Ear...absolutely exasperated! Has op today...

[Sheryl]

So, I took Kali back to see Laurie for the third time because her ear is so bad. Again, Laurie cannot see down it for the swelling   She has Veraflox tablets again to take the swelling down enough so she can see what's going on it, although she says it looks dirty. I am at a loss to know where these infections are coming from. She is on Lily's Kitchen, I cannot get a better food for her and I have months of alternating between the grain free and normal food so it isn't one or the other as she has had infections on both. It always starts the same, scratching, then it gets swollen, then she starts with the head shaking. I keep her ears clean so I'm not sure what else to do. Any ideas?

[JennyBee]

It's incredibly frustrating, isn't it

I had massive problems there with Brodie's left ear, it took three different steroid products to sort it out. It turned out to be a 'polyp-like object' causing bother, which led to another bacterial infection. I've got to wonder if it has always been there as it's always been that left ear that gets affected. Is Kali's ear drum intact? I seem to remember at one point they were damaged? Apologies if I am thinking of someone else... Next flare up we are getting referred back to the specialist for allergy tests, and I've got to hope something shows up (and it's something I can change). Although things have massively improved since last year I feel we are going round and round in circles and not getting anywhere

[Sheryl]

No, you remember right chick, she ruptured the membranes in both ears at one point... which did heal. The last time I am sure we thought it was a cross infection from the hole in her soft palate.  Strangely, Lyla also had an infection in one ear but only the one and only once I think. I feel so sorry for Kali. I did ask about maintenance dose of antibiotics for her palate as she has multiple infections there but Laurie was concerned about her building up a resistance. I have to do something, I cannot watch her get infection after infection.

It must be so sore for her and I want to stop it but I don't know what 'it' is!

[Poppsie]

Sorry no advice for little Kali  but sending loads of healing thoughts for her x x x

[MaggieR]

Is it worth getting a referral Sheryl to see if they can spot something that Laurie's missing? gentle squidges for Kali xx

[JennyBee]

Is it worth getting a referral Sheryl to see if they can spot something that Laurie's missing? gentle squidges for Kali xx

I agree, maybe getting a camera put down would find out if there was something going on deep in the ear, if it hasn't been done in the past. It's expensive, but worth it.

It really is awful. Even when Brodie doesn't have an infection she is incredibly sensitive about getting her ear handled, I'm not sure if she's been left with some pain or if it's just the memory of it. It makes keeping the ear clean an unpleasant experience for us both.

It's odd that it is always the same ear. It's interesting to read about her cleft palette - Brodie had a rather severe underbite as a pup and had to have surgery - three teeth were removed from her left side. It does make me wonder if perhaps there is a connection...

[Sheryl]

I suppose nothing can be ruled out! Kali aspirates drinks sometimes, food also. I did speak to the surgeon at Royal Dick Vets but he said he thought because of where it is, it might not work and there is a distinct possibility he could make it worse.

You just want to sort it for them but don't know where to start. If it is her palate I cannot do anything except insist on the maintenance dose. However, if it happens again I might ask Laurie to take it further. So frustrating not to help her......

[linda c]

Ear problems can be so difficult to treat as there are so many different things that cause them.
Blue had an ear problem that went on and on, red, swollen and smelly. After lots of different antibiotics and drops my vet sent an ear swab off which showed up a severe Malassezial infection, which is yeast.
He had Marbocyl antibiotics and Gentecin ear drops which cleared it up within a few weeks. We flushed his ears out weekly with Cleanaural ear cleaner and all was well. That was back in 2007 and he's never had any more problems with his ears. I clean them monthly with Quistel ear cleaner and we only get a small amount of wax.

Later that year he was referred to a skin specialist because of severe itching and hair loss, the results being he had Malassezial Dermatitis. With the correct treatment for him he's fine. Looking good for nearly 10 and hopefully will stay that way for a long while yet.

It may be worth a second opinion if her problem keeps re-occurring as there may some sort of treatment that will work for her.

[Countrygirl]

Poor Kali, I hope you find the answer to help her poorly ears.

[Sheryl]

End of day 2, no difference

[JennyBee]

sorry to hear there's no improvement. Sheryl, can Kali take steroids? The tablets are not an option here, but we've had some success with the cortavance spray - thankfully it doesn't cause the upset the tablets do!

[Sheryl]

I can ask doll. Thank you. This is day 3 and her ear looks the same to me. It's almost like a cauliflower ear it's so swollen but bright red too. .  I went into Inverurie and picked up Zantac for her as I seem to recall the vet saying the Veraflox were a strong antibiotic. She is due back to see Laurie on Wednesday so if there is no improvement, I'm not coming out of there until they have some plan of action....

[Helen]

oh poor wee girl 

Hope you can get this sorted Sheryl

[JennyBee]

That sounds rather familiar to Brodie's recent problem - her ear was 'raspberry red'. I had to use a steroid wash, steroid drops, and the steroid spray to get rid of it, it took some time . Hope you can come up with a plan - if the topic of referral to a specialist comes up I went to see Donald Mactaggart at Thistle Vets in Edinburgh, and I highly recommend him.

[Sheryl]

We were going to put the caravan on an Edinburgh site......that might be more of a better idea than we thought!

At this rate I will have been round Scotland to see specialists......John Ferguson Fife , Malcolm Davidson Edinburgh and now maybe Edinburgh again! I will ask about a referral to Mr MacTaggart if I feel that we are going round in circles. Thanks again x

Thanks Helen. She isn't a whiner like Lyla but it must be so sore. I seem to be spending my entire time pushing her leg back down to stop her scratching because as soon as she does, it makes her cry out in pain