Ear Pain

[Vada]

I have been to two differnt vets last week. My poor Vada is showing signs of an ear infection. Shaking her head, scratching her ear and being very protective of her ear yelping when you touch her ear etc....

The first vet told me that ear canal was small and she could not see the ear drum, and took a culture when taking the culture Vada yelped in pain. But the vet said she was fine.

The second vet noted again that he could not see her ear drum, but suggested that since she had neck surgery for intervertebral disc disease less than six months ago it might not be ear pain but neck pain and put Vada on Deramaxx.

She seems to be in less pain but she is still shaking her head and scratching her ear. After reading about ear canals closing due to ear infections I am still very worried.

Do you think it could be her ear canals are closed due to an ear infection and that is why they could not see her eardrum? Should I go to a third vet this week?

[carmiesmommy]

Did you get the results of the culture the first vet had taken? It seems to me because of the scratching and head shaking she has some kind of infection or even something lodged in her ear causing her the discomfort. I would check back with the first vet and ask if she should be taking any meds for her ear like ottomax or baytril otic. Poor baby. It's so hard when they are in pain and you feel helpless. You need to get a diagnosis asap.

[French Queen]

Hi there sorry to hear Vada is not well. Ears don't usually close after one infection but they sometimes close after repeated infections. There are some owners who try to home treat an infection for weeks hoping it will clear up which they never do, so by the time the dog sees a vet the ear is in such a mess some are closed.

If Vada's ear canal was completely closed then the vet would not be able to see her ear drum but if it's still open the vet should be able to see it, even in a dog with narrow canals.
I would have thought if her ear drum had perforated they would have mentioned it , if this is the case then you have to be careful as some ear cleaners & medications can do more than good.

At the same time I wouldn't rule out neck pain either with the surgery she had. I agree with Carmies mommy you need to a diagnosis asap. It's gut wrenching to hear them cry.

My friend had her boy at the vet's last week for an ear problem, the vet let her look down, she could see his ear drum & he has really narrow canals.


Best wishes

Queenie & the little clowns :)

[Vada]

I took Vada back to the vet today. They told me the Deramaxx had helped with the inflamation and that she had a inflamed area in her ear they are not sure what it is, but they don't think it is a polyp. They are going to keep her on the Deramaxx because it is helping and see her again in a week. I am so glad that it is not her neck. She seems back to her playful self.

[French Queen]

Hi there - is this inflammation on the inside of the ear flap? It could be start of a haematoma or an oedema but I would have thought if that's the case then your vet would have said. I'm not familiar with Deramaxx, even though this may have helped her she could still have an allergic reaction to it, do you know what the side effects are with this medication.

Pleased to hear she's playing again appicon

Queenie & the little clowns :)

[Vada]

The inflamation is in the inside of her ear canal. She is not sure what is causing it. She said it looks like a small red sore. The side effects usually effect the digestive system, kidneys or liver. I will keep you posted. Again Thanks so much.

[French Queen]

Hi there - if it turns out to be a sore then she probably did it herself with all the scratching & rubbing she has been doing. If it starts to bleed she may start to scratch again so keep an eye on her, once she gets the taste of blood she will scratch all the more which will cause further problems.

Our Fern used to get awful ear infections, she would get sores inside her ear from scratching, first she would tilt her head to the side & get her back foot & position it right down inside the ear & start to slowly scratch so the sores would bleed. Then she would lick the blood off her foot, she would have continued on doing this if I hadn't stopped her. I used to use Surolan ear & skin treatment on Fern which helped a lot.

Best wishes

Queenie & the little clowns :)