My dogs were clients of the dermatologist for years. I was referred to him by my regular vet. I am not sure where you live but if you live in So. Cal I can give you a referral. Otherwise I would contact your regular vet or The American College of Animal Dermatology and get a referral.
A lot of people are not aware of what all dermatologists actually treat. A lot of people think it is just skin, but they treat a whole lot more, ears in particular.
In one of the following posts they talked about risks.....and that is one reason that I did not want to put my beloved boy through it if I could avoid it.
As I said, once the ear surgery is done, there is no going back. There can be paralysis, loss of balance etc.
My dermatologist teaches all over the country. If you cannot locate one in your area depending on where you live I would be happy to contact mine and see if I can get a referral to someone in your area.

My dogs were clients of the dermatologist for years. I was referred to him by my regular vet. I am not sure where you live but if you live in So. Cal I can give you a referral. Otherwise I would contact your regular vet or The American College of Animal Dermatology and get a referral.
A lot of people are not aware of what all dermatologists actually treat. A lot of people think it is just skin, but they treat a whole lot more, ears in particular.
In one of the following posts they talked about risks.....and that is one reason that I did not want to put my beloved boy through it if I could avoid it.
As I said, once the ear surgery is done, there is no going back. There can be paralysis, loss of balance etc.
My dermatologist teaches all over the country. If you cannot locate one in your area depending on where you live I would be happy to contact mine and see if I can get a referral to someone in your area.

from a weakened immune system.

As can a weak immune system, allergies, autoimmiune disorders ect...tons of things can cause bacterial infections...
Bacterial is everywhere
staph is part of the dogs normal flora, when immune system weakens an overabundance of staph takes over triggering and inflammatory response..

just a few examples..

what I took into consideration before doing any ear surgeries on my own and rescues....

what meds have been tried?
Did they work at all?
What did the cultures say from any culture and sensitivity tests? What drugs worked and did I use them long enough possibly (with steroids to help open up the canal as well)?
Have i tried food chancges or finding the culprit?
Is it that the dogs ear flow is not getting enoughh circulation, maybe but is that the only reason for infections? Opeing the ear may help but if the underlieing cause of all the infections is not found then its may get worse after sugery and then a total ablation will be the next answer?
Maybe this surgery is all that is needed? have you asked all these questions with the vet and discussed all options?

Have you given Zymox a shot?
Have you done an ear flush routinely along with an ear med?
is is enviromental?

So many things..
I wish him the best of luck. its not an easy decision and most importantly...
is the dog is pain and will this relive them from the pain?




Rhiann, Samson, Mia, & Oy
RIP KARMA

from a weakened immune system.

As can a weak immune system, allergies, autoimmiune disorders ect...tons of things can cause bacterial infections...
Bacterial is everywhere
staph is part of the dogs normal flora, when immune system weakens an overabundance of staph takes over triggering and inflammatory response..

just a few examples..

what I took into consideration before doing any ear surgeries on my own and rescues....

what meds have been tried?
Did they work at all?
What did the cultures say from any culture and sensitivity tests? What drugs worked and did I use them long enough possibly (with steroids to help open up the canal as well)?
Have i tried food chancges or finding the culprit?
Is it that the dogs ear flow is not getting enoughh circulation, maybe but is that the only reason for infections? Opeing the ear may help but if the underlieing cause of all the infections is not found then its may get worse after sugery and then a total ablation will be the next answer?
Maybe this surgery is all that is needed? have you asked all these questions with the vet and discussed all options?

Have you given Zymox a shot?
Have you done an ear flush routinely along with an ear med?
is is enviromental?

So many things..
I wish him the best of luck. its not an easy decision and most importantly...
is the dog is pain and will this relive them from the pain?




Rhiann, Samson, Mia, & Oy
RIP KARMA

Do you know what was in the solution?

We are fostering a dog with closed ear canals. Baytril liquid seems to be working, but I'd be interested to know what worked well for you.

Do you know what was in the solution?

We are fostering a dog with closed ear canals. Baytril liquid seems to be working, but I'd be interested to know what worked well for you.

Of course my vet outlined the risks for me with the ablation surgery also...and facial paralysis was one of them. My dog did have some minor TEMPORARY paralysis (about 4-6 wks) and it did take a couple weeks for full closure of the cartilege at the outer edge of the ear (doc tried to leave as normal appearance as possible at the ear)...but with patience and good follow-up care, he healed very well in the end.

Of course my vet outlined the risks for me with the ablation surgery also...and facial paralysis was one of them. My dog did have some minor TEMPORARY paralysis (about 4-6 wks) and it did take a couple weeks for full closure of the cartilege at the outer edge of the ear (doc tried to leave as normal appearance as possible at the ear)...but with patience and good follow-up care, he healed very well in the end.

This may sound like justification for having my own dog undergo ear canal surgery (total ablation) but I, too, went thru years of increasingly frequent infections using a variety of antibiotics, drops and oral, flushes and such, but the problem kept returning, scarring continued and when my dog had an abscess thru his cheek-area because the lower ear was closed off by infection, I knew I had to act. The dog is deaf on that side, but he's no longer in pain there, he no longer draws away when I clean that side of his face, and I think the surgery was worthwhile, albeit expensive. I was quoted about five thou by a specialty practice, but had a very good general vet do it for fifteen hundred...hardly a bargain until you consider the comparison! Cost included everything (surgery, o'nite housing, medications, lab work, all follow-up visits for the ear).

