Ear infection won't go.

Our little cocker x terrier had an ear infection for many mounths. We finally thought we'd had beaten it a few weeks ago but it has now come back This has now been going on for a year or more.
He has been in and out the vets so many times that when he hears the vets voice he gets excited!
In the past he's been on anti biotics, anti inflamitories or medicated ear drops.
It's ecoli which is probably from other dogs licking his ear.
But it's only one ear none of the other dogs have the same and they sometimes lick each others ears.

I'm starting to think there must be something in his ear or something wrong with it which creates a place for an infection to start The vets have not found anything yet but I just can't unstand why it keeps coming back

All thoughts welcome.

Thanks

What are you feeding? Rupert was at the vet every couple of weeks with ear infections in one ear when I first got him. This went on for about 8 months before someone on a forum suggested cutting out wheat and corn. The infections stopped almost immediately. He's had one in the past 6 years and that was thanks to someone giving him toast.

Thornit

http://www.petmeds.co.uk/images/prod...tearpowder.jpg


Invest in a bottle of the above, your dog will thank you.

Is your dog itchy at all?
There is a condition called Atopic Dermatitis in which the dog reacts to something around (my dog was sensitive to food colourings, some additives, cat fleas and some pollen). These flare-ups weaken the immune sytem, allowing ear infections to take hold again, so there are recurrent ear infections.
If he is not itchy, I would ask for a referral to a specialist.
If he is itchy, post again because there is a lot you can do.

Most of the time raw and sometimes kibble but no wheat or corn, he's 8 years old and never been bothered by wheat etc but thanks for the thought

I will suggest it when we go to the vets thanks.

Interesting (his Dad is possibly a westie) he has always liked having his back scratched but is not excessively itchy so probably not but thank you
Looks like we might have to go to a specialist then I really wan to get this sorted, poor little chap has put up with it enough already.

Dogs can be intolerant to all sorts, including raw feed (e.g. certain meats - my two can't eat much lamb without it giving them terrible wind!). I've often heard of diet causing problems with recurring ear infections so I'd be tempted to do an exclusion diet to see if it clears up when the diet is adjusted. As he's raw fed I'd be tempted to stick to one protein source for a while - either one you know he's 100% OK with, or a new, novel protein that he's never had before. Be strict about giving any kibble or even treats, try to stick very firmly to the exlusion diet. Might be worth discussing with your vet, or at the very least looking into it on the internet

I am not sure your vet will even know about it, but you can ask, and you wont get it on prescription.

The point with thorn it is it will not do any harm , so its worth a try, if your boy has been on antibiotics, anti inflammatories or medicated ear drops , and still suffering, then , they are not working.

Most people will swear by thorn it its one of those things that is a mus tin every dog medicine box.

you can also put it between toes if you have a dog with itchy feet, (transferring ear mites from ear to foot)

Give it a go, you will be surprised and if it works then your boy with thank you .


Millie had a terrible ear infection, it would not clear up, someone told me about thornit, and within a couple of days her ear had last the angry look and within a week her ear was normal

i use it now as a precautionary, put a bit in once every couple of week,s or if I see any slight redness on feet or ear, the thornit comes out.

we had a similar problem with our old dog vet just couldent clear the infection up after many weeks they decided to anaesthetize him to have a proper look in the ear vet removed a crane fly leg no idea how it got lodged into the poor boys ear but once removed no more infections: hope you find a cure soon x

Through his life he's been fed alsorts of different kibble, he was being fed skinners duck and rice up to about 2 1/2 years ago - had no issues, I then fed him raw - no issues. He got the infection then I put him back on skinners to see if it would help but I'm not sure it did so went back to raw, thanks for suggestion I'll look in it but he's had alsorts of different food in the past none of it ever caused any problems from cheaper dog foods to table scraps and nothing in his enviroment has changed (that I can think of).

Thanks

Afaird he's been there, done that, two or three times mostly for his ear to be washed out - nothing found

Thanks again all.