Opinions please.

kirstyhen

kirstyhen

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As we have such a plethera of knowledge on here (and Cayla and CC who just like to stick their beaks in :p :D) I'd like you to help me in my dilemma!

So, last week Otto developed a headshake, took him to the Vet who said he had waxy, imflammed ears and prescribed Ear Cleaner, Drops and a check-up a week later.

So I have been using the ear drops and cleaner as told and Otto has stopped shaking his head. Ears look clean, no redness, he isn't scratching them and they don't seem sore to touch.

Took him back to the Vet who came across as very negative (made me feel pretty useless TBH), said they had improved but they were still bad and that he needed to come in to have them cleaned under anaesthetic.

Now at the time I just followed his advice, and booked him in. But now I am starting to wonder whether he should have them done.
My Boss (owned kennels for over 40 years, so very experienced but 'old school') says she can't see anything wrong with his ears and I should ring and cancel. At the time OH looked through the ear thingy and said he couldn't see anything, but then he is a bit of a pleb anyway :D
I'm slightly worried that poking around in his ears is going to make them worse, but then worried that if we don't get on top of it, they'll never improve.

Vets is a big referral practice, so I am inclined to think they are of the 'all guns blazing' variety - first question he asked before deciding what to do was 'is he insured'.

So, do you think I should go to another Vet and get a second opinion before putting him through it, especially as he will have to be anaesthetised (I'm not hugely worried, but it's always a risk and I don't want to do it unecessarily) or do you think I should just get it over and done with?

Thanks in advance :D
 
In comes the beak!

If you're happy, I'd leave it.

Perhaps the vet thinks a proper clean will alleviate the problem in the longer term rather than wait for it to keep cropping up, treat it, wait for it to keep cropping up, treat it.

It's up to you, your dog, seek a second opinion if you think it will shed any new light but if he is not in discomfort and seems well in himself I wouldn't go for anything invasive.

My friend followed her vet's (the one I left...) advice to the letter, her dog had his whole ear canal removed and there has been NO improvement whatsoever, just a dog who has no ear canal and is still in discomfort. And they still can't tell her what exactly is wrong.
 
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Yes i would get a second opinion.
We had the same problem with our Brittany.
Vets wanted to do the same and we took him for a second opinion and they said they couldn't see anything wrong with his ears and just to try and dry them out after he had been in water as that was probably what was causing the inflammation and the head shake.

He flared up again once since in 7 years.
 
No idea - just thought I would stick my beak in..................:D:D:D

TBH you know snotbag better then the vet so if you can see that he is not in distress and is no longer headshaking I would use up the drops etc and leave it, only going back if it comes back at some point in the future. Is he quite happy for you to touch his ears etc?:confused: if so maybe it would be worth giving his ears a clean youraelf every now and then - would have thought it would be more of a problem in the winter when going in and out of minging water,hedges etc etc

Have you Ma and Pa not had to deal with spangle ear problems with their tribe?:confused: St Sweep despite his beat efforts has never had a problem so I am no use really.:(
 
Dexter used to get a recurring ear problem. Head shaking and scratching at it. Vet gave me Otomax ear drop suspension which clears the problem up within 24 hours usually. He has been fine for ages now (rushes off to touch wood)!!
I think I would be inclined to cancel and see how he goes.
 
CC, that's what I'm inclined to think, he is happy so why go so invasive. But I think you're right about the Vets thoughts, I just think it could end up spiralling out of control - that didn't work so try this, now this, oh nothing's worked you have a deaf dog let's stitch up his ears - extreme I know, but I do know someone it happened to.
Obviously the cost isn't putting me off, he is insured with no exclusions until we've spent 7k and we've already paid the excess.

Thanks Katie, I think I will, he did have an wax problem when we first got him, but the Vet was more than happy with how we were coping with it.

