Question:
We are a senior couple and have a 2-year-old spayed 15-pound female Maltese that we purchased as a 9-week-old puppy. She always seems to have a right-ear infection, and I have to flush it and then put in Mometamax drops. I have also used Conofite lotion 1 percent, but this did not work as well as the Mometamax. She is also on Interceptor and Frontline Plus once a month. We have tried half an adult portion of Benadryl and then Hydroxyzine (25 mg., twice a day) for itching, as she bites her back feet. They really did not help much. Lately, I have found mucus in her stool. The vet gave me Biotic (one 1.25 ounce scoop in her food daily), and that has helped with this problem.
C.N., Neptune, NJ Mar 29, 2009
Answer:
Chronic ear problems in dogs are all too common. Your veterinarian is correct in suspecting that diet could play a role in this condition. But since your dog is allergic to chicken, why is she still being fed a manufactured food containing chicken? I would get back to home cooking that uses known ingredients, ideally organically certified.
Conventionally fed and raised farm animals produce meat/fat too high in Omega-6 fatty acids, which are pro-inflammatory and deficient in Omega-3 fatty acids that are anti-inflammatory. (This is also a serious human-nutrition problem.)
A healthier ratio of fatty acids can be found in free-range, grass-fed beef, like Coleman's. Check your stores, and try your dog on such beef instead of chicken. Also give up to 1 teaspoon daily of good-quality fish oil like Nordic Naturals, which provide the much-needed Omega-3 fatty acids.
Check the AromaDog Web site (www.aromadog.com) for some essential-oil mixtures that may prove beneficial when put into your dog's ear. Flushing the ear with a mixture of equal parts warm water and organic cider vinegar daily for three to five days may help the healing process considerably.
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