Guest Shermanator Posted December 30, 2008 Share Posted December 30, 2008 Patton has dirty ears. We have spoken to the vet multiple times over this, and there is no infection, he simply has dirty ears. I clean them 2x a week, which is a nightmare, since Patton HATES it. It looks like someone poured coffee grinds in his ears. Does anyone else have a grey with super dirty ears? Is this something we have to deal with for his entire life, or is there something else we can do to clear them up? We've tried antibiotics multiple times, and his ears stay dirty. Sherman's ears are completely clean, and he has never had a problem with his ears. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooby172 Posted December 30, 2008 Share Posted December 30, 2008 My cat used to get ear mites, they looked like coffee grinds, no trouble with my greys ears though. LInda, VAlor, Keeva and Bella Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheFullHouse Posted December 30, 2008 Share Posted December 30, 2008 Gee gets ears like that, she has an infection right now. Hers are caused by allergies though. Quote Judy, mom to Darth Vader, Bandita, And Angel Forever in our hearts, DeeYoGee, Dani, Emmy, Andy, Heart, Saint, Valentino, Arrow, Gee, Bebe, Jilly Bean, Bullitt, Pistol, Junior, Sammie, Joey, Gizmo, Do Bee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stoney Posted December 30, 2008 Share Posted December 30, 2008 Beans gets one dirty ear - the other one is fine. Every time we go to the vet I have her look at the dirty one and she says it's fine - no infection, no mites. It never seems to bother him - just me because they are groddy! Quote ClayGreys Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MorganKonaAlex Posted December 30, 2008 Share Posted December 30, 2008 One of my guys always had dirty ears. We changed foods and they cleared up. It must have been a mild food allergy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest trevdog Posted December 30, 2008 Share Posted December 30, 2008 Might be a food allergy. Dallas got a nasty ear infection that wouldn't clear up. I finally discovered she was allergic to what we were feeding her after a few vet trips and switching food. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YvetteVal Posted December 30, 2008 Share Posted December 30, 2008 My cat has dirty ears. My vet said that as a kitten he may have had mites causing his ears to make that nasty stuff and now they just keep making it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest StriderDog Posted December 30, 2008 Share Posted December 30, 2008 My initial thought was "food allergy." Have you changed his food and seen any improvement or worsening? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Spencers_Greyt Posted December 30, 2008 Share Posted December 30, 2008 When I first got Spencer and for a year afterwards he had super dirty ears too. He would shake his head and all this black gunk would come flying out and stick on the walls - it was so gross! When he went in for his annual dental I would have the vet do a deep ear irrigation to really clean them out. After about a year or so he never had a dirty ear problem again. Hang in there - Spencer didn't like having his ears cleaned either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MZH Posted December 30, 2008 Share Posted December 30, 2008 Rita gets a dark, dirty-looking ear once a year. It's not always the same one. The first vet in CT said it was a yeast infection. A second vet here in SC says it's a bacterial infection with a tiny bit of yeast thrown in; no mites seen even thought you'd swear she has mites. He suspects some kind if allergy. She's on basically the same ear stuff the CT vet gave her but this vet has added an antibiotic and a short dose of pred to ease the inflammation. Even her pinna is sore looking. I have to clean her ear daily. I use a cotton ball soaked in the cleaner to get the solution in her ear; it's much easier on both of us to do it that way than trying to put the cleaner directly into her ear from the bottle. Funny no one ever told me to do it this way until we went to the Banfield vet at PetsMart. Our regular vet was closed for the holiday, but this vet was open for business and quite good, I think! His ear-cleaning method with the cotton ball rather than with shooting the solution into the ear directly from the bottle was a Godsend! Hope this method helps make life easier for you! Marcia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remolacha Posted December 30, 2008 Share Posted December 30, 2008 My cat has dirty ears. My vet said that as a kitten he may have had mites causing his ears to make that nasty stuff and now they just keep making it. One of my cats is like this, too. When it really starts to bother her, I take her to the vet to have them checked and cleaned. I can NOT do it myself! It is gross. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest RocketDog Posted December 30, 2008 Share Posted December 30, 2008 I would think food allergy or mites, from the sound of it. My cat had earmites as a kitten and his ears were FILLED with disgusting dirt/coffee looking stuff - it's the mite's poop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Fini Posted December 30, 2008 Share Posted December 30, 2008 Try a little olive oil in the ears. If there are mites this will do a decent job of clearing them up. Just put some on a cotton ball and smear it around like you were cleaning them. Do this every other day for a week and then wait to see if it returns. I've also seen yeast infections with dogs that get their ears licked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreyWrangler Posted December 30, 2008 Share Posted December 30, 2008 my one dog with dirty ears was the dog who's ears stood up. the others all flopped over properly. Quote Nancy and Grace - Andicot 2/1/07 Solo - Flying Han Solo 3/20/11 Missing: Murphy, Shine, Kim, Sprite, Red Dog, Lottie & Harry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guinness_the_greyt Posted December 30, 2008 Share Posted December 30, 2008 I'm with the posters above and going to say allergy. My friends greyhound has seasonal allergies and she has to be right on top of getting her meds or she will get an ear infection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BauersMom