Dog's Ear Infections.....Cocker Spaniel

My dog is a 7 year old cocker spaniel. Of course, cockers are known for ear problems. We have cleaned her ears several times a week all of her life. We took her to our vet because she randomly started rubbing her ears on the carpet and moaning. She seemed in a lot of pain.

The first vet I saw  in the practice said she thinks her ear drums are ruptured. Gave me an oral antibiotic medication, told me to come back in 2 weeks for a re-check. I came back, saw another vet in the practice. This vet said she seems to have a terrible ear infection and can't tell if her ear drums are ruputured. They ran tests and took an ear  culture - which 2 weeks to get back from the lab. They have prescribed Baytril ear drops and an antibiotic called Amikacin - which is injectable and must be given with fluids to flush her kidneys.

I am very nervous about giving her Amikacin and I am bordering on not doing it. The side effects seem to great. This dog is like my child. I do not want to risk giving her ANYTHING that could cause Kidney failure or make her deaf.  Of course, I want to do anything I can to help her, so I am just concerned.

Please help with any suggestions to alternative treatment.

[Ghilly]

Sometimes cockers develop horrid ear infections just due to genetic problems.  It seems to be an autoimmune problem since it's chronic and nothing at all seems to help it.  This will start out as chronic ear problems and graduate to a generalized dermatitis, and the most frustrating thing is that vets can't figure out what causes it or why, and nothing seems to help it.  Cockers are one of those unfortunate breeds that is plagued by genetic problems, one of which is chronic ear infections.

Have you tried a medication called Otomax?  Sometimes ear infections become chronic when there is yeast present, which occurs in cockers because of the long, pendulous ear pinnae.  Otomax contains clotrimazole, which is a broad-spectrum antifungal.  The problem with its use in your dog's case, however, is that it is contraindicated in cases where the eardrum is known to be perforated.  So before you could use it, a vet would have to be able to actually see the eardrum to see whether or not it was perforated, but if it's not, it is an excellent topical ear antibiotic.  It IS ototoxic, meaning it can cause deafness, but this deafness is temporary and resolves within about 30 days following stoppage of use of the product.

Ghilly