Expert: Dr. Louis N. Gotthelf - 12/29/2010

Question
our 7 year old chocolate lab has always suffered from ear infectons she has been treated with antibiotic ear drops and ear cleaner. She had areally bad infecton recently and her head and face swelled up on one side she had trouble opening her jaw. She was put on painkillers and two types of antibiotics this was 5 weeks ago she has been back to the vets 4 times and she has been better for a couple of days and then seemed ill again. Last time we took her back the vet said he was very pleased with her improvement to continue with the treatment and bring her back in early january.We were so excited we took her for along walk in the snow and she seemed back to normal but on the way back she was sick and since then has been very lethargic, doesnt walk very far at all although she is eating.We are so worried that we have done something wrong by taking her out

Answer
The only way to know if the infection is back is to take her in and have the ear looked at.  It could be that there is a middle ear infection that was causing the jaw problems. That usually means that the eardrum is ruptured.  An X-ray of her bony bullae is probably needed.