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Ear problem?

Jarena

Well-Known Member
Today, after work, I notice Lettie kept shaking her head. She’s been doing it on and off for a few hours now. It’s worse when she barks. She heard the neighbors dogs and barked at them about an hour ago and kept shaking her head between barks. So I took her inside and cleaned her ears with ear wipes. Then 15 minutes ago all the neighborhood kids decided to gather in front of the neighbors house so she had been barking a little at all the commotion outside. Every time she barks, she shakes her head. And after shaking her head she holds her left ear weird. Like she keeps it tucked flat against her head while the other one is normal.
She’s always had VERY clean ears. I don’t even need to clean them because they’re spotless (I do, just because I feel like I should keep her used to it). They have been just as squeaky clean as usual today also. No change in food, treats, supplements or routine.
Super silly probably, but the ONLY thing I can think of that has changed was 2 days ago her “grandma” gave her a banana lol. She hasn’t had a banana in maybe 3-4 months before that. Any ideas??
 

TylerDurden

Well-Known Member
Today, after work, I notice Lettie kept shaking her head. She’s been doing it on and off for a few hours now. It’s worse when she barks. She heard the neighbors dogs and barked at them about an hour ago and kept shaking her head between barks. So I took her inside and cleaned her ears with ear wipes. Then 15 minutes ago all the neighborhood kids decided to gather in front of the neighbors house so she had been barking a little at all the commotion outside. Every time she barks, she shakes her head. And after shaking her head she holds her left ear weird. Like she keeps it tucked flat against her head while the other one is normal.
She’s always had VERY clean ears. I don’t even need to clean them because they’re spotless (I do, just because I feel like I should keep her used to it). They have been just as squeaky clean as usual today also. No change in food, treats, supplements or routine.
Super silly probably, but the ONLY thing I can think of that has changed was 2 days ago her “grandma” gave her a banana lol. She hasn’t had a banana in maybe 3-4 months before that. Any ideas??

Bane did the same thing months ago and it turned out to be an ear infection. His ears have always been very clean as well (no prior issues of any sort). I‘m not even close to being able to diagnose such things, but just sharing some experiences. I guess dogs with big floppy ears are generally more prone to it.
 

Jarena

Well-Known Member
Zeela- I would think that also, but I’ve been a bad puppy parent lately and have only been cleaning them maybe once a month (if that:confused:) . I would think that’s not too much right? I really don’t know though.

Tyler- good to know! I would have thought she would have some kind of sign besides shaking her head. At what point did you take him to the vet? And how did they diagnose? Did they have to look into his ears? I’m a little worried because we are still not fully muzzle trained and she does not do well with strangers handling her :(. We have been trying to work on this since day one but she still just doesn’t want strangers to touch her. It makes vet visits very hard. And it’s pretty embarrassing sometimes, makes us look like we haven’t socialized her and trained her.
 

TylerDurden

Well-Known Member
Zeela- I would think that also, but I’ve been a bad puppy parent lately and have only been cleaning them maybe once a month (if that:confused:) . I would think that’s not too much right? I really don’t know though.

Tyler- good to know! I would have thought she would have some kind of sign besides shaking her head. At what point did you take him to the vet? And how did they diagnose? Did they have to look into his ears? I’m a little worried because we are still not fully muzzle trained and she does not do well with strangers handling her :(. We have been trying to work on this since day one but she still just doesn’t want strangers to touch her. It makes vet visits very hard. And it’s pretty embarrassing sometimes, makes us look like we haven’t socialized her and trained her.

I took him on the second day when I noticed the shaking wasn‘t getting better (he did it about every five minutes). They checked the inside of the ear like they would with humans. Once they knew what it was, they put some medication inside. He doesn‘t like to be touched by the vet either, but it typically works out with some treats involved.
 

