Hi Glenda,
I would consider going back to that last doctor and have her tested for
allergies if you can afford it (the one that recommended the shots). They
test for allergies first, and then develop the shots based on what the tests
show. But by having her tested you would at least know what she's allergic
to and be able to avoid it, and then decide if you want to do the shots or
not. The shots are done with very tiny needles and don't hurt very much.
Bessie (my chi) also has ear problems from allergies, but not as bad as
your chi does. Several times a year, she'll start scratching her ears, esp
the left one. She'll scratch it enough that it hurts frequently, but only
maybe one or two times enough to make a visible sore in 6 years. We'll know
it's that time of year because we'll hear her whining and yelping while she
scratches her ear. She never has an infection - ever. We used to take her
in and get her ears swabbed and gram stained every time, but they were
always clear. Ummmm, I also would not recommend trying to use an ear wash
when she's sore because it will burn the heck out of her when she's been
scratching - I made the mistake of doing a rubbing alcohol and vinegar one
when she was sore and I didn't know it one time and I felt so bad because it
hurt her.
So, what my vet does, is every year at our annual exam, he gives me a
bottle of Tresaderm to use, and it lasts until the next annual exam. I use
it the minute I notice her having a problem, just a few drops two times a
day for a few days. It contains, neomycin (antibiotic), dexamethasone (anti
inflammitory) and thiobendazole (antifungal). You keep it in the
refrigerator. We had to try several different ones before we settled on the
Tresaderm as the "just right" one - the first med we tried was too greasy,
and bugged her etc... this one just takes a little and doesn't leave a bunch
of residue in her ear.
Your dog is enough worse, you might want to do the shots too, or
whatever medications that worked to get her under control for a few weeks,
then have something on hand like the Tresaderm. You could talk it over with
your vet and get a good strategy in place.
If it was infection, then weekly washing with an alcohol/vinegar mix
(recipies are all over the internet for earwash) would work well ... but
like I said, not when they are sore. The vinegar keeps the pH right to
prevent yeast, and the alcohol kills bacteria.
Shell
On 6/6/07, Glenda <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Hello all,
First time in a chat room. I have some questions that even vets can't
figure out, so wondering if anyone has had the same problems.
My chi will be a year old on the 15th of June. She started flapping
her ears and scratching her ears like crazy the beginning of January.
I took her to my regular vet and she had a yeast infection in one ear
so they gave me medicine to clear that up. She was scratching at both
ears but they found nothing in the other ear.
Took her back to the vet the end of January becuase she was doing the
same, more flapping her ears and scratching them. They gave her a
shot and some drugs for inflamation in case it was inter ear
inflamation. They looked in her ears and said they were clean. I
gave her the drugs. They said she could have allergies.
She was better for about 2 or 3 weeks.
On March 17, I took her to a different vet to see if they could do
anything for her. They gave me another antibiotic to use and told me
to get her off corn, wheat and soy food. So I did that.
Still no change. The poor dog keeps scratching at her ears and
flapping them. She cratched them so bad they were bleeding and had
sores on them.
So on April 2, I was so upset I took her to another vet that was
recomended. This was a clinic and it was huge. I got the oldest dr
in the place and he read me the right act about taking her all over.
I told him I am just trying to get her some relief and no one is
helping me. I was in tears during the entire night before cuz I felt
so bad for her. He told me to put some medicine on the ears and gave
her some shot and to stay with the changed food. Said it would take 6
to 8 weeks to know if it was a food allergy. Said her ears are still
clean.
So I do that, and the sores cleared up. Still flapping and scratching
at her ears.
I took her back to the same vet, different dr on the 25th of April and
they gave me another antihistamine to try.
Still nothing has worked. I took her back once again on May 25th to
the same vet, another different dr. This one I at least liked and
would tell me something more than it's food. So it's been 6 - 8
weeks and no change. He gives her another drug to try and says she
might have to have shots.
I really don't want her to have shots. I feel so bad for her. And
I'm thinking there has to be other chi's out there with this problem.
I was hoping someone could give me some insite or have heard of this
before.
Thanks for taking the time to read and help me out.
