My poor dog (7yo GSD) has had problems with her ears for years, and I'm just so sad for her. Does anyone have any words of wisdom / anything else I can try? Honestly, what would you do?
So she was first diagnosed with allergies when she was probably a year old. She has pretty much been on apoquel ever since, which fortunately we can afford. We did try to wean her off at one time during covid, as she caught kennel cough which nearly killed her (as the apoquel acts as an immunosuppressive) but we weren't successful. After several ear infections in a row we relented and put her back on the medication.
The last couple of weeks have been typical of the past few months, but the vet doesn't seem bothered / doesn't think that there is anything else to do. She went in for her booster vaccinations and health check last week and I said her ears were a problem like they always are, and I got the knowing nod. He had a quick look but didn't find infection or anything so let her carry on as 'normal'. Her normal is to generally / daily be scratchy around the ears. Every few days she will have an onset of symptoms where it looks like an infection might start (e.g. scratching lots / head shaking etc) and we have to put steroids in her ears which we always have a store of. Her ears (the inside skin area) seem to be a darker colour than they used to be and she is losing hair on the outside of her ears now. I clean her ears weekly (can't do them more often as it is a big irritant to her and sets her off scratching, which is when we seem to get infections) but the wax is disgusting. I have flagged many times with the vet is it possibly something other than allergies, but always told that it is. We did do tests which came back with several allergens so it does seem to be the cause - some allergens can't be avoided like certain trees and grass pollen, but we got hypoallergenic food to avoid the food allergens. I am at the vets, on average, once every 3-4 months with ear infections. But like I said, she has constant symptoms.
The only other option we have been offered was a couple of years ago and to me doesn't feel a valid option, and the vet said it would only be for extreme circumstances, that they could (as I understand it) remove part of the ear canal. It would stop her symptoms but would obviously make her deaf! If it was always one ear I believe we would have done this by now, but her problems affect both ears.
I have tried elimination diets, assortment of ointments and supplementary tablets etc and nothing has helped. I'm all out of ideas and I just feel helpless.
I can't put my dog to sleep because she has ear infections / allergies......but I'm finding it hard to believe I'm doing best by her when she is so often in discomfort. I'm not neglectful, I've done everything I can, thrown money at the situation, been down the vets so so so many times, always complete the courses of meds given etc......but eventually the infection always comes back.
I'm just looking for a place to vent. This isn't the life I want for my dog 😢