Recurring Ear Infection

Bearsmum

Bearsmum

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Hi,

Just wondering if anyone has any advice; my 13 yro Cocker Spaniel had an ear infection before Christmas, I treated it with some drops I'd had from the vets previously and all seemed to clear up pretty quickly. About 10 days later it came back, so re-treated and all seemed fine again.
However it soon reappeared so I took her to the vets, given antibiotics and cleaner and again it seemed to work, but soon started again, back to vets; this time they took a swab and said it was quite a complex infection which only two type of antibiotics could treat. Followed the course, with metacam for the inflammation but still the same outcome. Next they had her in under sedation and flushed the ear, I was told there was a plug of wax and puss near the eardrum which they removed, she followed a course of oral antibiotics for two weeks, plus metacam and daily cleaning.
Now we are just over three weeks post flush and this morning her ear is awful again; really wet, smelly and lots puss looking discharge. I will take her back on Monday, but just wondering if anyone has any advice really - something to boost her immune system, some other therapy?
In herself she's fine, still up for her runs and eating well, I'm just getting frustrated with not being able to clear this up and I know she's not enjoying going to the vets!
Many thanks - JD
 
I use thornit powder regularly for recurring ear conditions. Might be worth having a look at that? It's very cheap and lasts for months.
 
I know the answer but it's not a normal way of treating an ear infection but I did it under the advice of my vet when everything else had failed and we were looking at pts. PM me if you want to know what I did as I don't want everybody jumping on me !
 
You have to be really on some of these and accept the (big) bills. Weekly flushes and regular swabs to check for changing resistance patterns to the antibiotics. Vinegar can work really well for pseudomonas which is the hardest one to fix but only under veterinary advice/supervision as very irritant and if any damage to the ear drum may cause much bigger problems. Do not stop treatment until ears are perfect for at least a week then monitor really closely for at least a year, any signs of problems swab first treat second. There are various surgical options but to be honest you have to get the infection under control first anyway.
 
Thanks for the replies; MM, I'll look into thornit.Bonny, will send you a PM, we're not at a PTS situation yet, but for the first time yesterday I started to get concerned that I wasn't going to beat this and it could deteriorate, her age is probably not helping.
P thanks I have been treating with the cleaner even though it appeared OK. I will be taking her back to the vets tomorrow and asking to see one of the more experienced vets as so far they have all been quite young ones whose first language isn't English and if I'm honest they are not giving me confidence.
Cost is not an issue, I've spent about £1,000 so far on her ear, but to be fair apart from a sickness bug a few years ago and some poor teeth in her older years she's never cost a penny. All I'm concerned about is her quality of life - today she's spent all day running round at an offroad event with her best friend, had a chicken supper and is now snoozing in front of the wood burner!
Thanks again - JD
 
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