Lindainfa Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 Basically Lola has had ear infections twice this year and although antibiotic drops helped and cleaning them regularly I still took her to a Dermitoligist just for her overall itchy face, chewing and licking paws etc. The derm said that her Ear Canals were so narrow that she could not see to the eardrum so could not tell if there was infection further. She said even if she has stopped scratching and shaking her head there could be alot of gunk down further that could rupture the ear drum if left like that. She put Lola on Predisinole (spelling) the anti inflammatory cortisone. 5mg once a day and this was supposed to open her canals if there was an infection and they were thick from that. So this went on for a week and today we went back, the cortisone didn't do anything and they are still narrow. She explained that they could be naturally narrow but wants to flush out the ear with her under a general to clean out all the gunk and she has to have an MRI to determine if any gunk has ruptured into her ear drum. Does this sound excessive at all? I was a bit hesitant but I don't want to risk her ear drum bursting and then major surgery in which case she will be deaf. Has anyone else been through this? Also the price for the flush, anasthetic and MRI I am looking at between $800 - $1500 depending on what the diagnosis is and if she needs meds and whatever else!! ARgghh, she is booked in tomorrow and I am so worried. (Also in Health/Nutrition/Grooming, but get more views here.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mason_Gibbs Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 My dog had heaps of ear issues ( he has allergies too) luckily his cleared up with drops, diet change and i still use ear wash 2x a week. I would let the derm do it tho they are usually pretty good and if mine recommended it i would probably be doing it as i trust her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lindainfa Posted June 28, 2011 Author Share Posted June 28, 2011 My dog had heaps of ear issues ( he has allergies too) luckily his cleared up with drops, diet change and i still use ear wash 2x a week. I would let the derm do it tho they are usually pretty good and if mine recommended it i would probably be doing it as i trust her. Thats the thing, hers have cleared up with regular cleaning and drops, she has stopped scratching for weeks - but because her canals are still narrow (which could be natural) she wants to do the flush. I'm just not sure. She hasn't talked about underlying issues at all to prevent the yeast build up such as diet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mason_Gibbs Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 Have u brought up the diet changes which could help the yeast etc?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christina Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 The cost of an ear flush at the vets is not very expensive. Not more than $200, from memory so I guess the MRI must cost a bomb. No time to get another quote I guess. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~*Shell*~ Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 Zero has this same problem - i had them cleaned out once (and again when he went under general for his back) and now i just keep and eye on them. His are from repeated untreated ear infections before i got him though - his weren't naturally narrow. I've never had an MRI recommended to me for him - i don't know what i would do if it was. I would probably just do it though I'm such a sucker for mr zero and he's already pretty deaf when he has an ear infection now (he gets them because his ear canals are so narrow that they close up when they thicken more because of the infection) so i don't want to make him worse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lindainfa Posted June 28, 2011 Author Share Posted June 28, 2011 Hey guys, I have decided to cancel the appointment first thing in the morning, I am just not comfortable with it. I will be making an appointment at Weribee Uni Vet for a second opinion, they have their own Derm there. I did bring up the question of diet but she seemed adament that we could discuss all this once the ears had been flushed, so I didn't really get an answer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oakway Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 I think that was a very wise decision. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 Good plan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregW Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 Good that your getting a second opinion, Zoe recently had a nasty ear infection, lots of head shaking, two week course of drops and antibiotics cleared it up. In regards to what could have caused it? It was probably environmental, we had loads of work done on the backyard, lots of mud, dust and then a long period of rain meaning all those nasties had a warm cozy place to thrive in her floppy ears. Flushing with opti clean? Was recommended as a pre caution if signs of redness or dirt appeared in future. Greg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlemum Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 Hey guys, I have decided to cancel the appointment first thing in the morning, I am just not comfortable with it. I will be making an appointment at Weribee Uni Vet for a second opinion, they have their own Derm there. I did bring up the question of diet but she seemed adament that we could discuss all this once the ears had been flushed, so I didn't really get an answer. That does sound expensive. My boy Niki had chronic ear problems and my Vet suggested flushing the ears out. I can't remember now how much it was, but nothing like you've been