Pseudomonas ear infection - help!

[missbattenburg]

Battendog has been fighting an ear infection for the last couple of months. A swab test revealed it to be pseudomonas which I understand is a bugger to shift.

His ears have been flushed twice under sedation. He was on easotic drops every day and more recently this has been paired with a vinegar wash and marbocyl tablets. Whilst his ear looks much better than it did at the start, at today's check up the vet could still see infection in there and has swapped the easotic drops for aurizon ones.

It's just been going on so long for him and it's meaning he now has a full of fear reaction at the vet because of the frequent visits resulting in painful examinations (because the ear is sore). I am obviously keen we try and get him cured asap.

Anyone had experience with this type of infection with any suggestions on what else we could try? Please.

They should always be giving the options, and explain the pros and cons. However I think there has to be limits- so agree to try one antibiotic then if it doesn't work the swab is the only other safe option. Antibiotic resistance in animals affects the people living in the animals home and therefore the wider public eventually. We have to safeguard the health of more than just the animals.

I think (from seeing this in practice) that many older vets just don't seem understand or care about this. Clearly not all of them, but I'm just saying what I've seen.

I welcome and encourage owners questioning me, seeking to understand what I'm suggesting. If your vet can't justify it and tell you the risks and benefits, then I'd be concerned. Good communication is essential - I will always explain rather than just saying "here take this".

I see many second opinions and despair at the poor communication- often a vet has done nothing wrong, but communicated badly and the owner is subsequently unhappy - simply because it was not explained properly.

Totally agree about poor comms and suspect it's probably similar to other aspects of working with animals, People are attracted to those careers because they like animals, and sometimes that's because they don't like or are not great wth people. (Not always) That's a shame because people are a big part of dealing with animals.

Anyway, I contacted that clinic mentioed upthread. It was just a little online form to leave a message and I got a detailed response at midnight that night. That's been followed up with a couple more comms. There's a two week wait to see him because the clinic is currently undergoing renovation but it means I now have:

• more things to suggest to my own vet (thanks luckykitty)
• somewhere to go for a 2nd opinion in a couple of weeks if we're still not getting anywhere

Fingers crossed you get to the bottom of it.

luckykitty we used intensive regime exactly as you describe. Finally had all clear after first failed attempt. Has taken almost 3 months of dedicated x 4 daily treatment plus steroids to clear. Must follow instructions exactly to eradicate the pseudamonas.
Our vet was amazing and a great support as it isn't easy for you or your dog. Persevere, you can get rid of this!

How are you getting on this week?

We just got back from the vet where Battendog has had to be sedated for a swab test and a good look in his ear - so extreme is his reaction now the the vet trying to put anything in his ear

Infection still present but the vet says it has definately reduced from before so is confident we are going in the right direction.

I also spoke to the ear specialist I mentioned above. Unfortunately, he cannot see us until the second week of September so to 'fill the time' before then I have a choice...

a) continue with my own vet who is supportive of me seeing the specialist if that's what I want.
b) stop seeing my vet but this means stopping treatment and risking the infection taking hold again
c) try and find a 3rd place who can see us immediately.

Am leaning towards getting the swab results back first before making a decision, to be clear where we are at.

I mentioned to my vet the studies you linked on

• topical being much more effective than systemic
• using trizchlor and flamazine to support the topical anti-b
• oral steroids

He wants to see the swab results too, first, before looking at other treatments. Says there is limited inflammation in the ear so steroids not needed. I think this bit must be true because Battendog is not one to suffer pain stoically and shows no sign of discomfort at all.

It's just so hard to keep taking him to the vet when he gets so upset by it. Another sedation today (3rd for his ear) and he is yet again in a sorry/dopey state . I know he'll have perked up again by tomorrow but I feel for him...

Is there another specialist center nearby or is the one with the wait the one your vet would have referred you to anyway?

Personally I would try option c and if there isn't anywhere better stick with option a.

I know what it's like to have a very scared dog at the vets but BiteyDog is much better as we have been a few times recently for a checkup or something minor and just coming home rather than being admitted means he has started to wag his tail again when he sees the vet.