Posted December 31, 2008 Share Posted December 31, 2008 One of mine could grow mushrooms in his ears. Always has, no matter the diet or season. I just wipe them out every once and a while and other than being grossed out, it's no big deal. Quote With Buster Bloof (UCME Razorback 89B-51359) and Gingersnap Ginny (92D-59450). Missing Pepper, Berkeley, Ivy, Princess and Bauer at the bridge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlies_Dad Posted December 31, 2008 Share Posted December 31, 2008 Our Charlie has the same problem. He has had his ears checked twice for ticks and nada. We clean them out but it comes back and currently it's pretty bad. I have read that adding yogurt to their diet can help. We are going to give it a try. There are also other 'remedies' out there such as vinegar & water (this may sting if they have scratched their ears), monistat 7....I am forgetting the others. One that I thought was funny was garlic salt!!! I am not kidding that someone wrote it worked on their pup (non-grey). Quote Kyle with Stewie ('Super C Ledoux, Super C Sampson x Sing It Blondie) and forever missing my three angels, Jack ('Roy Jack', Greys Flambeau x Miss Cobblepot) and Charlie ('CTR Midas Touch', Leo's Midas x Hallo Argentina) and Shelby ('Shari's Hooty', Flying Viper x Shari Carusi) running free across the bridge. Gus an coinnich sinn a'rithist my boys and little girl. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LindsaySF Posted January 2, 2009 Share Posted January 2, 2009 I would say food allergy too. Also, it could be yeast. Make sure whatever medicine or cleaner you use works on yeast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jenn Posted January 2, 2009 Share Posted January 2, 2009 (edited) I agree with the allergies, but I would add one more suggestion--try an acodopholis pill sprinkled over the food once a day--it takes about 4-6 weeks to notice the difference. Jennifer I'm with the posters above and going to say allergy. My friends greyhound has seasonal allergies and she has to be right on top of getting her meds or she will get an ear infection. I love that quote! Is that from a bumper sticker? I would love to have it on my car! (the diabolcial plot thing) Jennifer Edited January 2, 2009 by Jenn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Giselle Posted January 2, 2009 Share Posted January 2, 2009 I, too, would try looking for the cause of the problems, probably through changing his food or adding probiotics. As an aside, what do you clean with? I *love* OtiRinse. Not all natural or organic. But all of my vets (I've used many ) use it and I swear by it. By the way, you haven't seen anything until you've cleaned Retriever/Spaniel ears. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fritofeet Posted January 2, 2009 Share Posted January 2, 2009 The Sally Monster has typical gunky coonhound ears, and they have to be wiped every other day or she gets an infection. I'm currently using a product from Wysong on her...the Otisol-O. It has eucalyptus in it, so it helps with the itching. She actually lets me put this stuff in, because it stops the itching and is cooling. http://www.wysong.net/Merchant2/merchant.m...Product_Count=4 Supposedly this one is good...I have some on order and can let you know how it works on floppy coonhound girl. http://www.medi-vet.com/detail.aspx?ID=3851 Otirinse is good for grungy ears too... http://www.medi-vet.com/detail.aspx?ID=1742 and Zymox makes some great products including a wash that are great for ears. http://www.medi-vet.com/detail.aspx?ID=3070 I used that brand on Hogan, but haven't gotten my hands on it yet for Sally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeylasMom Posted January 2, 2009 Share Posted January 2, 2009 You could always switch to a raw diet. Most people whose dogs had skin, ear or eye problems and switched to raw saw the problems disappear. Otherwise, I think the other suggestions already given about trying a different food or a probiotic are sound. Quote Jen, CPDT-KA with Zuri, lab in a greyhound suit, Violet, formerly known as Faith, Skye, the permanent puppy, Cisco, resident cat, and my baby girl Neyla, forever in my heart "The great thing about science is that you're free to disagree with it, but you'll be wrong." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Shermanator Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 (edited) Wow! Hmmmm. We have switched Patton's food several times, and his ears have always been a mess. DH says its his brains leaking out. Ha ha. Its not ear mites, his ears have been like this as long as we had him, 4 years, and multiple trips to the vet to discuss them. He does not scratch obsessively, so they do not bother him that much. He scratches as much as Sherman does, and Sherman's ears are pristine. Sigh. I am going to try some of the ear solutions suggested. Also, Patton and Sherman get a dollop of yogurt - plain, low fat Dannon, every morning. Is there another yogurt I should try? Thanks, everyone! Edited January 3, 2009 by Shermanator Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BauersMom Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 You could always switch to a raw diet. Most people whose dogs had skin, ear or eye problems and switched to raw saw the problems disappear. Otherwise, I think the other suggestions already given about trying a different food or a probiotic are sound. We were on raw for a year and so no change in the ear gunk. Really, if it's not bothering him and causes no problem, I wouldn't worry about it. You'll probably cause more problems changing foods. Quote With Buster Bloof (UCME Razorback 89B-51359) and Gingersnap Ginny (92D-59450). Missing Pepper, Berkeley, Ivy, Princess and Bauer at the bridge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guppy Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 I would recommend buying cotton makeup remover pads and using them to clean his ears with colloidal silver which does treat yeast infections. Max was diagnosed with a yeast infection. His ear canals had all sorts of dark brown goop in them. The course of antibiotics did not resolve it. I tried using cider vinegar but that also did not resolve it. Colloidal silver seems to have done the job. Leanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.