Expert: Dr. Louis N. Gotthelf - 3/31/2009

Question
My 9-year-old German Shepherd mix has had chronic ear infections for over a year now. My vet has given me tons of different drops and cleaners, but nothing works - the infection will go away for a few weeks, and then come back. She's always shaking her head and scratching at her ears, and I feel horrible for her. Right now only her left ear is infected, and the other one is fine. Do you have any suggestions on what to use?

Answer
With any chronic ear problem, it is common for the eardrum to rupture resulting in an infection in the middle ear cavity.  If you are putting medicine in that ear, it may not even reach the middle ear.  Ask the vet to do a deep ear flush with the dog under anesthesia to evaluate the eardrum.  Depending on the type of infection in the ear, treatment varies.