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

[LurcherGirl]

I am wondering whether it would be worth taking Kali off any processed food and grains and perhaps just go on a die of raw meat for a few weeks. I know that my spaniel is allergic to any processed food regardless how high quality it is (he throws up daily if I feed him any meaningful quantity of kibble). He has multiple food allergies (causing skin problems) and the only diet that keeps him itch/infection free is one type of raw meat (in his case turkey). Might be worth picking one type of meat and feed him raw for a few weeks. (And if you use a mince that contains bone and offal, then it is pretty well balanced too).

And I am sure you already know about Thornit which I sprinkle in my spaniels' ears when I see them scratching more than just a casual scratch. That's probably once every month or two. That of course is only possible though if the ear is fairly healthy to start with.

Might also be worth checking the thyroid (even if there are no other symptoms) as hypothyroidism can cause persistent infections of skin and ears too. :-)

[Sheryl]

I cannot feed raw anymore. She was a raw fed dog but the hole in her soft palate traps meat and unless she coughs it back up, it just sits and rots. So does kibble but to a much lesser extent. As Laurie seems to think that some of these ear infections might be a cross infection from her palate, I had to take her off the raw. It's all very complex

I will check the thyroid thing too though, thank you. No stone unturned, that my motto!

[LurcherGirl]

I see, I understand. I assume she also had the infections when she was on raw as well anyway.

Re thyroid, you will need a comprehensive test, not just the basic one that most vets do. Check out info by Jean Dodds re what you need. 

[Sheryl]

She had nasal infections but these ear infections are relatively new. I will ask about the thyroid test. Thanks.

[Sheryl]

I have absolutely no idea what in Gods name is going on with Kalis ears. She isn't scratching as much but it is still red raw inside. I suppose the major change is that the wax has changed colour from dark brown to almost cream coloured...but there is still so much of it. Poor wee poppet.

[ollie nathan's mum]

Oh Sheryl, I don't know how I have missed this! I had a cocker a good few years back, she had a small hole in her pallet and had terrible ear problems. She ended up having what I can only remember as an artificial ear canal making below her ear, her original ear was "closed off". It was a major op and not very successful. Is it possible for them to repair her palate?

[JennyBee]

It does sound odd: I have never seen a cream coloured discharge before! I take it your vet had done a swab to see if there's any bacteria present? I hope the rawness goes down soon, I guess it's good she isn't scratching as much.

They just don't deserve this, do they

[Helly D]

I was going to suggest aural resection too, where an artificial ear canal is made. I think it may have gone out of fashion as there are more drugs available to tackle re-current ear infections. I was a vet nurse about 30 odd years ago and we did a fair few then. My old cocker Sam almost had one because of his awful ears about 20 years ago as vet had run out of options drug wise. We saw a homeopathic vet who treated his problems and we managed to avoid an operation. That would probably be my next suggestion - to find a holistic vet to see if they can help.

[Sheryl]

Oh Sheryl, I don't know how I have missed this! I had a cocker a good few years back, she had a small hole in her pallet and had terrible ear problems. She ended up having what I can only remember as an artificial ear canal making below her ear, her original ear was "closed off". It was a major op and not very successful. Is it possible for them to repair her palate?

No, no repair is possible as the hole is in a place that makes it virtually impossible. The surgeon at Edinburgh said there was no guarantee it could help and there was a distinct possibility he could make things worse. I did suggest a maintenance dose of antibiotics to stop the palate infections in the first place but Laurie said she would be worried she would build up an immunity. Strangely it was the surgeon that mentioned maintenance doses when I asked what I could do to stop those recurrent infections....and I asked the same question as Laurie! He said that at her age, they would never run out of alternatives.

The discharge looks and has the consistency of just wax but it's almost cream coloured. I'm wondering if its wax but being coloured by discharge. Ach, I'm just grasping at straws! No, they don't deserve this and I am just so downhearted that I'm not fixing it for her. Anyway, she sees Laurie on Wednesday so hopefully we can come up with a plan.

[ollie nathan's mum]

Will be thinking of you both 

[Christal]

Good luck.  Sending healing thoughts 

[Sheryl]

Dreading today.......   I am hoping her ear canal is better and it's just the outside that's sore. Why though?

[MacTavish Boys]

Thinking of you and Kalli today, sending lots of positive thoughts over 
Stephanie, George and Hamish xxx

[kalami]

Just read this, thinking of you

[Chocolate Hero]

Thinking of you. Wish i had a helpful suggestion/cure for you. Poor thing.