My German shepherd is 9 years old and has the worst ear infections for years. He over years has developed immunity to nearly all medicine.

His skin infection has antibiotics. His ears are down to the last antibiotic. It can either be injected twice a day - 8ml each injection or flushed into his ears. $100 a day treatment.

Alternative is a operation that will leave him deaf.

I am going the medication route. My specialist vet has the same issue with her dog. She also went the ear flush cause her dog could not take 2 daily injections of 8ml each.

There is something about European bloodlines and Florida pollen - the allergies are brutal and never ending.

Any advice - I think managed pain in ear infections beats deafness. We won’t be able to ever cure the infection - it’s just somewhat managing it.

Mike

Does he have food allergies? If not and this situation is genetic then nothing will really fix it. Avoid those bloodlines next time you are looking for a puppy. Make sure your breeder has had their stock and puppies health checked.

I think the dog would prefer the treatment as well.

If the animal has multi drug resistant bacteria, eventually the antibiotic will fail.

My lab gets recurrent ear infections as well, but has horrible allergies as well. I’ve had pretty decent luck with using some kind of an antiseptic solution that I wash his ears out every other day or so. It’s not perfect, but seems to keep the infection down to a bearable level for him.

I have nothing constructive or helpful to say. My advice/opinion you do not want. In closing all I can say is poor ole dog.

From amazon get Colloidal Silver 500ppm made by Natural Path Silver Wings. Give it orally and directly in the ear. It’s cheap, effective with no side effects.

I would put the dog down and end the suffering. Avoid the breeder or choose a different breed next time. Quality of life over quantity.

quote:

Originally posted by twilli:
I would put the dog down and end the suffering. Avoid the breeder or choose a different breed next time. Quality of life over quantity.

My mom will kill me !!!

Mike

quote:

Originally posted by Beretta682E:

quote:

Originally posted by twilli:
I would put the dog down and end the suffering. Avoid the breeder or choose a different breed next time. Quality of life over quantity.

My mom will kill me !!!



Mike

Tru dat!!

A couple of thoughts from someone who has retrievers which get water in their ears a lot. First, I've used a chlorhexaderm flush (we always called it blue juice) a couple of times a day for bad infections. I use a twisted up kleenex to clean out the brown stuff a few minutes after squirting it in. The chlorhexaderm both dries the ear and kills bacteria. It can hurt until the rawness recedes so expect a reaction from your dog. The pain seems mild. Its really effective in my dogs and might be worth a try for yours. Second, there is a surgery that opens up the ear canal so that air gets in better. I haven't heard about it in an number of years, but I haven't checked on it lately as I've learned to manage the infections until they clear up. If the ear canal can breathe, its easier to clear up the infection. These kinds of things are usually worse in floppy eared dogs, which yours is not.

It sounds awful; I hope you find a reasonable and effective fix.

My labs all started going deaf at 9-10 years. I think he would be happy being around you. I don't think he would care if he couldn't hear you. I personally would get the operation.