I have a 4+ yr old German Shepherd that I have had for a couple years now, and I know that German Shepherds can get ear mites really easy, and they need their ears cleaned often, but this seems to be something else. I clean his ears as often as I can, but he still scratches at them, and he gets it to the point where they scab over, and then those itch, so he scratches those. I have tried ear cleaners and ear mite treatment, and they seem to work for a little while, but then he is right back at it in a couple days. The only thing that I found to last a couple week was peroxide, but when i used that, it burned him a lot and the big baby cried, so I don't want to do that to him again. Anyone have any other suggestions?
Answers:
Peroxide shouldn't burn unless you got bleaching strength. I use hydrogen peroxide (3%) on a Qtip to cleanse %26 put vaseline over the spot where mine stratches until it heals.
You could also sprinkle a little garlic powder in the hair by the ear. It gets rid of lice so I presume it will mites.
My parents had a GS with a similar problem.
Take it to the vet. Don't go putting random stuff into your poor doggie's ears please :S
The vet can get him an Elizabethan collar which will stop him from scratching whilst he is being treated. Maybe the vet can prescribe him something better than off-the-shelf treatments. Your dog will thank you for this in the long run.
Go see the vet. It could be a yeast infection or mites that need more than over the counter medications.
Stop messing about with the poor dog and get him professional help.
You call your dog a big baby for crying when he was hurting? What kind of sadistic owner are you?
The longer you wait the worse it could be and the more expensive. Dogs can lose their hearing over things like
this !!
YES, GET THE POOR-BOY to the VET -- if it's a question of money, call ahead and see if they will put you on a payment plan -- many will, as they love dogs %26 won't let them suffer or they wouldn't be VETS !! And DONT YOU ABUSE the VET's TRUST in YOU -- YOU make EVERY PYMT on time or early !!!
If you can't find a vet at 1st keep on right down the list til you find one who will give you a pymt plan (this si the ONLY reason I can figure why you haven't taken him to a VET yet !).
In the meantime, you can get those anti-scratch collars at Pet Supply Stores or through pet magazines. Get the mildest H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) that you can get -- you can dillute it with DISTILLED WATER if you have to -- mix it in a VERY CLEAN CUUP. Mix it 2 part H2O2 to 1-part Dstld. Water and use sterile Q-Tips to gently clean ears. Get some: Triple-AntiBiotic Ointment with Pain Reliever in it (it's fairly cheap and is generic for the more expensive NEOSPORIN w/pain relief). Put the collar around his neck (take him with you to buy the ELIZIBETHIAN COLLAR to make sure it fits %26 doesnt choke him). Then gently clean the sores with the H2O2 mixture , he'll probably shake off the excess, but buy some generic sterile guaze pads (2x2s or 3x3'3s in size, 4" x 4"), then dab off excess H2O2. Then squeeze a small amount of ointment on a clean Q-Tip and completely but lightly cover all sores with it! This will kill the germs and sooth his pain. and help him heal.
But please get him to VET asap in order to find out EXACTLY what's causing this problem and get the meds to treat it PROPERLY !!!
Thank You for caring enough to ask about your boy's problem.
Also PLEASE, DON'T chain a GERMAN SHEPHERD outside and make him stay in an area that is mostly dirt! shepherd's are skin is VERY SENSITIVE and so is the psyche, they are very pack oriented and MUST BE WITH THEIR PACK as much as possible -- and currently you are his pack!!! Keep him indoors with you, have him a big bed in your room, and take him for runs and romps in the park daily !!! They need TONS of EXERCISE to stay healthy (and so do we humans !!!).
Anyone who cant do these basic things for a shepherd should really advertise for a breeder or farmer to take them as they need lots of room and lots of attention. A farm or someone with acreage and a stay at home person would be best. I'm not implying you, I'm just saying anyone who has a GS needs to have lots of room and lots of time and to keep them indoors.
Bless you for caring for him !!!
hi Bruce...we have this problem with "kirby" once in a while. (not ear mites or an infection) my sister-in-law who is a nurse suggested epsom salts to clean his ears...mix 1 tblsp. epsom salt with a quart of water and use a soft cloth. I also dip a q-tip in the solution to get further down without getting his ears drenched (which can cause more problems). then I apply this stuff by pet silk... back to nature for hot spots, it is all natural, on his ears to help with the itching and it soothes his skin without drying it. hope this helps with that gorgeous dog of yours!!
I have a GSD that has allergies (food and seasonal) and his ears are a big problem. First thing I had to do was change his food so now he gets a raw diet along with Solid Gold Holistic Blendz. This has reduced the frequency of his ear problems. Next I began cleaning his ears with a solution of half vinegar and half water, this helps to keep the ears dry. Then what I do is mix 4oz of Thayer's Witch Hazel with Aloe along with 10 drops of pure tea tree oil in a small bottle and pour it into the ear twice a day for 2-5 days. This usually clears up mild infection but I also keep otomax on hand, just in case. Here is a link for another home remedy that is suppose to be really good. I have never tried it but I know people who swear by it.
http://www.ridgewoodpoodles.com/blue_pow...
I know it is a pain when your dog suffers from ear problems especially when they are recurrent and going to the vet doesn't really help. In my dog the problems never go away 100% because of seasonal allergies but we are able to rid him of them quicker. Good Luck.
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