Dog with chronic ear issues?

[theleastofthese]

I wasn't sure where to post this but I know some people here have farm animals and possibly working dogs.

We took in a little heeler about 6+ months ago. He had bad dermatitis and was underweight (17 lbs, now 32 lbs). His ears were literally black on the inside. It took multiple vet visits to get them cleaned. He has no mites. He's been on two doses of antibiotics, steroids, and steroid shots; ear rinse/cleanser, ear drops, and he's on allergy medication. I've also changed his diet and he's on probiotics. These things have helped "some," but he still shakes his head, scratches/whines, and paws at his ears.

We're going back for another vet visit next week. This will literally be like 10th visit for his ears. The only thing that helps him is Prednisone which is terrible to have him on long term. Nothing else is helping at all.

Has anyone dealt with this sort of thing before? I'm completely out of ideas.

I'll post some before photos in case it helps with finding out what the issue could be.

 

[theleastofthese]

@Joleneakamama I know you're an animal expert at this point, lol any suggestions?

 

[Joleneakamama]

@Joleneakamama I know you're an animal expert at this point, lol any suggestions?

I'm no expert, but 30 years ago I got a hold of a little book written by a man in PA who had stopped vaccinating his horses and stopped all antibiotics and had healthier stock.
He claimed to have done over 30k feeding experiments, and developed his own immune support formulas ....formulas he claimed saved 98% of the animals folks used them on AFTER their vet said they were terminal!
My hubby's old gf used one of his formulas for founder....and her horse the vets recommended putting down recovered completely.

If that dog was mine I would use diluted DMSO in his ears (I put it in my own) you can get that online or we have it at our feed store like tractor supply. I would stop all medication/anti-life/antibiotics and feed a bit of vitamix 2 times a day (or more frequently if needed)
Vitamix is "supportive for times of metabolic stress." (All the criminal ef dee aye will let them say about it.....but I eat that stuff too and at least 4 times it has stopped me from getting sick AFTER I started to feel crummy)
You can order it online at this link

Vitamix-for-dairy

Vitamix Our top immune support product, featuring a concentrated blend of Vitamins, Chelated Minerals and Electrolytes essential for the immune system to function effectively. Vitamix-O is available for Organic operations. Call for more information on Organic Approval. Buy 4 Get 25% Off...

www.farmlifenutra.com

Probably less than one vet visit.....and far more health promoting.

I hope he gets better!

 

[theleastofthese]

I'm no expert, but 30 years ago I got a hold of a little book written by a man in PA who had stopped vaccinating his horses and stopped all antibiotics and had healthier stock.
He claimed to have done over 30k feeding experiments, and developed his own immune support formulas ....formulas he claimed saved 98% of the animals folks used them on AFTER their vet said they were terminal!
My hubby's old gf used one of his formulas for founder....and her horse the vets recommended putting down recovered completely.

If that dog was mine I would use diluted DMSO in his ears (I put it in my own) you can get that online or we have it at our feed store like tractor supply. I would stop all medication/anti-life/antibiotics and feed a bit of vitamix 2 times a day (or more frequently if needed)
Vitamix is "supportive for times of metabolic stress." (All the criminal ef dee aye will let them say about it.....but I eat that stuff too and at least 4 times it has stopped me from getting sick AFTER I started to feel crummy)
You can order it online at this link

Vitamix-for-dairy

Vitamix Our top immune support product, featuring a concentrated blend of Vitamins, Chelated Minerals and Electrolytes essential for the immune system to function effectively. Vitamix-O is available for Organic operations. Call for more information on Organic Approval. Buy 4 Get 25% Off...

www.farmlifenutra.com

Probably less than one vet visit.....and far more health promoting.

I hope he gets better!

Wow, thank you I was thinking it's most likely still a side effect from being malnourished for two years, prior to us keeping him. I was hoping there was some vitamins or something I could try. I don't want to keep him on the Prednisone for a long period of time.

That reminds me, the vet wanted me to use antibiotics for his skin condition when I first got him but I ended up using nu-stock from tractor supply and it cleared him right up. Wasn't sure if you've heard of it but if you ever deal with skin conditions in the future, look into that stuff.

