Scratching ears/shaking head.

[bfforever]

I already have a vet appointment for tomorrow, but I always like to do my homework befoe I go. Frankie has been scratching his ears and shaking his head for a few days. I gave him a good look, but no redness, no bugs(that i could see). His ears are clean and they are hair free. I used an ear cleaner recommended from the vet's office yesterday and today, but he seems the same. What could they find that I cant see. Any ideas?

Haven't swithched food and no recent baths that could have allowed water in there.

[Ellie May]

It could be allergies, mites (are they crusty at all?), or an infection...
How do you clean them out? Cotton balls? Do you get any "stuff" out of them at all?

[bchgirl]

Mites...which are microscopic.

[dwerten]

my dd had mites when i got her from the breeder and you cannot miss those the ear is black inside -yuck

sounds like possible ear infection to me as they shake their head and scratch at ears and sometimes whine when they do it - did you have them plucked recently? Plucking can open the pores and allow bacteria to get in and cause infections

[bfforever]

OMG--that avatar is sooooo cute. Thanks for your replies. It was an infection. No mites. No idea how or why, but poor little Frankie got a few shots and an antibiotic ointment. He's so much more comfortable today. I'm so analytic. I can't for the life of me figure out how he got it, but I'm glad he's doing better. Should take about a week to clear up.

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by bfforever

OMG--that avatar is sooooo cute. Thanks for your replies. It was an infection. No mites. No idea how or why, but poor little Frankie got a few shots and an antibiotic ointment. He's so much more comfortable today. I'm so analytic. I can't for the life of me figure out how he got it, but I'm glad he's doing better. Should take about a week to clear up.

Very easy for them to get an infection.....ear hair in the canal (which needs to be pulled out), traps water. The best way to avoid this is to keep the ear canal devoid of hair, after each bath, use a good ear cleaner with a drying agent; I use Vet Solutions.....you can get it through Amazon or Revivalanimal.com

[bfforever]

His ears were clean and free of hair, no recent bath to give him water in his ears, no mites...so we just don't know.

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by bfforever

OMG--that avatar is sooooo cute. Thanks for your replies. It was an infection. No mites. No idea how or why, but poor little Frankie got a few shots and an antibiotic ointment. He's so much more comfortable today. I'm so analytic. I can't for the life of me figure out how he got it, but I'm glad he's doing better. Should take about a week to clear up.

the only two times my dex had an ear infection was when he had his ears plucked so i never pluck any of my three's ears nor do i let the groomer as it was so obvious the last time as one ear was plucked and the other was not as i saw her do it and yelled out no plucking of ears and so she did not do the other one and sure enough he had an infection in the ear she plucked and vet told me never to pluck the ears as it opens the pores and allows bacteria to get in there and cause infection especially if groomer does not clean them properly which is most likely the case many times so for 5 years no plucking and never had another ear infection in any of my 3 so it really depends on the dog so if this happened after a plucking from groomer i would recommend not plucking again plus i watched them do that one ear and dex about jumped off the table freaked me out and this was after he was traumatized going through pancreatitis so i was really upset and now i have a mobile groomer come to my home and i help groom them with her

had you taken him to a groomer before this happened?

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by dwerten

the only two times my dex had an ear infection was when he had his ears plucked so i never pluck any of my three's ears nor do i let the groomer as it was so obvious the last time as one ear was plucked and the other was not as i saw her do it and yelled out no plucking of ears and so she did not do the other one and sure enough he had an infection in the ear she plucked and vet told me never to pluck the ears as it opens the pores and allows bacteria to get in there and cause infection especially if groomer does not clean them properly which is most likely the case many times so for 5 years no plucking and never had another ear infection in any of my 3 so it really depends on the dog so if this happened after a plucking from groomer i would recommend not plucking again plus i watched them do that one ear and dex about jumped off the table freaked me out and this was after he was traumatized going through pancreatitis so i was really upset and now i have a mobile groomer come to my home and i help groom them with her

had you taken him to a groomer before this happened?

My pups are trained from an early age to have their ears plucked. Now if it is not done correctly and in the proper sequence...yes it can cause an infection. Always do it before a bath, after bath follow up with a good ear cleaner/proper ph balance to acidify the ear canal, with a good drying agent.

As a groomer I've never had a problem with any of my clients dogs. Actually have sent my clients immediately to the vet after discovering their dogs have yeast or bacterial infections (ear smelling is the first thing I do before I begin bathing) because of improper cleaning.....I inform them that their dogs have an infection and that I've cleaned out their ear canals and have opened them up be doing this and to get to the vet ASAP.

[bfforever]

None of the above happened recently; that's why it is an enigma.

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by Mardelin

My pups are trained from an early age to have their ears plucked. Now if it is not done correctly and in the proper sequence...yes it can cause an infection. Always do it before a bath, after bath follow up with a good ear cleaner/proper ph balance to acidify the ear canal, with a good drying agent.

