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04-12-2010, 05:48 AM | #1 |
Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Miami, FL
Posts: 12
| Possible Ear Infection Hi Everyone! I wanted to know if anyone can help with this ear issue. I took my 14 week old puppy to the vet yesterday for his 3rd set of vaccines. The nurse at the vet took out wax out of his ears and told me he could have an ear infection. It seemed substantial and it was brown. She asked me if he ever scratches his ears which he never has. I also had never cleaned his ears, I guess I hadn't thought about this before. The vet then came in and looked in his ears with a camera looking thing and said his ear drums were very inside and he couldn't see well. He said he might have a slight infection but he honestly didn't seem too convinced. I go to a Banfield vet and he's not the usual one I see. I honestly didn't like him very much. He wasn't very willing to answer questions. He then told me it would be like $100 for everything he was prescribing. He wanted to give my puppy a Dexamesthasone Injection, Ear Cleaning, GlenHaven C1/O Otic 12 oz and Remicin Ear Ointment. I didn't understand why he needed and injection. I refused everything and told him I would bring him back in a couple days because I didn't have the money. I didn't want my puppy getting another injection, they had already given his two shots and he was terrified. The nurse then gave me a dirty look and told me to bring him back tomorrow because the infection would get worse. I was trying to research ear infections to see if he has any symptoms and I read the ears would smell bad (which I don't think his do) and he could have something oozing out of his ears (he doesn't either). I'm just confused. I'd do anything that is necessary for him to be ok but I feel like everytime I take him they find something wrong and then have a long, expensive list of things they want me to do and buy. Can anyone with more experience give me their opinion? I was considering going to another vet but I am already in their wellness plan so they don't charge me the office visits and I know another vet will and I can't afford too much more right now. He has been pretty sick in the past and I've done everything they told me but this time he seems perfectly fine so I'm not sure if they are just over prescribing or what. I had never cleaned his ears so I also think maybe it was just normal wax. But I'm scared of not doing what they say and then he gets sick. I appreciate any input. Thank you so much! This forum really has been a life saver. |
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04-12-2010, 06:14 AM | #2 | |
Mardelin Yorkshire Terriers Donating Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: California
Posts: 14,776
| Quote:
Now onto vaccinations....you mentioned that your pup was 14 weeks of age at had received his 3rd set of vaccines....way to early; first innoculation between 8 and 9 weeks, 2nd at 12 weeks and 3rd at 16 weeks......
__________________ Mardelin Yorkshire Terriers | |
04-12-2010, 06:59 AM | #3 |
Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: North Carolina
Posts: 8,317
| Lady just had an ear infection. The culture and medication (Dermalone) together were $39. Banfield is notorious for doing lots of unnecessary procedures to run the bill up. |
04-12-2010, 10:23 AM | #4 | |
Donating YT 5000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ohio
Posts: 5,304
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To the OP, I would suggest contacting another vet. Unfortunately I've heard so many stories of Banfield that are not good. Overvaccinating, lots of procedures, etc..
__________________ Crosley Wrigley Camden | |
04-12-2010, 12:02 PM | #5 | |
BANNED! Join Date: May 2007 Location: USA
Posts: 11,073
| Quote:
you do not need a dex shot unless that dog has a HORRIBLE EAR INFECTION and if that your dog would be rubbing ears, scratching, crying as they would be in pain. It could be ear mites due to the age of the dog as that is usually black in the ear as my dd had them when i got her from breeder the two times my dex had ear infections were from groomer plucking them so since no plucking no more ear infections. Depends on dog but i do not pluck any of my dogs and have not for years now and no ear infections in three dogs and i have a maltese with floppy ears. If your dog had an infection you would know it dex would scratch his ears and start to whine, the ear is red and inflamed from scratching and sometimes there is an odor. I knew it right away so ran him in early as soon as i knew a difference in his behavior and was right each time he had an ear infection. would be very odd for me to believe your dog had an infection and not scratching and whining nor the ears not being red and inflamed. i would RUN not walk from this vet and BANFIELD ask around and find a better private practice vet - maybe post a thread here on looking for a vet in and put your area and maybe someone here can help you find a better vet the vet gave me panalog one time and otomax one time she said not to pluck anymore so we did not and it depends on the dog as some dogs have a ton of hair like my friends maltese and it is thick curly hair and poodles so they need plucking but mine have thin ear hair so we do not do it and no ear infections Each time she did a culture came back in and gave me meds - no steroid shots Last edited by dwerten; 04-12-2010 at 12:06 PM. | |
04-12-2010, 12:55 PM | #6 | |
Mardelin Yorkshire Terriers Donating Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: California
Posts: 14,776
| Quote:
Every dog is different, I've a couple that never scratched or rubbed or whined and had tremendous ear infections...Ear infections that could not be treated or cleared with Otomax.... Now as far keeping ear canals done, if done correctly there should be no possibility of ear infections. I would say your previous groomer didn't do it correctly. Now some of my dogs require no plucking, but other's ear canals are profuse with hair, those are the ones I pluck. Again, if done correctly, an ear infection should never result. It should always be done before bathing. Of course ears should always be checked before bathing. Then a ear cleaner with a drying agent, with the correct acidity, which closes the pores where the hair was pulled from.
__________________ Mardelin Yorkshire Terriers | |
04-12-2010, 04:53 PM | #7 |
Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Miami, FL
Posts: 12
| Ear Infection Thanks so much for all of your responses!! I have to admit I had never cleaned my puppies ears, I guess I never thought about it until now. I have never taken him to grooming either. I got him at 8 weeks (I'm not sure if the family I got him from ever cleaned him ears, I doubt it). He's 14 weeks now so I assume the wax had accumulated. Do any of you know at how many weeks you need to start taking them to the groomer? And how often do I need to take him to the groomer? I am definitely going to take him to another vet. I'm trying to get a friend to give me a number of one that she takes her yorkies to but I probably won't be able to take him until Thursday, do you think this is an emergency and I need to take him right away or will waiting a few days be ok? He seems perfectly fine, I've been trying to look in his ears but I can't see anything much. His ears are very straight and are always standing up. I should take him to another vet before taking him to the groomer right? I'm sorry for all the questions, he's my first puppy ever and I'm always so confused as to what I should be doing. I love him with all my heart and I panic at everything. I definitely realize that signing up for that Banfield wellness plan was a big mistake. They are always trying to throw in unnecessary things to just get more money out of me. Thank you so much for your advice, I love this site!! Debbie |
04-12-2010, 05:11 PM | #8 | |
Mardelin Yorkshire Terriers Donating Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: California
Posts: 14,776
| Quote:
A puppy shouldn't ever be taken to a groomer (and most good groomers won't accept them until then) they've had all their shots....wait ten days after the final shot. Find a groomer that isn't going to keep him in a cage all day. One that knows how to make a puppy's grooming experience a happy one. How often you take him is dependent how fast his hair grows, how well you can stand looking the least bit unkept, and whether you're going to keep in a cut down or full coat....but at the very max 6 to 8 weeks.
__________________ Mardelin Yorkshire Terriers | |
04-12-2010, 07:49 PM | #9 | |
BANNED! Join Date: May 2007 Location: USA
Posts: 11,073
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