Thoughts on mometamax? (Ear infection)
 

Hi everyone, I suspected my lil one had an ear infection so I took him to the vet and was diagnosed with an ear infection. He was given mometamax for $50, I came home to research this and found very scary information about causes of this ear drops causing deafness, although the pamphlet says it's rare, online stories and complaints tell another story making it seem way more common.

I was told to do 5 drops for 14 days, however the box states less than 15kg use 4 drops for 7 days & do not exceed the recommended period of treatment or frequency.

My little guy is just 6lbs and one year old, I know I should trust the vets suggestions, but such an alarming product for so many extended days and more than 4 drops really alerts me.

I've read a lot of complaints on this product that even after 2-3 days deafness was apparent.

My family has a 16 year old dog who is deaf, this is really not something I want to cause my dog to have at such a young age, there's so many ear meds, I'm confused why I was given such a bad product

Anyone's thoughts on this? What would you do?

Hmmmm, my review: My Mini has used it several times (she is an extremely sickly pup) (I don't know how much I paid, I'm not much for checking the price unless it is something they take regularly)...never had any problems with it and it worked fast.

One note I will make is that I have yet to come across any medication that doesn't have serious scary literature with it and horrid stories on line. I also know others who have used it without a problem.

Thank you, good to know someone has a good experience with it. is there a specific amount of drops you use when you have used it?

I have used it many times...more times than I could count. It did happen with one of my fosters...I immediately picked up on the fact that he could not hear and took him to my vet. They flushed his ears and he was fine. Would I still use it? Yes.

I will monitor his hearing, he doesn't bark at noises but he's very perky when he does hear something so it should be easy to pick upon!

Have you ever used more than the recommended dose as written on the package?

Thanks for your input!

No, I use what the vet suggests. It is usually a drop or two in an ear.

Mometamax and Otomax contain gentamycin. That is where the deafness can come from. Usually temporary and probably uncommon given these drugs are used so much.

I have used both with no problem. I also use Zymox.

We do not count drops here. My vet does not like to specify how many bc if you are counting at the ear opening the chances of them all getting down far enough is not great. One squeeze with the bottle in the ear here. I really would not worry.

I personally will never use mometamax again! Ian had a slight irritation in one of his ears, was was prescribed this. Within 30 minutes, or so, his ear was scarlet RED, and inflamed! After taking him back to the vet, I threw the small $40.00 bottle in the garbage. :thumbdown:mad::thumbdown

I posted this thread about MOMETAMAX a while ago. http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sic...log-first.html

Good luck!

My post on the above site was May 24, 2012. Make sure you read the response from the vet.

All meds have side effects whether for people or animals. I have had reactions to meds but never tried to scare people and insist that they too would have a reaction. Same goes for my pups....I have had pups have side effects to meds; but that does not mean that every single pup will have that same reaction to the same meds.

To scream and carry on and try to frighten people because you had one reaction to a med is just inappropriate imho.

Again, yes, I had a pup lose his hearing while on Mometamax....his ears were flushed and he was fine. No harm done. Of course I would not use it on him again. I deal with a lot of pups and it was the only time I had a problem over umpteen years of using it. I would, as I said, use it again no matter what someone else said about it.

Your post was one of the first ones I read on here regarding it! Also checked out the zymox that another member had suggested, it looks like a promising alternative!

We are on day two now, since yesterday's application he has not scratched his ear, his hearing is still normal. He did have a poopy tummy last night, but I think it was food related which I'm looking into!

His ear doesn't have any discharge, but it's still wet and very red. Personally I think the ear needed to be wiped gently before today's application but I wasn't directed to do that.

Sounds like it is beginning to do the job! It is great that you looked into the side effects and know what to watch for. We should always do that with our own meds and those of our pups!! Good job! :)

Oh, and yes, the stuff is a bit messy. :)

Motamax (sp) is an extremely commonly dispensed prescription, there are millions of dogs so of course there will be problems here and there. I've had many, many, many dogs over the years and many of them have used it.

I am extremely allergic to Tylenol, penecillin, sulfa and even avocado, but I wouldn't tell anyone to stop taking such common meds or not to eat guacamole...its just too common of a drug and fruit and like motamax helps the majority who are prescribed it!

I'm glad your baby is getting better and is not one of the rare side effect sufferers, keep us posted.