As a groomer I've never had a problem with any of my clients dogs. Actually have sent my clients immediately to the vet after discovering their dogs have yeast or bacterial infections (ear smelling is the first thing I do before I begin bathing) because of improper cleaning.....I inform them that their dogs have an infection and that I've cleaned out their ear canals and have opened them up be doing this and to get to the vet ASAP.

yeah i think most groomers are not as good as you as i went to two different ones and both plucked and both times dex had an ear infection afterwards - I was not happy.

to the op ok if none of this happened was it yeast or bacteria? If yeast it can be food allergies as well so do you notice your dog itching and what food do you feed? If not this then hopefully just a one off thing and does not occur again

[dwerten]

sorry to go off topic here but mardelin i did not know you were a groomer that is great so helpppppp how often do you do nails and any tips as i may have my groomer come every two weeks now to do nails as once a month is not cutting it i do not think any tips as i am so scared to do nails - i know i am a big chicken when it comes to that and mine are so crazy when getting nails done - I am going to set up our extra bedroom with a grooming table etc some day when i clear all the doggie stuff out lolllll right now i groom on the washer lolll but it works great - I wish i could just do it myself but too nervous

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by dwerten

sorry to go off topic here but mardelin i did not know you were a groomer that is great so helpppppp how often do you do nails and any tips as i may have my groomer come every two weeks now to do nails as once a month is not cutting it i do not think any tips as i am so scared to do nails - i know i am a big chicken when it comes to that and mine are so crazy when getting nails done - I am going to set up our extra bedroom with a grooming table etc some day when i clear all the doggie stuff out lolllll right now i groom on the washer lolll but it works great - I wish i could just do it myself but too nervous

Your dogs being crazy during nail clipping is a yorkie thing.

I try to clip them while they are in the bath, the nail is softer and they're so preoccupied....it's a bit easier. But for those hellions, I either wrap them in a towel, pull one leg out at time and clip....But, then there are those that will lay on my lap on their back with their head toward my chest and we clip...no problem. Then there are those that are so awful, it takes my husband to hold them in place and rub their heads, whispering sweet nothings in their ear, while I clip.

Doing nails on a yorkie is not my favorite thing....or theirs either. I begin clipping nails when they are a week old for momma's sake. I tip them every week until the nail growing slows down....about the time weaning begins.

I usually tip my adults every two weeks, it helps me not to clip down too far if left unattended for too long. Most of my clients bring their dogs for grooming about every 6 weeks....therefore, I have to do a full nail clip. The trick is not to go up past the curve of the nail...that's when you cause them to bleed. I also use a drumel to get down closer and to smooth the nail out.

Tipping the nail weekly will help you get use to it. I guess what I'm saying is that each one is different and you just need to try different things to make it easier on yourself. The worst mistake you can make is to let them get to you and you give up....then they know they gotcha....

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by Mardelin

Your dogs being crazy during nail clipping is a yorkie thing.

I try to clip them while they are in the bath, the nail is softer and they're so preoccupied....it's a bit easier. But for those hellions, I either wrap them in a towel, pull one leg out at time and clip....But, then there are those that will lay on my lap on their back with their head toward my chest and we clip...no problem. Then there are those that are so awful, it takes my husband to hold them in place and rub their heads, whispering sweet nothings in their ear, while I clip.

Doing nails on a yorkie is not my favorite thing....or theirs either. I begin clipping nails when they are a week old for momma's sake. I tip them every week until the nail growing slows down....about the time weaning begins.

I usually tip my adults every two weeks, it helps me not to clip down too far if left unattended for too long. Most of my clients bring their dogs for grooming about every 6 weeks....therefore, I have to do a full nail clip. The trick is not to go up past the curve of the nail...that's when you cause them to bleed. I also use a drumel to get down closer and to smooth the nail out.

Tipping the nail weekly will help you get use to it. I guess what I'm saying is that each one is different and you just need to try different things to make it easier on yourself. The worst mistake you can make is to let them get to you and you give up....then they know they gotcha....

lol thanks so much they do have me little stinkers - when groomer is over i have them nibble on a piece of chicken while she does it and it distracts them loll it was working pretty good but now they have caught on - they are too darn smart. I may try to do it myself just do not want to cut them to short and they bleed. Groomer told me to use a cat nail cutter and not to use the guillatine type as those are too sharp - what clipper do you use?

hey are you going to the yorkie specialty show? when is it this year as should be coming up soon?

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by dwerten

lol thanks so much they do have me little stinkers - when groomer is over i have them nibble on a piece of chicken while she does it and it distracts them loll it was working pretty good but now they have caught on - they are too darn smart. I may try to do it myself just do not want to cut them to short and they bleed. Groomer told me to use a cat nail cutter and not to use the guillatine type as those are too sharp - what clipper do you use?

hey are you going to the yorkie specialty show? when is it this year as should be coming up soon?

I use cat nail clippers...but, then I have yorkies that have thick, strong nails, they I use the ones that look like scissors.

My plans right now are to go to the Oklahoma Specialty....My twice a year trip to Texas....I'm not sure if I'll be back for the L.A. Specialty......Although, I do have a little guy that I'll be bringing out sometime in the near future.