Good luck with whatever you choose. Others here have had ear surgeries done, successfully, but it is always a last-resort operation.

This may sound like justification for having my own dog undergo ear canal surgery (total ablation) but I, too, went thru years of increasingly frequent infections using a variety of antibiotics, drops and oral, flushes and such, but the problem kept returning, scarring continued and when my dog had an abscess thru his cheek-area because the lower ear was closed off by infection, I knew I had to act. The dog is deaf on that side, but he's no longer in pain there, he no longer draws away when I clean that side of his face, and I think the surgery was worthwhile, albeit expensive. I was quoted about five thou by a specialty practice, but had a very good general vet do it for fifteen hundred...hardly a bargain until you consider the comparison! Cost included everything (surgery, o'nite housing, medications, lab work, all follow-up visits for the ear).

Good luck with whatever you choose. Others here have had ear surgeries done, successfully, but it is always a last-resort operation.

Yellow pages and it was special drops he made for ya. You gave me hope. I feel bad for him but I don't want to put him under and some side effects are scary like numbness on the whole side of the face.

Yellow pages and it was special drops he made for ya. You gave me hope. I feel bad for him but I don't want to put him under and some side effects are scary like numbness on the whole side of the face.

Can a food allergy still cause a bacterial infection?

Can a food allergy still cause a bacterial infection?

The only thing we did was put him on a fish and potatoes diet and drops and some oral antibiotics. Its scary how fast they say surgery. I going to cancel and definitely going to give it some time we have been treating it since end of march which really isnt that long when you here other stories.

The only thing we did was put him on a fish and potatoes diet and drops and some oral antibiotics. Its scary how fast they say surgery. I going to cancel and definitely going to give it some time we have been treating it since end of march which really isnt that long when you here other stories.

In reading your message, I would highly recommend that you consult with an animal dermatologist. I had a bulldog that had this same situation and took him to my regular vet who told me the only option I had was surgery. I did not want to do this, I did not want to put him under if there was any way to avoid it. My husband and I went and consulted with a surgeon who told me the same thing, surgery, and we even want so far as to schedule the appt. On the way home we contacted the dermatologist that had been treating our boy for skin issues in the hopes of one last try. I took him and and he examined the ear, it was closed and you could not get a scope down it. He said ABSOLUTELY NO SURGERY, only as a LAST resort. He put him on several types of antibiotics and made up a special solution of ear drops for me to use. We started that regime and I took him back in 2 weeks. The ear had started to open up. Long story short, we did NOT do the surgery and the ear and infection cleared and the canal opened up. My regular vet saw our dog sometime afterwards and could not believe the difference.
I just had another friend with the same situation occur with her dog and the dog could not hear. She had surgery scheduled. I recommended that she see the dermatologist and he put her dog on a similar treatment and NO SURGERY. SURGERY IS THE LAST RESORT. There are other options.
Animal Dermatologists treat major ear infections and have different treatment plans then regular vets do. I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you at least go for a consult. Ear surgery is not reversable and once it is done there is no turning back. If you go and try a dermatologist and get no positive results then at least you know you have tried everything. I hope this information helps you.

In reading your message, I would highly recommend that you consult with an animal dermatologist. I had a bulldog that had this same situation and took him to my regular vet who told me the only option I had was surgery. I did not want to do this, I did not want to put him under if there was any way to avoid it. My husband and I went and consulted with a surgeon who told me the same thing, surgery, and we even want so far as to schedule the appt. On the way home we contacted the dermatologist that had been treating our boy for skin issues in the hopes of one last try. I took him and and he examined the ear, it was closed and you could not get a scope down it. He said ABSOLUTELY NO SURGERY, only as a LAST resort. He put him on several types of antibiotics and made up a special solution of ear drops for me to use. We started that regime and I took him back in 2 weeks. The ear had started to open up. Long story short, we did NOT do the surgery and the ear and infection cleared and the canal opened up. My regular vet saw our dog sometime afterwards and could not believe the difference.
I just had another friend with the same situation occur with her dog and the dog could not hear. She had surgery scheduled. I recommended that she see the dermatologist and he put her dog on a similar treatment and NO SURGERY. SURGERY IS THE LAST RESORT. There are other options.
Animal Dermatologists treat major ear infections and have different treatment plans then regular vets do. I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you at least go for a consult. Ear surgery is not reversable and once it is done there is no turning back. If you go and try a dermatologist and get no positive results then at least you know you have tried everything. I hope this information helps you.

Corn, wheat or soy can cause problems for dogs that are allergic to these ingredients...

You could switch to Wellness Fish & Potato, or one of the Evo varieties, or one of the Taste of the Wild formulas, or the new grain-free Canidae.

Are you thinking of canceling or rescheduling the surgery? A food change takes a few weeks to take effect. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. It is worth trying if that is the one thing you haven't tried.

Corn, wheat or soy can cause problems for dogs that are allergic to these ingredients...

You could switch to Wellness Fish & Potato, or one of the Evo varieties, or one of the Taste of the Wild formulas, or the new grain-free Canidae.

Are you thinking of canceling or rescheduling the surgery? A food change takes a few weeks to take effect. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. It is worth trying if that is the one thing you haven't tried.