Expert: Herbs, NuVet Plus Supplements, Dog/Cat Food Recipes; ( Marie) - 9/5/2009

Question
QUESTION: Part of this might be outside your expertise, but... I changed food on my dog a while back and he immediately (whether caused or coincidently) started scratching himself.  I finished just one bag and slowly changed him back to what he was eating (CA Natural) that he wasn't having any problems on.  Problem is, he is still itching and has a bunch of gunk in one ear.  I know they're tied together, but which came first... are the allergies (to what now, I don't know since I changed his food back) causing his ear problem, or is it possible that an ear infection is causing the itching?

ANSWER: Hi Lynn- It may be food and environmental allergies.  You can try this recipe to clean the ears and keep them free from infection.
Also, a good probiotic and supplement will help : see here:

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Alternative-Medicine-Pets-3721/2009/5/ear-infections-

Recipe - THE EAR WASH -

Ingredients:

White Vinegar


Powdered Boric Acid

Isopropyl Alcohol

Betadine Antiseptic (or generic equivalent)

Directions for mixing the solution together:


Pour 6 oz. of isopropyl alcohol into a plastic applicator bottle.

Add 1/2 tablespoon of boric acid powder

Add 2 oz. of white vinegar


Shake solution extremely well, until the boric acid powder is fully dissolved.  Once the powder is dissolved, add one teaspoon of the Betadine antiseptic and shake it up more.

Squirt the solution inside the dog’s ear until the ear canal is completely full. Massage the outside of the ear base to help spread the solution inside the ear.  Hold the dog still for about a minute.  Use a cotton ball to get out the excess cleaner and any brown matter from the ear.  Eventually the cotton ball will come out clean and free of brown coloration.  


Be sure to thoroughly shake the solution before each use.
The boric acid has a tendency to settle on the bottom of the bottle.  Store at room temperature.

Use the cleaning solution twice a week until you start to see some improvement.  Then cut back to once a week.  When the ear seems to be completely free of infection, you can go two weeks between treatments.  
(Plastic applicator bottles can be purchased at a beauty supply store.)


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: ty.  someone else mentioned it could be yeast in both ear and causing itching.  If it is, will this solution help and if not, can dogs take fluconazole?

Answer
Hi - the link above had a Probiotic suggestion. This will help to get rid of the yeast- yeast if related many times to allergies.. Also, I bet your kid has Environmental allergies.
My suggestions, in the link above, sure do work... Give them a try.

Don't do the flucanazole rigtht now...

Marie Peppers LPN MA