Help! 2nd dog getting Staph infection in ears?!

2kids2weims

My 1yr old Indy just got what the vet says is a staphylococcal bacterial infection in her ears. It came on like a speeding train and both her ears are inflamed, sore & have a rash with the skin sloughing. I've never seen ears like this.

Now Cooper my 2 year old is getting it too! Any ideas? I did start them on grain free satin's balls 2 weeks ago to put weight on ( hamburger, eggs, veg oil, molasses, flax). Both dogs are still eating well, lots of energy.

Cooper had what was diagnosed to be a yeast infection of the paws a few weeks ago, but could have been staph now that I see those ears! That was before the satin's balls. They get natural live culture yogurt every day. They have been eating raw which is going great up til now. We are disinfecting bowls, kennels etc.

Do I stop the satin's balls as well as give them the antibiotic (staph can be serious)? Anybody else have this problem or hear of it? I need advice!

Besides really being stretched by all these vet bills, I am feeling so inadequate & discouraged...we treat these dogs like favorite children, fuss over everything from diet to exercise & amusement. What are we doing wrong??? Sad

anne · Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2007 12:36 pm Post subject:

Could it be mites?

Yogurt wouldn't help staph, it helps with yeast....

2kids2weims · Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2007 1:51 pm Post subject:

Thanks for replying. I am taking both to the vet right away. Hopefully, with Cooper's not as advanced he can make a better diagnosis. He did do a sample from Indy's ears and saw cocci which would lead to a guess of staph, but they were so raw, it could have been infected after. Strangely, neither are really scratching and only a bit of head shaking. Confused

weimdawgs · Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2007 2:03 pm Post subject:

Good luck. Please let us know what the vet says. I wish I had some advice for you. Sad

2kids2weims · Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2007 6:52 pm Post subject: It's not mites or staph!!! :D

The vet thinks it's a contact allergy for both dogs. Cooper's is much less severe, no infection, just irritation, brown colored and flaking/peeling skin on left ear. Indy does have a secondary staph infection in both ears. The good news is that in both dogs it is external-only on ear flaps, not canal. The inner ears are clear and healthy.

At first he thought it was the ear cleaner I used on Indy 10 days ago(Hartz with tea tree oil, not the best or a vet brand, but worked for Cooper fine.) Then when Cooper came down with it and we realized he had not had his ears cleaned...

So I'm wondering if they rolled on some: poison oak or ivy, grass with pesticide or maybe a spot on the rug where I sprayed stain remover & hadn't yet blotted (Indy still has the bladder leak thing, but that's another post!) If they did this I would expect some other skin irritation...but weims defy all logic don't they? Rolling Eyes

Thanks for the support.

weimdawgs · Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2007 7:20 pm Post subject:

Would benedryl help??

anne · Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2007 7:28 pm Post subject:

Contact allergies?? HMMMM....

(Dogs don't get poison oak/ivy)

2kids2weims · Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2007 10:42 pm Post subject:

I never even thought of Benedryl - that probably would have helped with the inflammation. I think I got thrown by the weepiness of the ears (and me when I saw them) Smile

I did not know dogs did not get poison oak or ivy, but it makes sense. Be hard to be running through the bush all the time if it was a risk.

The vet really thought it looked like the earflaps were wiped/rubbed with something harsh. Mites & yeast were ruled out through samples.

I'm at a loss. I did change detergents recently. They were at doggy daycare early last week. Did they dip their ears in something? Did my 6 year old apply lotion? I'm not always home, but they are kenneled when alone or with the family. Any ideas?

anne · Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2007 10:47 pm Post subject:

Well it could be anything. The best you can do is remember all the new things that he was around when this happened, and next time try to see if there's a pattern. Hopefully there won't be a next time, but...

2kids2weims · Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2007 8:26 pm Post subject:

Update: Indy's infection is looking very good, and her ears are almost to normal. Cooper's have a thin thin layer of skin that has turned brown and is flaking off (as Indy's did) but he has no infection.

Still not much scratching or head shaking, which seems weird. It almost looks like a sunburn flaking off, except brown & not red skin. Could it possibly be sunburn? That would sort of explain how the ear canal was untouched...