I'm not trying to scare anyone! I'm just stating FACTS...my personal experience! I do not want anyone to go through what I, and Ian went through!!!!!!!!!! Your dog's ears had to be "flushed," then that WAS a problem! You stated that "you would not use it on him again," so harm WAS done!!!! One time I have a problem is one time too many! I'm not screaming, and I'm not "carrying on!" I wish someone had informed me so that I could have avoided the pain my baby went through! Maybe it's ok, in your opinion, for your dog to "lose his hearing," but it is NOT ok for Ian!!!!!!! I am not telling you, nor anyone else what to do with their dog, I'm simply stating what I will NOT do with mine!

:thumbup::thumbup:

Yes you are trying to scare people and yes you are screaming...that is what I call all of those capital letters you are using. And, yes, you are telling people what to do. Here...let me quote you exactly as you said things:

You have gone beyond trying to share an experience and carried it into telling others what to do. It says it in the title above....you are yelling (capital letters) and telling people not to use it. I consider that irresponsible. No need for it...just say what happened to your pup and be done with it. You did not frighten me, but you might just frighten someone whose pup really needs it and who suffers from that? The pup! It is always good to share experiences and side effects so that people can be aware.

Some people are allergic to penicillin (and I would venture to guess a lot more of those reactions than those of dogs to gentamicin (mometamax) ). Bottom line penicillin saves lives. And, while it is weird that the mometamax causes issues that it does it is a very effective medication. Same with any other medication.....there can be side effects!

As for saying that Zymox is an acceptable substitute, not necessarily so....it depends on what type of infection the pup has.

And, by the way, you can say what you want....I say no harm was done. My foster pup is an old man and can still hear just fine!!! He had a side effect to a prescribed medication..not like that never happens. :rolleyes:

Using capital letters is also considered EMPHASIZING! Google it! :rolleyes:
1. Maybe I was wrong for assuming that most people on yt were adults, or at least mature. The link, and info was given based on what happened to us! Take it or leave it!
2. I NEVER said that using Zymox was an acceptable substitute! Please reread post. I have never used Zymox, and know nothing about it. The vet in my original post a couple of years ago stated that. Be mindful of misquoting.
3. Hopefully, people on this site will listen to their vet's suggestions, as opposed to random people on yt. They can ask their vet's opinion about what was stated here.
4. FYI...when you are allergic to a medication, it has to be avoided at ALL times.
5. Have a BEAUTIFUL day.

Google this: most people online consider using caps to be screaming

Directly to your numbered items:

1. What are you saying? That I am not mature? :rolleyes::rolleyes:

2. I would have to go back and see about the Zymox, but I don't have time for that. The OP said something about it being mentioned and you gave it thumbs up. I may be wrong, but I swore you said it.

3. I do listen to my vet and she continues to prescribe Mometamax appropriately for pups that need it; as do other vets I have been to. IE: specialists and EC vets. I don't listen to random people on the internet...you are a random person who clearly said do not use mometamax. Random. Not a vet. The OP asked for experiences and I shared mine...I can promise you I have cared for more pups than I can count and many have safely used that medication. I shared that and I shared the fact that I continue to use it on other pups as prescribed. I never told anyone not to use anything or not use it like you did! I, too, hope that people don't listen to your random advice and speak with their vets about their concerns.

4. Yes, that is true and it is why I said that pup will not be on it again...it does not mean that no other pup can take it safely. :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

This has gotten VERY juvenile! :eyeballpc
The key word in YOUR first sentence was m-o-s-t!!!!!!!!!!

HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!

Happy that you can see that. Now perhaps people can make up their own minds after consulting with their vets.

Thanks, you do the same.

I've used mometamax multiple time with no ill effects and I wouldn't hesitate to use it again. Zymox is not used to treat existing infections. Two different products for two very different situations and uses.

Lol. Zymox rabbit trail on this thread.

There are different Zymox products. One of them CAN be used to treat bacterial, viral, and yeast infections. From personal experience I can only confirm that it works for yeast.

Thanks for the clarification, Ellie May. The only Zymox I could find was the OTC version which is used as a preventative.

Mini just finished a 10 day, 2x a day treatment with this....she can still hear and is happy as a pup can be!

