<p>…Or any hairy pedigree dog? My dog every two months or so is dealing with ear infections, after giving him the medication he is fine for a while, but the infection is always coming back.
The vet told me this infections are common in medium to large dogs and I shouldn’t be worried about it, but I’m not only concerned, I’m also draining a lot of money every time I take my dog to the vet. I can’t see him shaking his head, I know he is in pain and this sweet creature never complains. We already change the medicine
should I change the vet?</p>
<p>I see a lot of Wheatens at my pet supply shop. I would look at your food and switch if possible to a very high quality simple food. Wheatens have a tendency to be allergic to wheat. I would eliminate all wheat from the diet … look at treats especially.
I can suggest some foods by PM if you would like.</p>
<p>we have those too
I have a lab-
shaking head also can cause hematomas! :(</p>
<p>I have stuff that is supposed to be drying, but I can barely remember to take my own medicine, I am not good about doing her ears, since she runs away when she sees me.</p>
<p>I have read about making your own stuff and even bought the gentian violet etc, but haven’t mixed it up
<a href=“http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/ears.html[/url]”>http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/ears.html</a></p>
<p>( When I saw this thread, I opened it thinking that I wasn’t going to be able to contribute because I don’t have a terrier- but I was just going to say “but they are really cute!”)</p>
<p>I have two Bedlingtons - not too different from Wheatons. I do my own grooming, and a very routine project is pulling hair out of their ears. I just use my fingers, reach in and yank quickly. They really don’t seem to mind very much. The idea is to keep their ear canal clean and dry. Bedlingtons have a nice hairdo - it includes a very shaved, clean area around their ears, which is all part of keeping those ears clean and dry.</p>
<p>What does you groomer say about hair in their ears?</p>
<p>Cressmom- we have a St. Bernard with the same issue you mention. We adopted her through a rescue. They told us the Saints are prone to allergies, and she actually has hearing loss from her ear problems. Our vet gave us some solution to use in her ears so we are hoping that helps. I’m sure that this will be an ongoing problem that we have to deal with.</p>
<p>i have an english springer spaniel, and because of their long curly droopy ears, springers are prone to ear problems. we give him eardrops on a regular basis, and it has dramatically reduced the number of actual infections. we also clean his outer ear, gently wiping away any gunk around the ear canal, and after baths we towel dry his ears.</p>
<p>Poodles are a hair-coat dog as well, and also prone to ear infections. Poodle owners pluck the hair in the ear canal on a regular basis (about every month–it’s part of the regular grooming service). I also use an ear cleaning wash that I got from the vet. My curly girlies have never had an ear infection with this regimen.</p>
<p>Thank you for the advices! </p>
<p>Cnp55, they also told me he must be allergic to some foods, he had a shot and now we are trying with another brand. I’ll be back home on Sunday, I will PM you when I have the list that the vet will give me before picking up my hairy baby.</p>
<p>Emerald, I will check that site.</p>
<p>I’m leaving for a few days; I’ll be visiting my freshman “creature” (I miss him very much).</p>
<p>Thanks again!</p>
<p>My miniature poodle who doesn’t have furry ears recently started getting ear infections from time to time (he is now 8 years old). I use an ointment obtained from my vet, and that works (at least until it comes back). Vet suggested using ointment a few times a week to keep away the infection, but I usually don’t remember to do it.</p>
<p>Wheaten owner here – and yes, they are extremely cute! My D misses ours tons! As for your question, our Wheaten is 3 1/2 yrs. old and he’s never had an ear infection. (Knock on wood.) We’re feeding him the same dry food he was on at the breeder’s – and there’s no wheat/wheat gluten in it. When he goes for grooming, they do pluck ear hairs. Good luck with yours</p>
<p>We had a wheaten - she died at the end of march, of some kind of intestinal infection she apparently caught at a kennel.</p>
<p>She never had any problems with infection prior to that, however.</p>
<p>I agree that food is the first place to look in situations like these.</p>
<p>However these problems are often due to ear shape or genetics and are not confined to pedigreed dogs. One purebred dog has as much in common with the majority of other breeds as it has with any mixed breed. It is important to consider specific genetics of the breed whether the dog is pedigreed or mixed.</p>
<p>Our lab has had persistent ear infections, but they are under control now:</p>
<p>She gets 2 generic “benadryl” tablets twice a day (dose determined by vet) and, each week she has her ears cleaned with a prescription solution and then gets a dose of prescription “ear goop.” With time, this has become easier, though we do have to block all means of escape before she sees the stuff.</p>
<p>Any way, she is no longer in pain, and the meds for prevention cost much less that the vet visits and the meds for treatment.</p>
<p>Your mileage may vary, as They say.</p>