EAR INFECTIONS
WHAT IS YOUR REMEDY?

Author: Heather Bryan
www.standardpartipoodle.com

One topic that is a sore spot for nearly all Poodle owners is ear infections. There are many myths about treatments, cures, prevention, and maintenance. The everlasting debate of “to pluck or not to pluck” (hair from inside the ears) has many Poodle owners frayed at the edges. So, how do we sift out fact from fiction in all the treatments currently available?

In my initial search on this topic, I was bombarded with suggestions of various treatments and home remedies. It was almost overwhelming going through all of them. Then a thought occurred to me. Why not try out these different remedies first hand, one at a time, and report back with the results? Or, better yet, put together a panel of owners who are willing to try different treatments on their dogs and report on their effectiveness.

First let’s start with defining the basic types and causes of ear infections.

The most common type is yeast infection. This type infection is more prevalent in flop-eared dogs since yeast thrives in warm, dark places that don’t get much air circulation. There are many different causes for common yeast infections. Some people say that up to 80% of them are caused by food allergy; however, there is no reference to a written study confirming that. Another noted cause is a weak immune system: if the body is unable to maintain a healthy level of bacterium, an imbalance can cause an outbreak, and yeast can set up in a variety of areas on the body from ears to toes and beyond.

Another type of ear infection is caused by fungus. And, let’s not forget the ever serious and dangerous pseudomonas. This is a serious bacterium that is antibiotic resistant and difficult to treat. It has been attributed to overuse of antibiotics which deplete the body’s good bacteria that fight off the bad.

Depending on the region of the country, foxtails and other plants and foreign objects can become embedded in the ear causing severe irritation and infection. Sometimes surgery is required for safe removal.

Another cause of ear problems is ear mites. This is a parasitic mite which is treated by an insecticide such as pyrethrin.

If you would like to get involved in this unscientific study, either by trying out an ear treatment or with a suggestion for an ear treatment, please contact us at info@ippgazette.com. In the next issue, we will review results of the various treatments.