Dog went deaf after Mometamax
 

Madison is a 12 year old Boxer/ Standard Poodle Mix. On 1/7/16 Madison had some tan goop on her ear. I told my husband Chris to mention it to the vet tomorrow at her annual check up. 1/8/16 he asked the vet to check her ears. The vet tech took a swab of both ears, Madison jerked her head. Vet looked in her ears and said that both ears looked good, but one was a little pink. He told her that was the ear that Madison moved when the tech was swabing. Madison is 12 years old. She has never had an ear infection. She did not have any hearing issues. She heard perfectly. Most of the time we call her by simply making a psst noise. When my husband was paying the bill the vet intern came out with a box, he said it was for Madison's ears. My husband asked if she had an infection. The intern said not really, this is just to be safe. Intern told him to use 8 drops in each ear, once a day, for 1 week. 1/9/16 we started the Mometamax ear drops as directed. On Friday 1/15 Madison was asleep by the door and didn't hear us come home. We thought she was just sleeping soundly. Saturday she seemed lethargic. Sunday 1/17 she wasn't listening when we called her. We realized that she was completely deaf. She was sitting between my feet and I screamed her name but she didn't respond. I went online and found out that a lot of other animals have gone deaf using Mometamax. I called Merck, they were closed for the weekend, and Monday they will be closed for Martin Luther King Holiday. We read the warning paper in the prescription box. It said to flush her ears out. We went to the pet store and bought Nutri pet ear wash. We flushed out her ears 2 minutes on each ear, gave her 2 - 25mg Benedril and rushed to Emergency vet. She checked Madison. She said this is a known rare side effect. She prescribed Prednisone steroid twice a day for 3 days, then once a day for 3 days, then 1/2 pill for 3 days then 1/2 every other day for the rest of the 4 week period. She recommended that we do not use any more ear wash, just give it time to heal, and it may take a few months. She said they would fax a report to our vet and we should call our vet to follow up. We called out vet on Monday, she said they use Mometamax all the time, and she has only heard of animals going deaf two times. We told her we would call Merck on Tuesday. She said to let her know how Madison is doing on Wednesday. She said she may want to change the course of the medication. 1/19 I called Merck and Spoke to Dr Sylvester, got a case # & gave her permission to talk to my vet. Dr Sylvester said that 80 percent of animals recover. I was very upset to learn that no one is keeping track of the remedies or solutions that worked in the 80 % of animals that recovered fully. 1/20 I spoke to my vets office and they said after speaking to Merck, my vet agreed that Madison should be on the 5 day cycle of Prednisone instead of the 3 day cycle. I also called the FDA and left a message. I read online that people have been reporting deaf animals from Mometamax since 2010. I want to know what is being done to stop this. Maybe vets need training on what animals are at a greater risk for loosing their hearing. I think that someone should be keeping a database of successful treatments to help more animals make a full recovery. 1/21 I called Merck again because I read online that another case in 2011 also said that 80% of animals recover. I wanted to know if this is the stock answer or if more research has been done since 2011 to increase the odds that Madison will hear again. I also wanted to make sure I was not missing out on a critical window of opportunity to expedite Madisons recovery. Dr Sylvester was out today so I spoke to another doctor. I explained that I did not want to wait 6 weeks and then find out that I could have, or should have done something differently. She assured me that we were doing everything right and unfortunately we can only follow the vets instructions and wait. I called the FDA again and left another message. I strongly encourage anyone affected by Mometamax to contact Merck co 800-224-5318 and get a case documented. Then contact the FDA & fill out Form No. 0910-0645 Veterinary Adverse drug Reaction / Lack of Effectiveness or Product Defect Report. The form has to be sent in the mail. You can also call the FDA and leave a message 888-463-6332 or you can email them AskCVM@fda.hhs.gov. I want everyone in the world to be aware of the devistating effects we experienced from this medication and I would like some assistance on the collected data to give Madison the most successful chance of recovery. We are praying that she will recover.
Thank you
Mary O

I have had it happen. Caught it quickly and took the pup to the vet where his ears were flushed. Thankfully his hearing returned within a few days.

I hope Madison's hearing returns.

There are side effects to any medication. We, as consumers, need to always look up side effects of the meds we take and/or give to our children and/or pets. As for mometamax, I have used it on many pups without a problem except for the one, and I have used it since. The antibiotic in it is what causes this: Gentamycin. Good to keep in mind that this antibiotic is known to have quite a few side effects. Opthalmogists use it to reduce the pressure in an eye of a dog with glaucoma and shrink it...but the dosage sometimes is difficult because of the side effects. It has its uses, but as I said, they all have side effects. Once it happens to you it does not matter that it may only happen to a small amount. It becomes major

very balanced perspective and echo my thoughts re: lepto vaccine
just cuz some bad reactions occur, this is expected in a minority and does not guarantee a bad reaction .. on the other hand, it does not negate how unfortunate any genuine bad reaction is to an individual who experienced it

education is key but meds are proven effective beyond side effects and so should never be written off in their entirety cuz of third party information/rumor/speculation etc.

it's dangerous to paint every situation in general terms

hope Madison gets some answers...