Another ear infection

[PollyGirl]

Hello everyone, sorry it's been a while. When I became a military wife, ppl told me that when a dh deploys, that's when all the chaos happens at home and they were right! LOL, well, at least I'm still here and trudging through it best I can!

One of the issues is that I had to take Polly into the vet again yesterday for another ear infection. It's been a little less than a month and it's happened again! The vet asked me if she's been chewing at her paws and she has so he said it may be allergy related. He said the only way to know for sure was to draw blood and do extensive tests and then once the allergen was isolated, try to give her a series of injections that would not be guaranteed to work. I'm so upset! I feel so bad for her cause I suffer from allergies myself! He said it may be the food so here I go:
I feed her Nutro for overweight dogs. She seems to love it and she's been on it for a bit, but December was the first time she had an ear infection. Doesn't that mean that it is most likely something other than the food?
He recommended that I switch foods. So where should I start and how long does it take to find out if they're doing ok on the new food and am I going to have to be buying big bags of dog food and then getting rid of them if she doesn't do well?
Is there something I can give her for the mean-time (I've heard of Benadryl) that can help her with the itchy feet?

I know I should have asked more of the vet but I had my 3 yr old son with me at the time and I'm sure you all know how it is to handle one of those! I just wanted her treated and out of there as quick as possible.

PLUS.....I read somewhere once (dog breed info) that cardigan corgis tend to be aggressive towards other dogs. Yesterday at the vets while waiting, she was snapping at the other dogs! She's usually pretty good with other dogs (except taller dogs) but now even her size! Could that be that she's getting that corgi trait now that she's getting older? She'll be two in Feb. Or could it have just been nervousness since she hates going to the vet?

[Jane Austen]

Polly must have been stressed at the vets office. Particularly while you were stressed and she could feel that. Not that you didn't have reason to be. Just was.

Your questions about food allergies were some of the same things I would want to know. I think that Duchess has some slight allergies and I don't know where to start. Her allergies are not pronounced so it is like looking for a needle in a haystack.

Buying food in large quantities would not be a good idea for me. I buy small bags of dry food because I worry about them getting critters in them if I store them long time. I only give Duchess 3/4 cup of dry along with additives divided into two feedings.

I will be following this thread to learn more about allergies. In the meantime there are lots of post on the website if you want to look up "allergies" and "aggression." I am not a researcher so I will wait for the answers on this thread.

[Jespah]

If Polly isn't feeling well, then the "snapping" was more than likely the combination of that and the general stress of going to the vet's. If you had your 3 year old with you too, it was probably stressful for you too and she would have felt that. Has she done this at any other time or in any other situation?? One off situations don't necessarily indicate permanent behaviour changes.

Before you do all of the expensive tests, give the food a change - but do your research, and be patient when you try a food you won't see a change for a while. I haven't had a lot of experience with allergy, other that what others have said, but I understand that going "grain" free is the best way to start. Perhaps even a fish bsed food. I know that others will be able to give you a lot more info.

Hang in there!

Deb

[Merlincorgi]

Okay.. the following is my personal opinion and may not be completely accurate, but could give you a place to start. First of all, I looked up the ingredients for the food you are feeding now. The most common type of allergy (that I have heard anyhow) for dogs is grain allergies. The first 5 ingredients in what you are feeding now is: wheat flour, ground rice, rice bran, chicken meal, and ground whole wheat. That raises a red flag to me. I would look for something where the first ingredients are more protein based (btw, weight control foods are more gimic than anything... best thing you can do is just feed a good food and feed less of it, if your dog still seems hungry you can use green beans as a filler with low cals).

As for brands of dog food.... there are several good brands out there but I'm not sure what you have available there. What I look for is to see if there is a pure meat source listed as the first ingredient (by products don't count), oatmeal is good, as is brown rice as secondary ingredients. I would try to avoid flour to start. I know a lot of dogs with allergies do well on fish products as well, so maybe something along that line. Sorry that's not more helpful... I know I'm forgetting something but I can't think of what atm.

[Dillydoodle]

I agree with Deb that the snapping is most likely due to not feeling well with the ear infection.


