Psuedomonas anyone? so fed up now

Quick update, Freya has been in for irrigation again today and the vet had a look with the camera. The membrane has healed a bit more and the ulceration has reduced by 50%.
She is now on the Triz-EDTA regime starting tomorrow, everything crossed.....
 
Good - fingers (and everything else) crossed now... Remember that the trizEDTA-regime may and should be continued for months, not weeks...

If you do want a referral at some point, I would first of all suggest a dermatologist - like Susan Paterson - rather than a surgeon. A surgeon will undoubtedly try to solve the problem with the scalpel - while a dermatologist will try to avoid that as far as possible as they see surgery as a failure on their part. That's just the nature of those specialists...;)
 
So another 9 days on the new regime, cleaning with saline, using the Triz-EDTA followed by antibiotic and I really feel Freya is getting worse not better. I am cleaning large amounts of black slime out of her ears everyday and the visible bit of her inside ear is now getting sore so she is reluctant to let me do anything.
Synne, I know you say the treatment needs to be continued for months not weeks but is there any point if there is no improvement at all?
I am due back in the vet with Freya and Twiglet (who is also on the treatment) tomorrow. Freya will have her ear flushed again.
I am just getting to the point where I don't think we will ever get rid of this and would it be kinder to my dog to have a once off horrible operation but at least be done with it? The worry is if they all keep passing it around. I'm not sure my mental health can cope with 6 ears being ablated :-(
 
I can't understand, from a scientist perspective, how if a culture has been performed and the strain identified the vet has not managed to come up with an AB regime that will shift this reasonably effectively. I think if I were you I would be consulting another vet as 5 months sounds like an awfully long time for any infection to be rumbling on.

Are you sure the little dog doesn't have an underlying problem with her immune system or something going on?

ETS: I know nothing about this in dogs. I am just a lab rat who is curious about how treatment can be so successful for so long!
 
Pseudomonas is a very tough bacteria to clear at the best of times as it quickly builds resistance to antibiotic's. The fact it can make biofilms to protect itself from antibiotic treatment means its a serious issue..and makes the flushes and cleaning out the debris an essential part of the treatment. It can take months to clear up even in cases where resistance isn't a problem..so its not just a matter of one sensitive antibiotic and all will be right at the end of the course. The bacteria needs to be gone from cytology for several weeks before it can be called clear and getting to that stage is a long haul treatment.

Underlying problems are possible with the likes of hypothyroidism, flea allergies, food allergies and atopy all causes for recurrent problems...but they are not present in all cases.

Fingers crossed for you O.P that all goes well tomorrow. It sounds like you have a serious and very frustrating infection on your hands but with treatment you still have a chance of getting on top of it medically.
However at the end of the day an ear ablation operation would not be the end of the world either and would solve the issue and prevent recurrence. However my only concern would be this infection needs to be gotten under control in your other dogs before Freya has the procedure as post op she will be free the affected ear but an infection in the opposite ear could end in complete deafness.
 
Thank you both for your input. Aru has it exactly right, from a layman's point of view (which is what I am and you two obviously aren't) it seems the bacteria just keeps mutating and hence is resistant to the AB. The Triz-EDTA is supposed to stop it resistig the AB hence the regime we are currently following.
Freya has had her ear flushed again today and the otoscope used. Vet thinks it has healed a bit more from last week, still ulcerated but better. We are continuing treatment for 2 more weeks then she is back ni for another assessment on March 14th. Also on steroids for reducig the inflammation.
The vet spent a long time with me today discussing options, she feels that Freya's quality of life is not being affected other than a few minutes of discomfort when we apply the treatment. She is still enjoying her flyball and runs around our field like a loon with the others. Her ear canals are not swollen or deformed so my vet still feels we have to persevere in finding a treatmet which will work without resorting to surgery yet. She is also concerned about the 2nd ear becoming infected. In fact all 3 dogs have only had it in one ear which seems odd to me if they are passing it between themselves.
My vet thinks it has happened due to their immunity being compromised, Pippa who started it all but at the moment is testing clear, has multiple allergies. My vet does not think that Freya's is an allergic respose, I know she would allergy test her if she thought it was. We don't know why or how the bacteria first got a hold, I think it is a bit like MRSA in humans, it is present everywhere but not everyone develops symptoms.
I feel a bit happier tonight after what the vet has said, I have a lot of confidence in her thank goodness. We are nowhere near winning the battle but we haven't lost it yet.
 
Sorry OP - I didn't see your latest posts until now. However, in the meantime Aru wrote a good reply, and also the examination and discussion with your vet today seem positive. Yes - as long as your vet feels it's getting better (albeit only a slight improvement at this stage) and your dog is happy in herself - I would continue.

Re-assessment every 2-3 weeks seems like a good plan. Hopefully a further slight improvement every time, but as Aru says - just be prepared for a long haul... Sounds like your vet is doing what is necessary at the moment, but as I previously mentioned - if she feels she needs help/support, a dermatology specialist would be my first call (and this will certainly not automatically mean surgery - unless it has gone too far by that stage).

Very strange that all your dogs are affected - and all in just one ear. No obvious explanation for that one...

So - carry on as you are and stay positive!
 
Thank you Synne, your support means a lot as it is difficult when I have no-one to share with that has any idea of how awful it is.
It is difficult to suggest to my vet getting help/support as it would seem like I wasn't trusting her to do the best for my dogs. I know she has spent a lot of time researching and also speaking to the drug companies, she is certainly putting the effort in for us!
 
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