Ear infection.

[Rachael x]

Okay so a few weeks ago I noticed Poppy was scratching her ears alot, scratching them until she cried.
I looked inside and couldnt see anything out of the ordinary, I cleaned them just incase they were waxy but that didnt help so I took her to the vet.
The vet said she had quite a nasty ear infection in her left ear.
Inside the ear was red and sore looking, there was lots of wax and dry blood.
Obviously the ear cleaning stuff I have wasnt good enough to budge the wax so I will have to look into getting another one.
Anyway the vet gave her a weeks course of ear drops and it seemed to clear up, she went back to the vet when the week was up and the vet said her ears look better now but to bring her back if she started scratching or shaking her head again.
Well yesterday I noticed her shaking her head again and scratching her other ear until she cried.
There was a free vet check-up at my local pet store today so I thought I would take her there before I made an appointment with the vet I usually use.
The vet at the free check up said her ears could do with a clean but it didnt look like there was any infection there.
But Im not sure.. she is STILL scratching until she cries and I just dont think thats because of wax, could I be wrong?
The same free vet check up is on again tomorrow so I am going to go along and if it is a different vet I will get a second opinion.
If they still say they are fine and the scratching and shaking dosnt stop then I will take her back to my origional vet.
I still have some more of the ear drops but I dont want to just put them in her ear without the vets say so, do you think I should?
Im really worried because as ive mentioned in the past, the family I got her from have a rottweiler with a really bad ear infection who needs an operation.
And im so worried that the same will happen to Poppy, I assume that they didnt take the rottweiler to the vet when the infection first set in and have left it to get bad enough for an operation but im not sure, I know nothing about ear infections in dogs.
Do you think its okay to put the ear drops in her other ear or should I wait to see what my origional vet says?

[yorkieusa]

I'm really sorry she's going through this. It is miserable for her. In order to know how to treat an ear infection, the vet needs to take a swab from the ear so they can determine exactly what is wrong with her ear. Did they do that? It isnt anything to mess around with, because there can be some very serious complications, not to mentin your little one is suffering. I would stay away from the free vet checks. You can't just look at the ear and determine what is wrong. Good luck to you both.

[Rachael x]

Originally Posted by yorkieusa

I'm really sorry she's going through this. It is miserable for her. In order to know how to treat an ear infection, the vet needs to take a swab from the ear so they can determine exactly what is wrong with her ear. Did they do that? It isnt anything to mess around with, because there can be some very serious complications, not to mentin your little one is suffering. I would stay away from the free vet checks. You can't just look at the ear and determine what is wrong. Good luck to you both.

No she didnt take a swab, neither or the vets did.
The vet who I usually take her with just looked into her ear then used a cotton bud to get some of the dry blood/wax out, she then told me to use the ear drops.
I will make another appointment for monday, thanks for replying.

[yorkieusa]

I hope your lil darling will be well soon. Sometimes those ear infections can be difficult to treat.

[Rachael x]

Thank you, I will try and get her an appointment with the vet I usually use tomorrow... I just dont trust the other vet when she said there was nothing wrong with them apart from a little wax.
I dont think she would be scratching and crying like that over wax.

[yorkieusa]

Originally Posted by Rachael x

Thank you, I will try and get her an appointment with the vet I usually use tomorrow... I just dont trust the other vet when she said there was nothing wrong with them apart from a little wax.
I dont think she would be scratching and crying like that over wax.

You're right. She wouldn't be...Let us know what you find out.

[Ladymom]

A peak into her ears won't always tell if a dog has an ear infection. Your vet needs to swab her ears and examine it under the microscope.

[Rachael x]

Originally Posted by Ladymom

A peak into her ears won't always tell if a dog has an ear infection. Your vet needs to swab her ears and examine it under the microscope.

Yep, yorkieusa mentioned that they should have taken a swab of whatever was in her ear... I didnt know this at the time but I will mention it to the vet tomorrow if she dosnt do it. Thanks again to both who replied.

[MellyBelly Mom]

Originally Posted by Ladymom

A peak into her ears won't always tell if a dog has an ear infection. Your vet needs to swab her ears and examine it under the microscope.

When mine had an ear infection that's exactly what my vet did to diagnose and prescribe the right medication...

[Rachael x]

Originally Posted by MellyBelly Mom

When mine had an ear infection that's exactly what my vet did to diagnose and prescribe the right medication...

I am definitely going to make her do this tomorrow, if she wont then I will be changing vets.

[Armani Alexis]

Good luck, we suffered through our share of ear infections too and hopefully we are all done. Each time Armani had an ear infection the vet reached that determination by examining a culture under the microscope.

[Rachael x]

Originally Posted by Armani Alexis

Good luck, we suffered through our share of ear infections too and hopefully we are all done. Each time Armani had an ear infection the vet reached that determination by examining a culture under the microscope.

I hope she dosnt get them again, its heart breaking watching her shaking her head and scratching until she cries.
Hopefully we can get this sorted asap.

[Rachael x]

UPDATE: I have an appointment with a lovely vet who gave Poppy her first needle at 5.35 tonight (that is the earliest I could get as the morning appointments were taken and the afternoon are for emergencies only).
So hopefully we can get this sorted.. it breaks my heart watching her shake her head and cry, I will let you know what the vet has to say.

[kjc]

Ear infections can be very persistent, and it may take 2-4 repeated courses of treatment to get rid of them, sometimes with the same meds each time or sometimes the vet may change the meds. You will also need to be very persistent to get it cleared up.

Once my vet diagnoses a problem, I can go back for a recheck of that problem at half price, within 30 days. Don't know if your vets do that... you may want to ask them, or suggest it to them!

Does she have a lot of hair in her ear canals? This can cause recurrent infections, as it prevents the wax from being able to come out on it's own.

[Rachael x]

Originally Posted by kjc

Ear infections can be very persistent, and it may take 2-4 repeated courses of treatment to get rid of them, sometimes with the same meds each time or sometimes the vet may change the meds. You will also need to be very persistent to get it cleared up.

Once my vet diagnoses a problem, I can go back for a recheck of that problem at half price, within 30 days. Don't know if your vets do that... you may want to ask them, or suggest it to them!

Does she have a lot of hair in her ear canals? This can cause recurrent infections, as it prevents the wax from being able to come out on it's own.

I didnt realise the hair could cause recurrent infections, she does have some long hair around the opening of the ear.. I will trim this hair and see if it helps.
Hopefully we can get rid of the infection soon, it kills me knowing she is in pain