About allergies...Dillon has had issues for a while now with allergy symptoms... however i never feed corn ,wheat, soy, sugar, salt, and even was feeding him alternative protein sources ( some dogs are allergic to beef or chicken) and yet he still itched...so i took him to the vet and had them do a blood test to see, and sure enough, he has no food allergy, he is allergic to every plant item in north America! every tree, grass, and weed. he is allergic to dust mites to some degree but not allergic to mold or fleas... but other than that, if it blooms and has pollen, he is allergic.... and scratches and chews his legs raw... The vet told me about the injections and their success rate is very minimal and only works if they are allergic to a few things, not everything, so after all the shots it would just not be enough and he would have to go through countless series of shots and it would not even be effective...so during the "on season" when he is itchiest , he is on medication, maximum of a half a pill a day of temeril P which is a very mild steriod with a antihistine...and as the season winds down, he gets smaller and smaller amounts until he gets nothing... during winter he takes nothing, but come may he will be on it again... Oh and ear infections are quite common with allergy dogs...

Changing food is one thing to try - if you do change food, i would look for foods that contain no corn, wheat, added colors , flavors, sugar, and would try something other than chicken... there are fish based, lamb and duck and timberwolf brand also has elk , buffalo, and a few other protein sources. There are lots of good foods... just read the ingredient list, many dogs are allergic to corn and wheat.. but if you are eliminating these things for a while to see if it helps, then make sure you check the treats you feed too to make sure they dont contain any corn, wheat , wheat gluten etc ... wellness makes really good treats that are like jerky called wellness pure- and they are basically meat and no grain...my dogs LOVE them...

Good luck... I am sure you will be able to find something that helps a bit...

Emilie

[Bobbie]

You can safely give Benadryl, and you might try that to see if it stops the itchy feet. You might not want to do it on a daily basis but if you do that for awhile after the ear infection is treated you might find out whether or not the ear infection is related to the allergies. For the feet, you may also find that a period of rest from itching is enough to cure them for the season. (Or not.)

[taflar]

He recommended that I switch foods. So where should I start and how long does it take to find out if they're doing ok on the new food and am I going to have to be buying big bags of dog food and then getting rid of them if she doesn't do well?

Don't buy it in big bags, you can get 5 or 10 lb. bags to try (0r 4 and 8 or whatever they are now.) It will take about 2 weeks you to see a difference if it's food related.

Ok, foods to try are foods that don't have corn or wheat in them. Corn and wheat are the most common food allergens.

There are foods made for allergies. Natures Recipe has some, one is their Vegetarian diet. That worked great for my Tango. She was allergic to foods with meats in them. That is rare though, so I'd start with eliminating wheat (since Cheryl's research showed that's in the food you're currently feeding.)

Also could it be a yeast infection? That's not uncommon for ears. But the vet should have recoginzed that.

Is there something I can give her for the mean-time (I've heard of Benadryl) that can help her with the itchy feet?

Benedryl can help. One 25mg. capsule is fine for the average corgi. It might make her sleepy though so try it at bedtime.

PLUS.....I read somewhere once (dog breed info) that cardigan corgis tend to be aggressive towards other dogs.

Any dog can be aggressive to other dogs. Corgis in general, not just cardis can be aggressive to other dogs. Esp. when stressed. I'll bet it was because you and she were both stressed. Don't assume she's going to be aggressive all the time now. A vet's office is not "normal" territory for dogs. You get nervous, or stressed, the dog is stressed, so yes, they can react differently.

Peggy

[MissGambler's+Mojo'sMommy]

Miss Gambler is very sensitive, and has had a number of tummy issues, and skin issues. The skin issues STOPPED totally when we switched her to Nutro Chicken Meal and Oatmeal(dry kibble). We had a LONG talk with a rep, I had LOTS of questions, and I LOVED what I was told, and by what is on the bag, and what I have read about it. She has had no issue, no vet trips, no meds needed since we switched, we noticed a change right away. I love how she has reacted to it(and Mojo also eats it, and it really agrees with her as well). They are also both bathed in a oatmeal bath, that really helps the sensitive skin. (This is a bottle of liquid, not powder, and they are bathed every other week, or more, depending.) Good luck!

