[Dailydrool] Lateral ear canal resection and ear infections

[Pamela McQuade]

We have had two dogs who had serious ear infections. About ten years ago, our Alexis ended up with a total ear canal ablation, because her ears became so bad, and despite aggressive treatment, I think the ear drum probably became perforated.
 
Our foster Holly, Alexis's stunt double, came to us last year with very similar problems. I kept taking her back to the vet's, because I knew how not treating her could end up. 
 
We finally ended up at a dermatologist's office. She prescribed a few antibiotics that cleared up the skin issues and put Holly on Atopica, which has been used very successfully for allergies. And dogs who have ear problems are most likely suffering from allergies, since the two problems seem to come together. 
 
Atopica is no cheap drug, but we've been able to halve the initial dose, which dropped the price considerably (thankfully, foster Holly has a generous supporter who is helping out with her bills). We've been told it's sometimes possible to lower the dose even more. And surely this drug is a lot cheaper and less painful for a hound than surgery.
 
Holly's ears are no longer painful. As long as she doesn't nose her way into food that is not on her allergy diet, she isn't even stinky in the ears. Her skin allergy symptoms have all but disappeared, and her last test on her ears showed that the infection was gone.
 
I hope that you have sought out specialists, tried your Dexter on an allergy diet, and have tested out all the drug options that are available. If you have only been to your regular vet, you may not have gotten the latest and most extensive advice. 
 
I would do surgery only as a last resort. I am not familiar with the lateral resection, but I know the TECA was very painful for Alexis and lost her almost all her hearing in that ear (though the surgeon had claimed she would be able to hear, it was very minimal). The lateral ear canal resection is not as extensive as a TECA, but I think I'd still want to avoid it, if possible. I hope Dexter's ear is not so far gone that this is the only option. 
 
Naturally, I am not a vet. But having been through this kind of thing twice, I get very concerned when people have ear infections that don't resolve. I want to tell everyone who deals with them that humans need to be aggressive about pursuing this problem for their dogs. If a treatment doesn't work in a couple of weeks, go back to the vet. If you try a couple of medications, and they don't work, you need to see a specialist--no ifs, ands, or buts. Don't take no for an answer. 
 
If a vet simply tells you that this is the way bassets are, and it's not a problem, get a new vet immediately! To do otherwise is to put your dog through a lot of pain, because the infections that take over the ear are not going to stop. Neither will the pain.
 
Sorry to be on my soapbox, but I wish I could have done this much for Alexis, when we had her. Then there was no oral drug that would deal with the problem. Now there is. It can be a great blessing to a hurting hound.
Pam, food slave to the Dashing Bassets, including our Dexter, who says hello to yours
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