Jarena

Well-Known Member
Ok, if she is still shaking tomorrow morning I’ll call the vet and see if we can get in tomorrow afternoon. I have a feeling you’re all on to something here. I’m thinking she might have an ear infection too. She also just rolled over and rubbed her face and ears on the carpet. I wonder if I can convince them not to look into her ears lol. Or maybe I can ask to see the female vet, she usually does better with females. We go through $30 on treats when we go to the vet because we bring our own (due to chicken sensitivity). I’m fine with giving her handfuls of treats, it just doesn’t help much unfortunately. We also just go to visit so she doesn’t associate it with something bad all the time. But she just doesn’t want to be touched by them. :(
 

April Nicole

Well-Known Member
Ok, if she is still shaking tomorrow morning I’ll call the vet and see if we can get in tomorrow afternoon. I have a feeling you’re all on to something here. I’m thinking she might have an ear infection too. She also just rolled over and rubbed her face and ears on the carpet. I wonder if I can convince them not to look into her ears lol. Or maybe I can ask to see the female vet, she usually does better with females. We go through $30 on treats when we go to the vet because we bring our own (due to chicken sensitivity). I’m fine with giving her handfuls of treats, it just doesn’t help much unfortunately. We also just go to visit so she doesn’t associate it with something bad all the time. But she just doesn’t want to be touched by them. :(

Unfortunately they are probably going to have to look in her ears. Maybe they can be quick about it. To bad you couldn't look through the otoscope and describe what you see. I had a friend that bought one and studied up on ear infections, she was then able to look in her kids ear and know if she needed to take them to the Dr.
 

Jarena

Well-Known Member
Yeah I think it looks somewhat like coffee grounds. But it's not always present especially at the onset. Here is some info on it.

https://thehappypuppysite.com/ear-mites-in-dogs/

I'm thinking it's either a bacterial ear infection..
Yeast...
Or mites

Jeeze, I don’t know why I thought I knew something about doggy ears lol. I don’t. Thanks for the info! Ugh, seems like the symptoms are very similar for many ear problems, so I’m sure the vet will have to look in her ears.
I read somewhere else that an ear infection sometimes has a bad smell (like corn chips?!) so yep.... I smelled her ear. Smells like an ear to me :confused::p
 

TylerDurden

Well-Known Member
Jeeze, I don’t know why I thought I knew something about doggy ears lol. I don’t. Thanks for the info! Ugh, seems like the symptoms are very similar for many ear problems, so I’m sure the vet will have to look in her ears.
I read somewhere else that an ear infection sometimes has a bad smell (like corn chips?!) so yep.... I smelled her ear. Smells like an ear to me :confused::p

I‘ve heard about the smell, too but not sure about the corn chips :D
Bane‘s ears didn‘t smell any different when he had the ear infection.
 

Boxergirl

Well-Known Member
Corn chips, lol. Yeah. Yeasty beasties. Al has Frito feet. Jarena, I'd guess it might be the beginning of something. I use Zymox when Ella starts with one hanging ear. Her allergies flare up in the spring. You can get it from Amazon or possibly a local feed store, if they're good. You don't do any cleaning, just put in their ears. It works as well as any prescription drops I've ever used. Do a search on the forum. I know others have used it too. I'm never without it.
 

Jarena

Well-Known Member
Corn chips, lol. Yeah. Yeasty beasties. Al has Frito feet. Jarena, I'd guess it might be the beginning of something. I use Zymox when Ella starts with one hanging ear. Her allergies flare up in the spring. You can get it from Amazon or possibly a local feed store, if they're good. You don't do any cleaning, just put in their ears. It works as well as any prescription drops I've ever used. Do a search on the forum. I know others have used it too. I'm never without it.

So you’re saying I could potentially avoid a vet visit if I use this stuff? If you trust it, I trust it. What if she doesn’t have anything? Is it one of those things that can only help, not hurt?
Frito feet lol you crack me up! I will order it tonight! Thank you!
 

Jarena

Well-Known Member
Wow you’re right about it being used often. Looks like all the “forum regulars” have used it! Thank you! Is this one ok, or is there one you prefer? I know nothing about this product so I want to order the right one. F4BE3AF7-93D1-4340-8942-80291D78C175.png
 

April Nicole

Well-Known Member
But did you actually sniff them?! Lol I keep catching myself doing the strangest things for this girl :p

It's true! Sophie has cheeto paws!!
Logan's aren't there yet.
Tyler did u smell his ear?
Does Banes paws smell like Cheetos?Lol
Jarena, I think we may all be weirdos! Lol