[PollyGirl]

The thing is that living here in the UK our bases are kinda limited to the type of dog food that we have available. I know we have several of the reglular dog chows, aka Purina and Science Diet, Iams and a few other popular brands. Any other suggestions for dog foods and if I have to order online, any good suppliers?

[glencorgi]

IF Purina Selects line is available to you - that might be a good one to give a try.

Debbie

[taflar]

The thing is that living here in the UK our bases are kinda limited to the type of dog food that we have available. I know we have several of the reglular dog chows, aka Purina and Science Diet, Iams and a few other popular brands. Any other suggestions for dog foods and if I have to order online, any good suppliers?

What is available to you locally?

Peggy

[MVons]

I buy online because locally is rip off prices. I buy from Fosters & Smith. I wanted one grain, one protein food so I get the Chicken and rice. Because Chester is doing good on it I've upped the bag size to 30 pounds because of the price break. They have sales that make the shipping be reasonable.

Our prior dog Pepper didn't get cranky until 13 yrs old, so 2 is not old enough to be age. I'm sure Pepper was cranky because of arthritis. Hind sight I wouldn't have fed her the senior food. I would have just cut back on the adult food and given the glucosamine as a supplement. She was down to 2/3 cup as a senior and would have had just a 1/2 cup 2 times a day on the adult food.

I used to think it was so little food. Now I didn't realize the money savings compared to Chester who we had to up his food to 1 1/2 cups 2 times a day.

I do give Chester a tablespoon of yogurt daily and the commissary sometimes stocks organic plain yogurt. Don't get the vanilla as it has sweetener.

A Vets office can expose different personalities because of smells, stress of being there. I always try to prevent my dog from interacting because of them and the other dogs.

[PollyGirl]

Well, after pouring over the foods available to us at our base bx, I finally settled on Science Diet's Lamb and Rice. Polly ear infection has already gotten better from the drops and I haven't noticed her chewing on her feet anymore. I've also stopped giving her any table scraps :( , I know she's not happy about that! I really do hope that it was just a food allergy and not environmental. Cross your fingers for Polly that she continues to do well! Thanks everyone!

[ZdogZ]

Paws and fingers crossed! Keep us updated on how she's doing.

[PollyGirl]

Polly is doing so much better. She's not been chewing at her feet and her ear looks great. We have to continue her drops until tomorrow though, but that's ok. She's been giving me her "sad" eyes whenever I'm in the kitchen though, begging me for any scraps, but I've been strong. I'll just give her some of her dog food as a treat and I guess she'll just have to get used to it. Any advice for scraps that I can give her that will most likely not cause any allergic reactions? I'm guessing bits of meat, chicken or fish right? How about cheese?

[Jespah]

Instead of scraps, why don't you find a dog treat that is safe for her allergies, keep them on hand for when you really feel you'd like to give her something. Then you will be safe from any reactions.

Deb

[MissGambler's+Mojo'sMommy]

I would try and find out what the allergies are to, you don't want a reaction when you are not in a position to handle it, a trip or such. Hope she continues do do great, and I live with a sensitive dog so I know how you feel.

[PollyGirl]

Well, after giving Polly her new food for several days, she appeared to be doing better with her ears, but then I caught her making that funny noise and scratching her ear again, so I decided to try putting her on benadryl twice a day. I'm happy to say that since then, she's been doing great! No scratching, no chewing on her paws and I guess the new dog food is doing her great as well because her coat is becoming really shiny! I was just wondering how long will I have to continue her benadryl? Is this something that I will have to give her forever or should I take her off it after a few months and see how she reacts?

[Jespah]

I wouldn't feel comfortable giving Benedryl on any kind of long term basis - more than a few days, you may still need to look for a food that is a complete solution. I would see if you can find a grain free product - it seems to be a common denominator with dogs and allergy problems.

[Akatihsa]

Benadryl isn't meant to be taken for long periods of time. On the boxes for people it says that you shouldn't take it for longer than a week without consulting a doctor. You should probably contact your vet and see what they have to say. It's good to know that it works - especially when you're playing with her foods, but a more permanent fix would be better.

[PollyGirl]

Thanks for the tip, I'll be calling the vet today and continue my search for a grain free product.

