Ear Infections

[Leigh Stoller <stoller@fast.cs.utah.edu>]

Hey folks. Gina ask me to forward this discussion to the list. We had asked
a question about ear infections, and here is Gina's response.

> >From Leigh:
> >
> >The second issue is ear infections. Miss Maple was the first several months
> >ago. Torrey got it right after that. Both of them in the right ear. A trip
> >to the Vet and they were put on Otomax. Cleared up for a very short time
> >(weeks) and then came back, again only in the right ear. This time it
> >cleared up for almost two months. Now Maple has it again, in the right
> >ear. Since the first episode, we have been using a solution of vinegar and
> >alchohol, as recommended by the Vet.

> From: Gina
>
> I would venture to say that what you are dealing with is internal yeast 
> meaning their systems are overcome with yeast and it's manifesting in the 
> right ear.  Right ear only infections indicates "allergies", food is 
> usually the culprit, ie grain.  So to combat this with out going total BARF 
> I would recommend a change in food.  I know your on Canine Caviar still as 
> Stacy told me she drops food off your way when she was here the other 
> day.  Are you on Lamb and Rice?  If not go to that.  If you are I would 
> suggest dropping Canine Caviar and going to:  "Pinnacle" the main grain in 
> Pinnacle is oats, and might work to give enough change to correct the 
> balance with some additional help: Get some organic Apple Cider Vinegar 
> (ACV) and add a teaspoon to one meal per day.  Also yogurt, a heaping 
> tablespoon daily.
> 
> To treat the ears holistically over Otamax which has steroids in it:  Mix 
> the ACV 50/50 with 90% Alcohol, ( you will have to have the pharmacy order 
> it in) the 70% has way to much water in it to be affective and add a 
> tablespoon of Boric Acid powder (eye wash) to the mix. I mix this up in a 
> Alcohol bottle so it's about 16 ounces I think...   Clean the ears with 
> that, daily, for 10 days, either AM or PM and the other Am or PM in the 
> same day after the ear is dry,  sprinkle Asodopholis <sp> power into the 
> ear.  I buy capsules at the Health Food Store (HFS) I also get my ACV at 
> the HFS.  I open the caps and sprinkle just a bit in the ear like an 1/8 of 
> the cap and close it back up and keep them in the fridge.  I only buy the 
> ones that are in the fridge at the HFS. If this is not clear please give me 
> a call.
> 
> On the foods, Keizer Feed in Salem has a sister store in Albany or 
> Corvallis (can't remember the name or the location) but they should carry 
> Pinnacle as Keizer does, call STEVE at Keizer at 503-393-5450 and ask him 
> about the sister store and availability of Pinnacle, there also ask him who 
> makes it if he's not much help and go to my links page: 
> http://www.briergoldens.com/links.htm and look under Pet food Mfg and there 
> is a list of companies there and you should be able to look up the 
> Mfg.  contact them for a retail outlet near you.
> 
> Other things I would do is add a fair amount of veggies to their diet, 
> ground green leafy stuff:  spinach, collard greens, parsley, kale. Also 
> carrots, carrots are a mainstay here and they have excellent antioxidant 
> properties which can help balance the diet.  I grind all these veggies in 
> my food processor...  Fruits such as apples also help.  Give apple slices 
> for treats. :-)   Get away from the grain cookies make liver bars:  Puree 1 
> pound of liver and two good sized apples in your processor add to that 1/2 
> tablespoon garlic crushed fresh, 2 eggs and two cups of ground up 
> oatmeal.  I grind the oatmeal to the constancy of flour in my 
> processor.  Mix this all together will be stiff.  Spread out in a 9X13 
> baking dish and bake about 30 minutes, remove from dish, put on cookie 
> sheet replace into the oven with oven off  let sit for an hour or so and 
> slice into bars put some in freezer and some in the fridge.
> 
> Now one last thing.  Has your vet done a culture for ear mites?  It's 
> uncommon in dogs but not impossible that it could be mites cats are more 
> susceptible to mites but they can be in dogs too...  If it's mites one 
> application of Revolution topical will rid you of the problem.  Or you can 
> use Frontline spray in the ear for about two weeks just one squirt a day 
> will rid them. I do not any longer endorse Mitaban ear stuff, the 
> Revolution and Frontline are way more effective...
> 
> Austa,
> 
> Gina :-)
> 
>