Yeast infection in ear

[Bear86]

Took Bear to the vet yesterday and he has a yeast infection in his ear. The vet said it could be just an isolated thing as it's only the one(moisture may have gotten in etc) but advised if it comes back we'll start looking at food & environmental allergies(she noticed his chin looked like he'd been rubbing it, it's spring here so maybe hayfever etc.). I'm sure I've read a few people on here have had dogs with yeast problems and I want to be prepared if it comes back and know how to go about the elimination process. I changed him over to a fish & potato food about a month ago and am thinking the carbs from the potato could be feeding the yeast - but all the dog foods I can find have either grains or potato as a binder. He also has environmental allergies, he came out in hives after running around in bushes a little while ago. I'm feeling like this pup is going to be trouble;-) any other natural remedies or advice on keeping yeast at bay? I know raw would be ideal but it's not really an option at this stage...

 

[ruthcatrin]

I do know of several folks who had trouble with potato based foods causing yeasty problems. So if he does ok on grain based foods you may want to keep that in mind if he continues to have issues.

An apple cider vinegar/water (50/50) mix makes a nice light cleanser to help protect against yeast, or, if you can get it there, there's a product called Zymox that makes an ear cleaner (medicated and unmedicated) that also helps keep yeast at bay.

 

[angelbears]

Stay away from antibiotics and sugar as much as you can. Treats are a big culprit.

 

[Bear86]

He has huge floppy ears, very cute but would make an ideal breeding ground for yeast. I'm thinking this could be an ongoing thing without prevention - will use the acv mix(that stuff is good for everything!) and will be vigilant at limiting his sugar intake. Might have to get some probiotics to boost his gut flora too(he did have abs a while ago). Thanks for the help!! Here is a couple of pics of the floppy-eared big guy!!

I know all that long grass wouldn't have been great for him but had to take a pic before getting him out...such a poser!

 

[ruthcatrin]

He's a cutie!

Are you in Aus? Can you get local honey straight from bee-keepers there? It kinda goes against the advice to watch his sugar intake, but local (organic, unfiltered) honey can frequently help with environmental allergies. Its not a guaranteed thing, but if the bees are making honey from the pollen of something that he's allergic to then it has the potential to help. If he DOES turn out to have yeasty problems regularly then its not likely a solution you'll want to use, but its something you may want to keep in the back of your head.

 

[Bear86]

yes we are in Aus...funny you mention that, my hubby is allergic to bees and gets bad hayfever and he has unprocessed honey as he heard it helps! Once I get the yeast under control I might give it a go(I'll soon know if it is going to be a problem)

 

[angelbears]

What a handsome pup! I would do the probiotic. Especially, if you have to use antibiotics.

 

[ruthcatrin]

My Apollo (a TM) has had some issues with spring allergies since we got him. Not HORRIBLE, but enough that we'd have to dose him with benedryl at least a few times every spring. Starting last summer I started giving him a "good sized dollop" of local honey once a week or so, and this past spring he didn't itch hardly at all, we didn't have to give him benedryl once. Can I SWEAR it was the honey? Nope, but nothing else changed either.....

 

[Bear86]

Took Bear back to the vet and his yeast infection is getting better but we definitely think he has allergies. I cut the grass last week and his ears went red and his eyes were watery and he was fairly itchy. The vet has given me some cortisone tablets to give him in case he has a bad reaction(so I don't have to go back) and advised giving an antihistamine if we know we are going to be mowing etc... but she also said fish oil and/or evening primrose oil can help with allergies.

 

[musicdeb]

Good update about Mr. Bear's ears. Antihistamine will be Bear's best friend.

 

[Bear86]

I'm going to give the fish oil tablets a go and the vet also recommended a natural 'oil' based lotion you put on their skin to help provide a barrier - but yes, I'll definitely be giving an antihistamine whenever we are doing yard work I'm so glad I have found a great vet who sees the benefits of medicine when needed but also has lots of info on natural preventative treatments! When I mentioned I wasn't going to sterilise him until he is older, she was glad and recommended 2 years - from a vet I think that's awesome!! She sits on the ground with Bear and let's him cuddle, lick and sniff all he likes and spends ages patting and giving him scratches before doing anything...I think he loves her, I do!!!

 

[ruthcatrin]

She sounds awesome!

 

[musicdeb]

I'm going to give the fish oil tablets a go and the vet also recommended a natural 'oil' based lotion you put on their skin to help provide a barrier - but yes, I'll definitely be giving an antihistamine whenever we are doing yard work I'm so glad I have found a great vet who sees the benefits of medicine when needed but also has lots of info on natural preventative treatments! When I mentioned I wasn't going to sterilise him until he is older, she was glad and recommended 2 years - from a vet I think that's awesome!! She sits on the ground with Bear and let's him cuddle, lick and sniff all he likes and spends ages patting and giving him scratches before doing anything...I think he loves her, I do!!!

You are very fortunate to have a vet like that, she sounds awesome!

 

[ripnlee]

Hey there, I have had ongoing issues with ear yeasty problems on and off for quite some months my 2 are now 18 months and like I said on and off both have had problems and required vet visits where they have given me antibiotics which quite honestly started me to question there worth as I didn't feel they did a good enough job and quite frankly each visit spending a fortune for poor results wore thin I lost faith in the vet this is not my normal person I see but unfortunately like us when we want to see a doctor or in this case vet its like NOW and she was always booked and could only offer the next day hence seeing this other dude, so here I am having this ongoing yeast issue and booked in to see MY vet and I get there on the day and shes off freaking sick.....I'm thinking well yeah Grrrrr so I guess I'm stuck with AB dude? but no they put me in with someone I've never met....GREAT!!!! happy NOT!!! anyways he turns out to be bloody unreal he sat for an hour taking the time to explain the pros and cons of so many interesting facts that are relevant to my dogs health issues, he looked in Bellas ears and said the black stuff was actually infection and the leathery skin was the yeast and that a course of antibiotics wouldn't help with the yeast however she had an ear infection and gave me Canaral 7 drops morning and night which I used syringes to administer rather than the prolonged drip drip drip that she wasn't interested in worked a treat and also said to get a cotton bud and wipe on the inside of the ear when applying the drops, he then suggested the use of "Malaseb wash" (as an ongoing cleaning agent) undiluted 20 malaseb/20 water in the ear (I used warm water which they both actually liked) gave a gentle flush, and then rubbed in undiluted for 10 mins on the inner ear flap then wiped off (if yeasty the rubbing in) I used this technique for 1 week even cleaning her chin with the Malaseb wash after meals which worked beautifully with those nasty pimply problems I have also used the "Sudocrem" that stuff is gold clears up any issue brilliant stuff, Anyways god I can waffle sorry.......this particular vet told me I will have yeasty and allergy issues would be pretty much a permanent issue due to the environment and climate we live in QLD is tropical after all and that I would notice certain times of year keep an eye on and prepare for particularly with the pollen's, grass etc which they both react too particularly after mowed lawns in the area I use Predx on and off with good effect and as for the yeast again climate and the breed they are the ears get hot and moist and basically told me its a weekly maintenance requirement when it comes to their ears Malaseb and shouldn't need drops unless of course infection. So in closing with my all over the place convo here since putting his suggestions into practice BOTH my two's ears are perfectly pale pinky and free of any nasty smelly yeast, no more black gunk and no more leathery ear flaps and they are both so much more happier....no shaking of their heads other than normal waking up and stretching lol I hope this helps coming from a different angle but for me I honestly couldn't be happier with the results.

 

[Lisa P]

My CC did not have his ears cropped so I turn them inside out whenever he is laying on my lap to let som air circulate