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Our Yellow Lab Bozwell has been suffering from a persistent ...

Sent to Pet Experts March 07 08:49 AM

Our Yellow Lab Bozwell has been suffering from a persistent yeast ear infectiojn. He is 100lbs of well proportioned muscle and strength with the greatest personality you could ever imagine. This ear problem drives him crazy! We have been too several vets who have cultured his ears and dx him with the yeast ear infection prescribing the usual frequent ear cleanings and antibiotic ointments, powders and orals with little success. His diet is Iams Lamb and Rice formulas for 1+ years of age, 3 cups BID. Could it be his diet? Any suggestions for our big lovable lab? Blaise and Erika SchreyerOptional Information: Age: 2; Male; Breed: English Yellow LabAlready Tried: frequent cleanings, antibiotics, and changing diets

Edited by Customer (name blocked for privacy) on March 7 2006 at 8:54 AM

Customer (name blocked for privacy)
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March 7 9:03 AM (14 minutes and 33 seconds later)
         
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Hi Blaise and Erika,
This actually is a common occurance. The first problem is getting the ear infection properly diagnosed and treated correctly. The biggest problem with ear infections is that there is usually a primary infection that goes almost unnoticed until a secondary infection sets in. The secondary infection is very obvious because it smells horrible and almost drives the dog insane with scratching or the ears looking like there is a secretion in them. This infection is a yeast infection. What happens is that the primary infection is a perfect environment for yeast to thrive in. The yeast infection gets treated, the dog appears to be better and once again it starts all over, because there is still a primary ear infection. New yeast move on in.

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Peace and happiness to you and your pet! ~ Christina
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Christina A.T. -- Cat & Dog Holistic Healthcare -- 99% Positive Feedback on 491 Pet Accepts
Cat & Dog holistic healthcare. 30 yrs in healthcare, behavior, rescue, and socializing.
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March 7 9:24 AM (20 minutes and 57 seconds later)
         
Thanx Christina. So you are saying that he has an infection other than the yeast. But he was cultured and that is all that showed up in his ears. Are you saying that the infection is possibly else where in his body, ie blood, wound? Blaise and Erika
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
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March 7 10:01 AM (36 minutes and 35 seconds later)
         
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Hi Blaise and Erika,
One of the most common reasons of an yeast infection in the ear, is a primary infection in the ear that the yeast grows thrives in. Also dogs that have floppy ears tend to have greater problems do to lack of air flow. Some vets will do surgery on the inner ear to create more flow.
Please let me know if I answered you question clearly, if not I will try again.
~Christina

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If I was helpful, please press the green ACCEPT button to show your approval. Thank you!
Peace and happiness to you and your pet! ~ Christina
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Christina A.T. -- Cat & Dog Holistic Healthcare -- 99% Positive Feedback on 491 Pet Accepts
Cat & Dog holistic healthcare. 30 yrs in healthcare, behavior, rescue, and socializing.
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March 7 8:08 PM (10 hours and 7 minutes and 1 second later)
         
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Hi Blaise and Erika,
I'm sorry, I realize from your feedback that I am not clearly answering your question. Your dog could possibly have (in his ear) an underlying bacterial infection which is never treated or recognized, because the secondary yeast infection is what is noticed and treated. When the yeast infection appears to be undercontrol or gone, then nothing is done to the ear. But still the bacterial infection continues. And by this bacterial infection not being treated, new yeast move in to the perfect environment created by the bacterial infection.

And (the part you were waiting for) the yeast infection can be caused by underlying allergies, bacterial infections in the ear or anywhere throughout the body and even an unhealthy immune system. However, the problem is usually right in the ear.
http://animalpetdoctor.homestead.com/Ears.html
http://www.thepetprofessor.com/articles/article.aspx?id=215

Edited by catdogcare on March 7 2006 at 8:10 PM

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If I was helpful, please press the green ACCEPT button to show your approval. Thank you!
Peace and happiness to you and your pet! ~ Christina
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Christina A.T. -- Cat & Dog Holistic Healthcare -- 99% Positive Feedback on 491 Pet Accepts
Cat & Dog holistic healthcare. 30 yrs in healthcare, behavior, rescue, and socializing.
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March 8 8:57 AM (12 hours and 48 minutes and 42 seconds later)
         
Reply to Christina A.T.'s Post: still not sure where you are saying the primary infection may be in the ears or elsewhere.
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
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March 8 8:58 AM (1 minute and 50 seconds later)
         
thanx now you answered all of my concerns, thanx Blaise
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
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March 8 9:01 AM (2 minutes and 12 seconds later)
         
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Christina A.T. -- Cat & Dog Holistic Healthcare -- 99% Positive Feedback on 491 Pet Accepts
Cat & Dog holistic healthcare. 30 yrs in healthcare, behavior, rescue, and socializing.
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