Thanks Bitey. I'd like the swab results back (should only take a few days) to understand a bit more about what's going on but in the meantime am going to start looking for other places nearby.

We're about eight weeks and almost £1000 in. Luckily we have good insurance but it's worth mentioning the cost, I think, to highlight to others how it can rack up quickly with a - relatively - minor issue.

Battendog is quick to forgive the vet and make a fuss of him when the checkup is over. But he's a happy friendly dog who now literally shakes with fear behind my legs and cowers to the floor when he knows what's coming. I know it's for his own good and he will bounce back again but it starts to become draining to see it time and time again as an owner, you know?

I think he's had enough sedatives for his young life as well. One for swallowing glass, one for a lip op and three for his ears. ☹️

Ah well it's a glorious bank holiday weekend so I'm just about to wake him up for a little walk...

Totally understand. I try to think that deep down they know you are trying to help them even though you take them to the scary place .

Agree with biteyshark - get results, then if still present then see a specialist immediately. Or even just book the September appointment and buy some trizchlor to keep going with at home, not sure if you can buy flamazine over the counter? - both actively kill pseudomonas but arent antibiotic so won't do any harm.

Even if the vet can't 'see' inflammation, if the ear still has pseudomonas then there will be inflammation- fact. I still cant believe he wont give you a trizchlor cleaner - the bacteria live in the discharge. The ear needs cleaning.

Also I wouldnt say this isn't a relatively minor issue, it's a major issue. But it shouldn't have gone on as long as this or costed quite so much if it was addressed aggressively and properly from the start. But of course I appreciate that all vets price differently, and some cases have multiple complications etc. I'm really upset and frustrated for you. I'd offer to see you myself but I'm on maternity leave! And my second in command is off due to a car accident!

This is a nightmare - our cocker has had it several times. Vinegar worked surprisingly well in conjunction with daily steroids and in terms of prevention switching him to anallergenic dog biscuits has massively helped.

Btw my vets have in the past mentioned two specialist animal hospitals they could refer me too. We did visit the nearest one after his latest issue but they also mentioned another one if I had preferred to have gone there instead. The referral was quick e.g. the next day even though we had been downgraded so was not an acute emergency and even then I was told a 'normal' referral would have still only been around 5 working days.

I would be frustrated in your shoes having to look for a specialist yourself rather than them listing or recommending places . It feels a bit like if you went to your own GP and expected you to contact a consultant yourself at the hospital.

Thanks everyone. Have continued to ruminate on this overnight.

I will wait for the swab results to come back but in the meantime, will call and make an appointment with the ear specialist for 2 weeks time. I cannot find anywhere close that looks good so will wait for this specialist to be free. Afterall, he has been brilliant about replying and calling me etc.

We have some trizchlor in the house and I have ordered some more. I will add that to Battendog's daily routine. We'll clean his ears twice a day with that and once with the vinegar that my vet recommended.

I'll keep using the aurizon daily.

If nothing else, hopefully that will keep the infection under some control until we can see the specialist.

p.s. am also researching other local vets to switch to long term/more general stuff.

Great plan!

So our swab results came back clear for pseudomonas! A visual check of the ear under sedation showed some signs of infection but reduced greatly from previously.

However, I understand that sometimes a swab test can sometimes result in a false negative where the dog is on topical antibiotics so we have agreed to continue the regime as above and restest/check again next week. The idea being we need to know this is 100% gone before stopping treatment.

Am tentatively crossing all my fingers that we're on the way, now. I bloody hope so.

Crossing my fingers for you as well.

Sounding positive. Fingers crossed for you too.

All clear! We now have 2 more lots of totally clear swab results so he's finally been signed off. I am VERY relieved.

It's been such a long slog. Now to keep them ears bloody clean and clear.

So pleased for you and Battendog! We have been clear for 8 weeks now. We use a general cleaner from vet that we use twice weekly, just to maintain hygiene for Ted's ears. He is 100% happier and we are finally seeing the 'real' Ted.