you talk to the vet about the possibility of allergies, ask what they would prescribe you trying, then call me. I have (I think I still have them anyway...) quite a few different ones that I tried with Daisy. Some worked, some don't. All dogs are different. Some are expensive too. I'll save you the expense and give them to ya.

 

[nomoney]

It COULD be allergy related. I suspect this is the case, especially with the runny nose too. NO kidding. Do you notice him licking or chewing on his paws alot? That's another indicator of doggy allergies.

I have some stuff left over from Daisy if ya want it. Dermapet ear cleaner and antibiotic drops. If you talk to the vet about the possibility of allergies, ask what they would prescribe you trying, then call me. I have (I think I still have them anyway...) quite a few different ones that I tried with Daisy. Some worked, some don't. All dogs are different. Some are expensive too. I'll save you the expense and give them to ya.

daisy was black lab right? My black lab just got done with a crap load of tests and now I think he's got the whole allergy thing going on. He has to go back for more test to find out what to My luck-probably grass and or the couch his ass is always laying on

 

[pixiegirl]

Try changing foods. Mily is allergic to everything under the sun; including grass! The food change has helped the ears and the belly rash.

 

[Ponytail]

daisy was black lab right? My black lab just got done with a crap load of tests and now I think he's got the whole allergy thing going on. He has to go back for more test to find out what to My luck-probably grass and or the couch his ass is always laying on

Yep. But I opted to not go that route as far as testing goes. It's expensive, and many times, it doesn't help. You'll still wind up experimenting with allergy meds, and most likely steroids as well. Good luck. It's a PITA.

It may not be environental allergies though either. It can be the food or if you use plastic dog bowls for food and/water, they could be allergic to those too. It's a LONG road trying to figure out what the trigger is. LOTS of trial and error. Doggy allergies develop suddenly, similarly to humans.

Start with the unknown...get ceramic or stainless dog bowls. Take away all plastic/nylon base doggy toys for a month. Gradually introduce them back and see if there is a change for better or worse. If that doesn't work, try a hypo-allergenic dog food for awhile. MANY dogs are allergic to soy.

If those don't work, you'll have to start wiping his feet off and even better, making him step into a pale of water before coming inside to wash allergens from his feet before coming into the house, every time.

The vet will probably tell you that since it is chronic and affecting his ears, it's probably food based. If so, welcome to my world. Of course, with a black lab, your half-way there already. You might as well own a goat. Trying to control what a lab eats is no easy feat.

 

[nomoney]

Yep. But I opted to not go that route as far as testing goes. It's expensive, and many times, it doesn't help. You'll still wind up experimenting with allergy meds, and most likely steroids as well. Good luck. It's a PITA.

It may not be environental allergies though either. It can be the food or if you use plastic dog bowls for food and/water, they could be allergic to those too. It's a LONG road trying to figure out what the trigger is. LOTS of trial and error. Doggy allergies develop suddenly, similarly to humans.

Start with the unknown...get ceramic or stainless dog bowls. Take away all plastic/nylon base doggy toys for a month. Gradually introduce them back and see if there is a change for better or worse. If that doesn't work, try a hypo-allergenic dog food for awhile. MANY dogs are allergic to soy.

If those don't work, you'll have to start wiping his feet off and even better, making him step into a pale of water before coming inside to wash allergens from his feet before coming into the house, every time.

The vet will probably tell you that since it is chronic and affecting his ears, it's probably food based. If so, welcome to my world. Of course, with a black lab, your half-way there already. You might as well own a goat. Trying to control what a lab eats is no easy feat.

Ya, hubby and I have been discussing going back or not for the actual allergy tests. Vet told us benedryl when real bad is okay, so for now-that's the ticket. That or a shot we've already gotten for him twice at 60$ a pop.

Didn't know about the plastic, thanks! Will definantly change those then.

You ain't kidding about the goat thing On dog sh!t pick up day in the back yard you can definantly tell which piles are his crayons, matchbox car wheels, playdoh clumps, qtips

 

[Ponytail]

Ya, hubby and I have been discussing going back or not for the actual allergy tests. Vet told us benedryl when real bad is okay, so for now-that's the ticket. That or a shot we've already gotten for him twice at 60$ a pop.

Didn't know about the plastic, thanks! Will definantly change those then.

You ain't kidding about the goat thing On dog sh!t pick up day in the back yard you can definantly tell which piles are his crayons, matchbox car wheels, playdoh clumps, qtips

You've got a male. Be happy about that. I had a female. On dog chit pick up day, it was a race.

 

[cattitude]

Try changing foods.

Many, many health problems can be resolved with a change in food and most vets won't tell you that.

