Ear Infections Rant
 

So BOTH of my dogs came down with ear infections! My vet said that it is because of allergies. Ever since I moved to this apartment, my pups are having more and more problems. Bella will lick the top of her paws until they are raw. (This was in the fall) Theo will lick between his toes and the webbing will get really swollen and raw. (In the winter. Probably from the salt.) They both got kennel cough from puppy day care last spring. And this spring they both get ear infections!!! Poor Bells, she would yelp if she laid on her back and her ear touched her bed and they were both shaking their heads constantly. They are both three years old. Is this much sickness normal??? I am just glad that my vet doesnt cost me an arm and a leg! I cannot believe how much they are other vets charging. There is an office fee and an exam fee and all the tests and medicines and there are also fees if you have never been to that vet before. And of course they want to charge two office fees because I have two dogs.

One vet prices:
Office Fee $45 X2
Tests $20 X2
Meds $20 X2
Total $170

My vet (Animal Clinic on Mosel in Kalamazoo, MI) <3<3<3 really is the best.
Office Fee $32 X1
Meds $18 X2
Total $68

My vet also said that because the ear infection was caused by a seasonal allergy, I can expect it every spring. :( However, he said that I would just need to come in and pick up the meds next time. No office visit, no office fee!

I also got my heartworm test for $22 each. (Super good price) I really dont know how people can afford vet care at those rates. I know that you some may say...'if you cant afford it, you shouldnt have a dog'. Trust me, I make more then most people...and I just think it is ridicules to be overcharged. I mean, it really shouldnt be cheaper for a human to go to a Dr. then a dog to a vet.
BTW, it has been 8 days since we started the meds and my pups are back at 100%!

That sounds very stressful! Good to hear your dogs are back to good health. I have been really lucky with Thor so far. I know what you mean about vet bills, I'm just thinking I've spent almost $1K on vet bills so far, and I feel lucky! The first bill was for a general check up and 4 teeth extractions, so I knew well in advance I'd be paying through the nose for that ($800) and I took him in for an emergency visit for vomiting (visit and meds $200).

I would like to say in defense of vets that it is harder to get into veterinary school than medical school... also, they have to know about a much wider range of systems, AND their patients can't talk. :)

That is def true! I know that the cost of college is high and running a vet clinic is even higher, but I just think it sucks because a lot of people dont bring their dogs to the vet because of the cost. My DH was really worried about their ears because his family had a Chihuahua when he was little and it got an ear infection, and it never got treated and his dog ended up with a floppy ear, and alot of pain I am sure. Not that it was right of them to not get it treated, but it might have been an option if the vet bills were not so high.

With some of those symtpoms, I'd want to rule out mites, yeast, and allergies (longer process on last one). If they do have one of those things, and it's not treated with the right protocol - they'll continue to have infections and issues coming/going. Have you ruled out if any of this is related to food?

If you want to track pollen in your area (I signed for the automatic emails), go here: http://pollen.com/forecast.asp. I use this to track symtpoms in my Marcel, who has pollen issues. :)

I'm just curious what med did your vet put your furbabies on for the seasonal allergies?

On the point of it being "cheaper" for a human to go to the doctor-- human visits are cheaper because they have insurance. For a while I was uninsured, and a visit to my doctor was well over $100.

Both of my dogs are 3 years old so it is highly unlikely that they have ear mites. And my vet put them on Mometamax. It contains an anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antifungal. It does not treat the allergies, just the infection. He thinks that the ear infection was caused by a seasonal allergy because they have various other reactions to the different season like itching and lacrimation.

Yep, I agree w/ that - Marcel can easily get 1 or 2 bouts of eye infections (or ear) during allergy season here. He's been on Atopica now for about a month, and WOW, am I glad I pursued it...world of difference. :)

If your dogs are exposed to other dogs...it's entirely possible to them to get ear mites.