quoted . It did fix the problem, though, so I can recommend it if you can find someone who will do it for a REASONABLE price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flick_Mac Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 MRIs are the expensive part because you've usually got to use a human machine. Only a couple of places have MRIs and they ain't cheap! Good choice going for a second opinion, but just remember general allergies are the number 1 cause for ear disease. Food may be the allergy but it's more likely pollen or something in the environment Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mason_Gibbs Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 My allergy dog has food allergies and is atopic, his ears itch due to both i recon. Another problem he had was that he is allergic to the ear drops they gave us - it caused a big problem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovemymutts Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 My old boy a CCR x BC, now deceased used to get lots of ear infections, he had the same problem with the narrow ear canals. We did have his ears flushed which did help a lot but one ear in particular continued to be problematic. In the end he had a full ear resection on that ear & it fixed the problem completely! I've continued to use this vet clinic even though the vet that did this surgery is no longer there but the other vets used to compliment what a fine job was done with this operation as they hadn't seen many done. I would definitely recommend the ear resection if your vet feels comfortable with that & if the problems are continuing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lindainfa Posted June 29, 2011 Author Share Posted June 29, 2011 Thanks for the helpful replies guys. I have booked her in for a second opinion tomorrow at Werribee University, which was recommended by another lovely Doler. Lovemymutts- - The thing is she is only 13 months old, her ears have been fine for a month now, no scratching and I have been cleaning them a few times a week. I am happy to do this for the rest of her life if need be. She has never had pus or blood so I think its drastic action on account of reading other peoples stories about their dogs having chronic ear infections for years and years! Glad to hear your dogs surgery went well though, its a scary thing! I really want to get down to the issue of the yeast/allergies, which is why I went to a Derm in the first place. No point in flushing her ears if they are going to get gunky again in a few weeks! That was my thoughts anyway. I feel confident that I cancelled the appointment and am getting a second opinion. I am seeing a recommended Vet and if needs be, they have their own Dermatologist. And if it turns out she does need the ear flush, Werribee will not cost me a fortune, they are reasonably priced. Once again, thanks to everyone, I love DOL! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frufru Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 The MRI is the expensive part - they are not easily accessed so there would not be many people who have had them done. What makes the specialist think an MRI is necessary????? In the past how was a ruptured eardrum diagnosed??? Let us know how Lola gets on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swizzlestick Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 In the past how was a ruptured eardrum diagnosed??? It wasn't diagnosed with a rupture I don't think, as the ear canal was too narrow to see down. There was some concern if they didn't get the gunk out that it may rupture. That's how I read it anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lindainfa Posted June 29, 2011 Author Share Posted June 29, 2011 In the past how was a ruptured eardrum diagnosed??? It wasn't diagnosed with a rupture I don't think, as the ear canal was too narrow to see down. There was some concern if they didn't get the gunk out that it may rupture. That's how I read it anyway. Yes thats correct Sir WJ. frufru - To be honest, Im thinking she thought the MRI was necessary for a big money grab. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baileys mum Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 Yeah I think having a MRI is a bit extream...my little girl's ears where in a pretty bad state, & our vet didn't even mention getting an MRI. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlemum Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 Thanks for the helpful replies guys. I have booked her in for a second opinion tomorrow at Werribee University, which was recommended by another lovely Doler. Lovemymutts- - The thing is she is only 13 months old, her ears have been fine for a month now, no scratching and I have been cleaning them a few times a week. I am happy to do this for the rest of her life if need be. She has never had pus or blood so I think its drastic action on account of reading other peoples stories about their dogs having chronic ear infections for years and years! Glad to hear your dogs surgery went well though, its a scary thing! I really want to get down to the issue of the yeast/allergies, which is why I went to a Derm in the first place. No point in flushing her ears if they are going to get gunky again in a few weeks! That was my thoughts anyway. I feel confident that I cancelled the appointment and am getting a second opinion. I am seeing a recommended Vet and if needs be, they have their own Dermatologist. And if it turns out she does need the ear flush, Werribee will not cost me a fortune, they are reasonably priced. Once again, thanks to everyone, I love DOL! Which Vet do you go to, normally?(you could PM me) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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