SageTheRage
Membership Revoked
Apparently (thank goodness) this condition is not contagious as I have other dogs and several cats and they do not have nor never have had this condition but for the
past 2 yrs. (non-stop/year round; 24/7, 365) my dalmatian has had thick black gunk in his ears that smells very moldy. It is of a soupy, syrupy texture (definitely not ear mites). I know it's some sort of a fungus but I can't get rid of it!
I've tried all sorts of 'homemade' remedies from yogurt and garlic in his food, to vaginal yeast infection cream in his ears, to expensive oral antibiotics and antibotic creams in his ears (purchased at GREAT expense from Vet); also have had his ears professionally flushed but the moldy yeast (?) still keeps coming back.
Actually, it never goes away but is only slightly reduced in appearance and odor for a matter of a few hours or overnight. Next day, its as if I'd not done anything to remedy the situation, sigh. Amazingly it has not spread to his eyes, nose, mouth, etc nor has he had any ill effects in his overall health. His hearing has not diminished either.
He does not cry in pain nor does it seem to bother him much aside from sneaking into another room to scratch his ears (heh, he's learned not to scratch in front of me for fear I'll get out my 'equipment'; poor guy!) Sometimes, though, when his ears are especially full, he tilts his head to the side containing the most gunk. He does seem to have it in one ear more than the other but both are pretty bad.
Have also tried children's benydral allergy tabs (vet suggested) as well as an ear solution from health food store containing: tea tree oil, almond oil, eucalyptus oil, garlic oil, mullein & echinacea root.
The commercial dog ear cleaning washes and drying cremes availabe at pet stores don't seem to do the trick either.
I've been having great success keeping it at bay this last week by squirting OTC 3% peroxide in his ears every few days with a syringe but wonder of the long term damage from excess dryness or irritation if I keep this up. His ears don't stink, he doesn't pull or scratch at them constantly and they are pink again but I worry if this is a good course to continue on or not.
I have read that sometimes surgery is the only solution. Any other suggestions as to what I might try? I simply cannot afford high vet bills. The ear flushing & creams from the vet were in the hundreds of dollars PER visit and as I said, didn't tackle the problem anyway.
TIA,
Sage (P.S. He is an 'inside' dog and only goes out as needed - he does not live outdoors)
past 2 yrs. (non-stop/year round; 24/7, 365) my dalmatian has had thick black gunk in his ears that smells very moldy. It is of a soupy, syrupy texture (definitely not ear mites). I know it's some sort of a fungus but I can't get rid of it!
I've tried all sorts of 'homemade' remedies from yogurt and garlic in his food, to vaginal yeast infection cream in his ears, to expensive oral antibiotics and antibotic creams in his ears (purchased at GREAT expense from Vet); also have had his ears professionally flushed but the moldy yeast (?) still keeps coming back.
Actually, it never goes away but is only slightly reduced in appearance and odor for a matter of a few hours or overnight. Next day, its as if I'd not done anything to remedy the situation, sigh. Amazingly it has not spread to his eyes, nose, mouth, etc nor has he had any ill effects in his overall health. His hearing has not diminished either.
He does not cry in pain nor does it seem to bother him much aside from sneaking into another room to scratch his ears (heh, he's learned not to scratch in front of me for fear I'll get out my 'equipment'; poor guy!) Sometimes, though, when his ears are especially full, he tilts his head to the side containing the most gunk. He does seem to have it in one ear more than the other but both are pretty bad.
Have also tried children's benydral allergy tabs (vet suggested) as well as an ear solution from health food store containing: tea tree oil, almond oil, eucalyptus oil, garlic oil, mullein & echinacea root.
The commercial dog ear cleaning washes and drying cremes availabe at pet stores don't seem to do the trick either.
I've been having great success keeping it at bay this last week by squirting OTC 3% peroxide in his ears every few days with a syringe but wonder of the long term damage from excess dryness or irritation if I keep this up. His ears don't stink, he doesn't pull or scratch at them constantly and they are pink again but I worry if this is a good course to continue on or not.
I have read that sometimes surgery is the only solution. Any other suggestions as to what I might try? I simply cannot afford high vet bills. The ear flushing & creams from the vet were in the hundreds of dollars PER visit and as I said, didn't tackle the problem anyway.
TIA,
Sage (P.S. He is an 'inside' dog and only goes out as needed - he does not live outdoors)