[PollyGirl]

http://www.proplan.com/products/NaturalSalmonBrownRice_DryDog.html

Would any of you mind taking a look at the ingredient list for the salmon formula and tell me what you think?

I found this on petfooddirect.com and will have it shipped here if need be and if you all think it may be worth trying.

[Jespah]

The first four ingredients include 2 grains - rice and barley - I wouldn't feed it to my dogs, or especially a dog that may have allergy problems.

I know you are in England and on a base - is your only option odering from the web?

[Jespah]

Okay from what I've read here is a good site comparing grain-free dog foods:

http://www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?page=grain_free

Also, this site is a good one to order foods from in England and I've seen that a number of people use the grain-free Orijen products - which actually are made in Alberta, Canada.

http://www.zooplus.com/shop/dogs/dry_dog_food

Another thought might be to contact a local Corgi breeder and see what they feed and what they would suggest as to grain-free.

Deb

[manymuddypaws]

Orijin, Go Natural (made by petcurean), Solid Gold and a few others are all grain free...(or have some formulas that are)

[PollyGirl]

The first four ingredients include 2 grains - rice and barley - I wouldn't feed it to my dogs, or especially a dog that may have allergy problems.

I know you are in England and on a base - is your only option odering from the web?

My vet only sells ProPlan, but even then he doesn't carry the ProPlan Select. There's another vet here in town, I'll give a call to see what they have. I'm sure that there are vets in the surrounding small towns, but since I'm a bit intimidated driving around here still, I don't venture out too much. I don't mind ordering from the web, if I can't find what I need here.

Also, I read another thread in which some folks mentioned that they have poop issues (either too much or loose) with the grain-free food and someone mentioned pumpkin. Does that help with the poo and how does it help? I'm looking at that grain-free food comparison website and Nature's Variety contains pumpkin seeds. Would that be beneficial in the poop department. I have a small yard and my 3 yr old plays out there so I kinda would prefer the poop be "nice" if ya know what I mean....That's one thing I really like about the Science Diet that I'm feeding her now, her poo is nice and compact, easy to clean up after.

[mtoy]

A vet would be a good person to ask about medications, but not necessarily foods. They don't get a lot of nutritional instruction and they are heavily marketed to by the major food companies. That's why a typical vet will usually sell one of the major brands, not a variety of brands or lesser known brands.

Do you know any dog people - groups, clubs, etc? That's how I found out about the local shops selling better foods. One grain free brand I can recommend (they have it at Pet Food Direct) is Wellness Core. My dogs love it and do very well on it. It has a more moderate protein level than other grain free products which is nice if your dogs don't need so much protein. It comes in a few varieties, we used the regular. They even have a fish based one now that looks very nice.

[PollyGirl]

MTOY, how does Wellness affect your dogs' poo?

No, I don't know any dog groups. We've not been here long, the only dog ppl I run into are when I take Polly out for a romp at a field nearby.

[mtoy]

MTOY, how does Wellness affect your dogs' poo?

No, I don't know any dog groups. We've not been here long, the only dog ppl I run into are when I take Polly out for a romp at a field nearby.

Their poo is great on it - I didn't notice any difference between that and when they eat the other foods we rotate (Eagle Pack Holistic Anchovy and Canidae). Millie gets gas for a few days every time we change to a different food and she is sensitive so if there was a problem we'd know it with her (she cannot eat the regular Wellness fish based food - the one with sweet potato). They both have firm but not too hard turds and not too much (Canidae gives them the most poo but nothing bad).

[Dillydoodle]

Pumpkin is high in fiber and helps dogs that have diarrhea firm things up... pumpkin seeds are good for dogs but do not have the same effect as canned pumpkin does.. You can get canned pumpkin and add it to food to try and keep things...firm.

Wellness is good quality food, but every dog processes food differently, some dogs do well on one food while another doesnt...it really is trial and error.

Timberwolf has a high protein variety of food that i believe it grain free called wild and natural. I think wellness now has a grain free variety called CORE...

Good luck

Emilie

[PollyGirl]

Thank you all. Ok, after going over some of the grain-free dog foods available, I'm going to order Wellness Core and see how Polly does on it. I hope the shipping charges aren't too insane though! lol

Cross your fingers and paws for us that this works out for her!