 

[theleastofthese]

Probably less than one vet visit.....and far more health promoting.

I hope he gets better!

Thank you Gosh, I'm almost $1,000 in vet bills, just for his ears alone at this point. It's getting frustrating because nothing is helping

Do you think I should stop the probiotics while giving him the Vitamix?

 

[Mark C]

Try ClO2 (chlorine dioxide) and, yes, Ivermectin. There's "pour on" for livestorck, based on weight. Just do the math, and you really can't overdose anyway.

 

[theleastofthese]

Try ClO2 (chlorine dioxide) and, yes, Ivermectin. There's "pour on" for livestorck, based on weight. Just do the math, and you really can't overdose anyway.

Thank you So he doesn't have ear mites, I saw that Ivermectin is used mostly when it comes to mites in ears. Would you still recommend it for other reasons?

 

[ASyers41]

Ivermectin is incredible for lots of things. I would still use and see what happens.

 

[Mark C]

Thank you So he doesn't have ear mites, I saw that Ivermectin is used mostly when it comes to mites in ears. Would you still recommend it for other reasons?

Absolutely. It's an anti-parasitic, and has other benefits as well. Most notable, however, it won't hurt, but may help a lot.

 

[Mark C]

And we have used Chlorine Dioxide on a variety of infections in goats. It's great topically, or internally.

 

[theleastofthese]

Absolutely. It's an anti-parasitic, and has other benefits as well. Most notable, however, it won't hurt, but may help a lot.

And we have used Chlorine Dioxide on a variety of infections in goats. It's great topically, or internally.

Thank you again

 

[MemeFan]

Ozone possibly. Maybe. It's very oxidative which should massacre bacteria/viruses.

Same with hydrogen peroxide which immune cells naturally produce.

I don't get what is issue here? I would put dog to sleep and put small camera/microscope into ear to see what is problem. Same method doctors use on humans.

 

[theleastofthese]

Ozone possibly. Maybe. It's very oxidative which should massacre bacteria/viruses.

Same with hydrogen peroxide which immune cells naturally produce.

I don't get what is issue here? I would put dog to sleep and put small camera/microscope into ear to see what is problem. Same method doctors use on humans.

The vets check with an otoscope every time we go and say his ears look great. But he'll get really hot, have a fever, the ears will have an obvious infection and they're driving him crazy. It makes no sense.

 

[Joleneakamama]

Thank you gosh I'm almost $1,000 in just for his ears at this point. It's getting frustrating because nothing is helping

Do you think I should stop the probiotics while giving him the Vitamix?

vitamix has probiitics in it.

 

[theleastofthese]

vitamix has probiitics in it.

Awesome, thanks again

 

[Man_in_the_Middle]

I don't get what is issue here? I would put dog to sleep and put small camera/microscope into ear to see what is problem.

WHAT!!!!! LOL I know, I know... It just looked funny given that it was a conversation about dogs that.... are... sometimes .... "put to sleep" .

 

[theleastofthese]

WHAT!!!!! LOL I know, I know... It just looked funny given that it was a conversation about dogs that.... are... sometimes .... "put to sleep" .

When I first read it, that's what I thought of too. I was thinking "wow, that's a little extreme for an ear infection."

 

[theleastofthese]

Ivermectin is incredible for lots of things. I would still use and see what happens.

Thank you I never thought of it for dogs (other than HW treatment/prevention) until Mark mentioned it.

 

[MemeFan]

WHAT!!!!! LOL I know, I know... It just looked funny given that it was a conversation about dogs that.... are... sometimes .... "put to sleep" .

I don't know would dog cooperate during check-up.

During sleep it can't refuse cooperation.

 

[MemeFan]

The vets check with an otoscope every time we go and say his ears look great. But he'll get really hot, have a fever, the ears will have an obvious infection and they're driving him crazy. It makes no sense.

Any rhythm?

Malaria has periodic fever. It could be something like that.

And now you will tell us blood work is fine.

Do dogs have C-reactive protein? Elevation is sign of inflammation.

If nothing else works during diagnosis, I would take drop of blood and put directly under miscroscope directly after taking blood.

Live blood analysis - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

I don't know how good it is. I just know seeing bacteria or parasites in blood isn't goodm