Slinky, he would happily let me do anything to him, he'd let me drag him around by his legs until they fell off if I wanted to! He is just that kind of dog, so the fact he isn't bothered by me touching them doesn't say much!! But he did squeak when the Vet first looked at them, but not this time, which makes me think they aren't as painful. We have been cleaning them daily and although there is still wax coming out, it is a lot less and they don't smell.
Ma and Pa just think £200 for anything is ridiculous!! :D Although Mum's IWS had ear problems (as well as hundreds of others!) and no Vet ever suggested an ear flush under GA, even the huge referral practice in Surrey he went to!

Mattilda, we have some Suralan ear drops for him which seem to be doing the job.

Think I will see if I can take him to my Mum's Vet and see what they say. I'm inclined to cancel at the moment, it just seems a bit OTT to me.
 
A bit of wax is healthy, as long as it is not excessive, at least that is what my vet says. If he seems ok at the moment, I'd wait and see for a bit, keep cleaning his ears regularly and see how it goes.

Have to say my vets are fab, they are very much of the 'no poking about unless absolutely necessary' school of thought:)
 
Spudlet said:
A bit of wax is healthy, as long as it is not excessive, at least that is what my vet says. If he seems ok at the moment, I'd wait and see for a bit, keep cleaning his ears regularly and see how it goes.

Have to say my vets are fab, they are very much of the 'no poking about unless absolutely necessary' school of thought:)
Click to expand...

That's the kind of Vet I want!!! My last Vet, although they were expensive as a practice, she was fab. The Vet I would like to use here is just so far away! :rolleyes:
The whole 'a bit of wax is healthy' is what concerns me about doing a complete flush, I don't want his ears to go into overdrive trying to replenish the waxc they've got rid of! :D
 
The one in Hinkley that we used to take Barney too was good as well, but that would be way too far for you I guess.:(
 
Yup, too far :(

The problem I have is, that some of the Vets are my kind of Vets, but it's just luck of who you get when you make the appointment, depending on what day you can get there.

Mummy just text me (she stalks me on here :p) and she says she thinks putting him under GA and flushing his ears is a bit extreme, so I reckon I will cancel the appointment and get a second opinion. And look for a more positive Vet :D
I miss my lovely NZ Vet who said Otto was the coolest dog he had ever met and took the most laid back approach when Otto ate razor blades!! :( :D
 
Ooo-er! I'm glad my ma doesn't look for me on here... at least I blimmin' well hope she doesn't **looks about furtively and awaits maternal smack round back of head**:D

I think your mum is right though, if it was driving him frantic fair enough, but why put him through a GA when he's ok to all intents and purposes?
 
Bit late to stick my beak in, but I would cancel if I were in your shoes. If he is showing no sign of irritation it seems a bit daft to put him through a GA. If the problem starts again then maybe time to consider further treatment, but not when he seems absolutely fine.
 
I'd leave it TBH, if he is ok now then maybe keep up with the cleaner once a week and take it from there. If no problems then cut it down to once every 2 weeks.

Rocky and Ellie have bad ears. They wanted to put Rocky (the rottie) out to clean too but vet cancelled as the method mentioned ^^ worked so no need.

You're not stingy at all, i'm sure you are the same as the rest of us ... you don't mind paying to help them but only AS and WHEN not just throwing cash to their Ferrari fund willy-nilly!!!!!!!!!

Which drops? Surolan?
 
as long as you are happy that the dog is happy i wouldnt go for invasive treatment! Ears in humans are self cleaning and regulating so i dare say dogs are too! he possibly had a grass seed thus inducing an infection! keep watching him and check his ears daily! use an ear cleaner once every 2 to 3 weeks and if he is fine now dont try to fix what isnt broken! remember vets have a business to run.
 
If he seems ok I'd leave it to see how it goes, finish/complete the treatment of drops, my vet gives me canural when my springer gets manky ears, she usually had a bout when she's been swimming, he also told me to use some stuff you can put in up to 3 times a week (not at the same time as the other stuff when its cleared up), can't for the life of me remember what thats called but when I get home I'll check and let you know, it helps to dry out the ear and keeps the ph balance or summit, she doesn't like it but I do do it if she's been swimming.

If it was happening ALL the time I'd investigate but if its now and again then I wouldn't worry.
 
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