Stubborn Ear Infection - Yeast

[GigiMcKeehan]

My Gigi began hold her head to the side and scratch her right ear two months ago so we went to the vet. She tested the exudate from the ear and there were no mites, only a common yeast. I was to use an ear cleaner once per day and an ointment twice daily for 7 days, then 2-3 times each week for 2 weeks. This seemed to help alot but when I took her to a new vet for a well check he found that the ear was still badly irritated. I am to repeat the same treatment again then taking her back for him to look at the ear. The new vet talked about puncturing the eardrum under anesthesia if the infection is behind the eardrum, yikes! He tells me this type of infection is hard to get rid of in this breed.
Does anyone have any experience with this?
Deborah

[Carolyn]

You said the one vet found no ear mites but found a yeast infection. Did she/he do a culture on the ears? I have never heard of puncturing the ear drum...sounds a bit drastic to me but I am no vet. Hope your pup is better.

[Martina]

I agree! We don't puncture a child's eardrum just because they have an ear infection! We might ultimately (tubes), but not as a first recourse. Hope she both gets better and feels better!

[GigiMcKeehan]

You said the one vet found no ear mites but found a yeast infection. Did she/he do a culture on the ears? I have never heard of puncturing the ear drum...sounds a bit drastic to me but I am no vet. Hope your pup is better.

Yes Carolyn, The vet did culture of the ear two months ago and it was yeast in only the right ear, the other was fine and healthy. I treated the bothersome ear as instructed and it seemed to resolve. At a "well check" with a new vet we were told that the right ear was very irritated. He recommended that I repeat the treatment and then let him look at the ear again. This second vet is the one who talked to me on the phone, he said that sometimes the infection is behind the eardrum and they will puncture the eardrum (under anesthesia) to treat it there.

I am thinking about taking her back to the first vet to check the ear. I am at the finish of the treatment today and she seems fine now but I can not see down into the ear canal. I suspect they will still find the ear infected with this yeast.

This is a stubborn infection and I hope it is not something we will deal with for her life.

Deborah