Ear infection????

[Graleyne]

Oh no! I think Susanah has an ear infection. She's been scratching at her right ear and whining, then when I cleaned it tonight dark, yucky stuff came out and it smells really bad.

She has a vet appt for Friday to get her last set of shots, but I think I'm going to see if they can get her in tomorrow and hold off on the shots until we get this ear thing taken care of.

I am so worried. She hasn't acted like she's felt good today. They can clear up an ear infection pretty quickly with antibiotics right?

[Iheartroxie]

Poor Susanah! Ear infections are no fun!! I would definitely try to take her to the vet tomorrow. They will hold off on her shots until she is off of the antibiotics. (My vet held off on Roxie's shots when she was on AB for kennel cough). I would imagine that Susanah would start to feel better once on the AB. Get well soon Susanah!

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by Graleyne

Oh no! I think Susanah has an ear infection. She's been scratching at her right ear and whining, then when I cleaned it tonight dark, yucky stuff came out and it smells really bad.

She has a vet appt for Friday to get her last set of shots, but I think I'm going to see if they can get her in tomorrow and hold off on the shots until we get this ear thing taken care of.

I am so worried. She hasn't acted like she's felt good today. They can clear up an ear infection pretty quickly with antibiotics right?

Could be a yeast infection or a bacterial infection. Get her to the vet asap. It could also be mites.....

Once the Doc prescribes meds according to the infection, you'll see a marked improvement within hours.

[marcerella02]

Originally Posted by Mardelin

Could be a yeast infection or a bacterial infection. Get her to the vet asap. It could also be mites.....

Once the Doc prescribes meds according to the infection, you'll see a marked improvement within hours.

sorry this is off topic but i just wanted to say that Mardelin, you give such great advice!!! i see a lot of threads where you help someone out and make them feel better! just wanted to say thanks!

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by marcerella02

sorry this is off topic but i just wanted to say that Mardelin, you give such great advice!!! i see a lot of threads where you help someone out and make them feel better! just wanted to say thanks!

Thanks so much, we're all here to help one another out.

Mary

[Graleyne]

Thank you! You really think she'll start to feel better that quick? I hope so!

I had planned on asking the vet about her scratching her ear (its her right one) so much, but now that I've noticed the stinky dark stuff I will definitely get her to the vet tomorrow even if it means a different vet or the ER vet!

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by Graleyne

Thank you! You really think she'll start to feel better that quick? I hope so!

I had planned on asking the vet about her scratching her ear (its her right one) so much, but now that I've noticed the stinky dark stuff I will definitely get her to the vet tomorrow even if it means a different vet or the ER vet!

Yes, she'll start feeling better very fast. If it's a yeast infection they'll prescribe Otomax and have you apply twice a day for 10 days, with flushing out once a day...be prepared for a greasy looking ear. If it's bacterial it'll require a different med. If it's mites, it'll require medication for mites. But, what you are describing, smelly and dark, it sounds like a yeast infection. Are you having the ear canal hair removed and applying a drying agent after you bathe?

[Graleyne]

She is only 16 weeks old and hasn't been to the groomers yet to have her ears done. I am scared to do it myself. I don't want to hurt her.

After I bathe her I swab her ears with alcohol applied with a cotton ball. I am too afraid to use a q-tip so I twist a cotton ball so it will fit and just swab it. Is there something else I should be using?

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by Graleyne

She is only 16 weeks old and hasn't been to the groomers yet to have her ears done. I am scared to do it myself. I don't want to hurt her.

After I bathe her I swab her ears with alcohol applied with a cotton ball. I am too afraid to use a q-tip so I twist a cotton ball so it will fit and just swab it. Is there something else I should be using?

Alcohol is fine, but use an eye dropper to make sure you get it in the ear canal, just a couple of drops. I use Vet Solutions ear cleaner that I use to get at the vet's, but rather expensive there. So, I order it from Revivalanimal.com.......much cheaper.

[Graleyne]

OK. Will look into getting some of that and use an eye dropper with the acohol until I can get some.


I feel kind of bad, I don't think I worried this much when my skinkids get ear infections.

[Graleyne]

You were right! Its a yeast infection.

The vet was great! I think I actually like him. He did put her under which I was scared sh*tless about, but he used the gas and he worked as quickly as he could while still doing a thorough job. He cleaned out any hair in her ears and cleaned them both really well.

I have some medicine I have to put in her right ear twice a day. That's going to be fun. She HATES having her ears messed with.

He said this should clear it up fairly quickly but to make sure I use it the whole time.

Whew! I am so relieved and Susanah seems like she feels better already.

Oh, and after she came around from the gas, she lifted her head and her right ear was standing up! Yay!

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by Graleyne

You were right! Its a yeast infection.

The vet was great! I think I actually like him. He did put her under which I was scared sh*tless about, but he used the gas and he worked as quickly as he could while still doing a thorough job. He cleaned out any hair in her ears and cleaned them both really well.

I have some medicine I have to put in her right ear twice a day. That's going to be fun. She HATES having her ears messed with.

He said this should clear it up fairly quickly but to make sure I use it the whole time.

Whew! I am so relieved and Susanah seems like she feels better already.

Oh, and after she came around from the gas, she lifted her head and her right ear was standing up! Yay!

You see I told you all would be fine. Now remember when you bathe her to find a good ear cleaner with a drying agent (Vet Solutions is what I found to be the best here's the web site animalrevival.com). And if you can't stomach to keep the hair from her ear canals clean yourself, take her to a groomer to have it done.

I have a Chi that I began grooming, whose ear wouldn't stand up. I sniffed the ear and whew. I flushed it and began Otomax on it.....the ear stood right up. No problem since.

Now you know what to look for and when you see the yucky junk and smell that horrible smell. You'll know what to do.

Glad all is well.

[Graleyne]

Thank you so much! I have a tendency to REALLY panic when it comes to her.

I will definitely be ordering the Vet Solutions stuff. I just told DH about it and that we need to get some.

I also read someplace to put cotton balls that have a little vaseline on them in her ears when I bathe her. Is it that what I should be doing? I put the cotton balls, but I haven't been putting vaseline on them because I was afraid of it causing problems. (add to my list of things I am paranoid about lol)

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by Graleyne

Thank you so much! I have a tendency to REALLY panic when it comes to her.

I will definitely be ordering the Vet Solutions stuff. I just told DH about it and that we need to get some.

I also read someplace to put cotton balls that have a little vaseline on them in her ears when I bathe her. Is it that what I should be doing? I put the cotton balls, but I haven't been putting vaseline on them because I was afraid of it causing problems. (add to my list of things I am paranoid about lol)

Cotton balls are not necessary....the vet solutions will be enough. I usually fold over the ears when pouring or spraying water over the top. Fold over ears and cup eyes with one hand and spray with the other.

[Graleyne]

Maybe we can try it that way now that I've figured out she is MUCH calmer and easier to bathe if I am in the tub with her.

She is feeling so much better already. She is running and climbing the walls and acting like my Susanah again.

Thank you again for your help! You're the best!