 

[FunnyGuy]

My friend had a german shepard with the same problem. He would shake his head and chunks of stuff would fly out of his ears. It was driving him crazy. Finally after a year or so of different vets and answers they finally got a good vet who told them if they did not do something about this soon it was possible he could lose his vision from this problem. The infection would pass to his eyes. Unfortunitly the poor dog had to have his ears sewed shut on the inside. We felt bad for him but he is so much happier and believe it or not can actually hear better now. Hope your dog heals up and does not have to go through this.

 

[PrepH4U]

125 pound german shep does not like people poking at their ears with Q-tips.

This dog has been with us for 11 years. He is still in damn good shape (no leg problems). A while back I decided to let Petsmart bathe him (first time I let anyone other then me do it). Low and behold, the next thing I know he has black crap (wax) and stinky ears. Vet gave me a antibotic but said it is probably chronic. I used all of the antibotic and have been doing the 3 step cleaning stuff (powder to remove hair, cleaner, then drying agent.

It is killing me to watch this dog shake his head all the time. Also seems to effect his sinuses since he rubs his muzzle alot. The build up gets so bad in his ears sometimes, when he shakes chunks fly out.

Going to the vet again on Saturday.

Anyone have advice ?

If he never has had any ear problems before, I would tend to believe the infection was from water being shot down his ear canal when he was being groomed and not properly allowed to dry out. That moisture & bacteria more and likely caused the ear infection. I hope they did an ear swab of the type of infection. You should go back to the vet, get a proper/stronger antibiotic along w/antibiotic ear drops for the infection strain. BUT your vet said it was chronic, does that mean you have been there numerous times before for an ear infection. One time in my book does not usually mean chronic!
Also the powder you mentioned, are you sure it is a hair remover? I believe what you may be using is an deordorizer and to coat the ear hair to make it easier to grasp w/hemostats. I have an ear powder that can be used for easier hair remover and it also serves as a drying agent. (if it is the same it should be used after the cleaning agent and not before.OH you do not need to use Q-tips, that usually tends to shove the wax back down, use cotten balls right after the cleaning solution is squirted, rub his ear canals and let him shake his head. THEN use cotton balls to wipe out the ear, I bet he will enjoy it. No amount of cleaning will help if you do not get rid of the infection first. After the infection is treated then if it ever comes back, look into switching foods.

 

[virgovictoria]

If he never has had any ear problems before, I would tend to believe the infection was from water being shot down his ear canal when he was being groomed and not properly allowed to dry out. That moisture & bacteria more and likely caused the ear infection. I hope they did an ear swab of the type of infection. You should go back to the vet, get a proper/stronger antibiotic along w/antibiotic ear drops for the infection strain. BUT your vet said it was chronic, does that mean you have been there numerous times before for an ear infection. One time in my book does not usually mean chronic!
Also the powder you mentioned, are you sure it is a hair remover? I believe what you may be using is an deordorizer and to coat the ear hair to make it easier to grasp w/hemostats. I have an ear powder that can be used for easier hair remover and it also serves as a drying agent. (if it is the same it should be used after the cleaning agent and not before.OH you do not need to use Q-tips, that usually tends to shove the wax back down, use cotten balls right after the cleaning solution is squirted, rub his ear canals and let him shake his head. THEN use cotton balls to wipe out the ear, I bet he will enjoy it. No amount of cleaning will help if you do not get rid of the infection first. After the infection is treated then if it ever comes back, look into switching foods.

I was actually wondering the same thing, how a one-time infection was considered "chronic". One of my girls tends to shake her head and ears a lot. I do what Prep was describing above with peroxide to check for any build - up. Pour a tiny bit in via saturated cotton ball, massage the ear really well, then clean with a clean cotton ball to check for any debris. She HATES having her ears messed with. But, I like to check periodically as she has the furry insulated ears, she shakes her head a lot and I sometimes get a "waxy" smell from them.

At their annual appointment today, the vet had to take her to the far back, possibly to sedate her, to look into her ears, but alas, she was infection free.

She did have wax. That may be the previous problem that your Shephard has been having. Not a chronic infection. But, the only way to know is to continue working with him and hopefully it will all work out for the best.

Good luck.

 

[chrissyhh]

I have a Beagel with ear infections, but she only gets them in the summer. My vet told me to put some rubbing alcohol in her ears. I have done this for 2 summers now and no more infections. The vet told me that the alcohol keeps her ears dry. I just put in a about a 1/2 teaspoon in each ear every 2 days and massage her ears. It works great.

 

[sdm]

Some of the Dals I get in every once in awhile have ear infections. If the junk is black and stinks, it is a yeast infection in the ears. My vet gave me MalOtic to treat the infection. The dose is twice a day for 14 days. Clean the ears every other day before putting the cream in so you're not always wiping out the meds. You can also try over the counter Monistat vaginal cream or anything of that nature that is used to treat yeast infections. If the infection is not too bad, the Monistat will work. Chronic ear infections are something that reoccurs frequently. Since this is your dog's first time, I would say that water was left in your dog's ear canal.

Stacey
www.adoptaspotdalrescue.com