Q: Our dog keeps getting ear infections. It seems to happen a
few times each year and the vet keeps giving us an ointment to
treat the problem. But the infection keeps coming back. What can we
do to stop this same problem from repeating again and again?
Q: Our dog keeps getting ear infections. It seems to happen a few times each year and the vet keeps giving us an ointment to treat the problem. But the infection keeps coming back. What can we do to stop this same problem from repeating again and again?
A: Chronic ear inflammation (otitis) is very common in dogs. And all too often, ear problems are automatically presumed to be caused by infection. But otitis can result from several other different conditions.
It’s true, infections are the most common cause of ear problems. But sometimes it’s allergies that makes for itchy ears. Allergic ears can be very sensitive to touch and full of extra wax. Outwardly, they look very much like ears that are infected. But the treatment for an allergic ear is very different from one prescribed for infectious problems. So it’s important to know what’s inside those uncomfortable ears before trying to treat them.
How can a veterinarian determine whether a dog with itchy ears suffers from allergies or infection? There are several easy tests that can be done.
And these tests can make the diagnosis and treatment of ear problems much more effective.
The first is a microscopic exam of a swab from the canal. Looking under high power at the cells from inside the canal, a vet can see if yeast or bacteria are at fault for the discomfort. If neither of these organisms is seen on the scope, allergies become a more likely suspect.
But if bacteria are found, a laboratory culture can identify the organism and determine which antibiotics may be effective for treatment. This test is important because antibiotic-resistant bacteria are very common in chronic ear infections. As a result, regularly used medications aren’t as effective as they were in the past.
Newer (and unfortunately, more expensive) antibiotics are now needed for many of these long-standing ear infections.
Let’s say that the swab shows yeast is the culprit. In this case, the treatment is a little simpler.
Yeast infections, while serious, are usually effectively eliminated with proper medication and treatment.
Typically, the ear is flushed clean while the patient is anesthetized, then treated at home with both ointment and pill medications.
If your veterinarian hasn’t taken a swab of your pooch’s ear, ask for this simple test. It can really help make the diagnosis and treatment much more simple.
Q: Our puppy Nicky lost a few of her teeth this month. I asked my mom if we could save her teeth for the tooth fairy, but mom said we won’t see them. She says that Nicky will swallow them. Is that true? Won’t she get sick if she does?
A: What a neat question! Most people don’t think about what happens when puppies and kittens lose their baby teeth. But your mom’s right. Most of the time, young animals swallow their baby teeth as they fall out and we never get to see them.
But don’t worry. Even though you might not be able to save any of those teeth for the tooth fairy, at least they won’t cause Nicky any problems. As the saying goes, these, too, will pass. And Nicky’s new, permanent teeth will fill all the spaces and give her plenty to chew on.
Q: Benji, our very young kitty, has been acting painful and depressed. The vet tested him and found out that he has Toxoplasmosis. The vet says this is contagious to people. I’ve never heard this before. How often do people catch this from pets? Is it dangerous?
A: I’m sorry to hear of Benji’s illness. This can be a difficult disease to treat, and I hope he can make a full recovery.
Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan, single-cell parasite. According to the Center for Disease Control, it infects as many as 60 million people in the United States. Most of these people never show any symptoms because their immune system actually stops the parasite from causing illness. But people with immune problems can become very sick if exposed to this organism. And pregnant women can transmit it to their unborn fetus, causing severe problems with pregnancy and the newborn baby.
Toxoplasma is shed in the feces of infected animals and can be picked up by anyone who unknowingly ingests it. Rodents and birds can carry this organism and transmit it to cats or animals that kill them as their prey.
Like humans, infected cats usually don’t show any clinical signs. Evidently, Benji’s immature immune system couldn’t keep this organism under control. And he can shed it in his stool and possibly infect someone in your household.
We all know that cats are usually fastidiously clean and lick themselves to bathe.
If an infected kitty spreads this organism across his fur while bathing, anyone petting him could conceivably pick it up on his or her hand.
From there, it’s easy to become infected by accidentally putting hand to mouth. Eating a sandwich with unwashed hands might be enough to allow this protozoan to enter someone’s body.
The CDC recommends that pregnant women always carefully wash their hands with soap and hot water after handling cats or even after gardening (remember that cats like to use the dirt for elimination). It’s also a good idea to have someone else clean your cats litter box if you’re pregnant or if you have an immune problem. But if you must do it yourself, wear rubber gloves and wash your hands thoroughly afterwards.
Good personal hygiene can prevent toxoplasma infection, but one has to be very careful. There’s no room for error here if someone has a suppressed immune system or is pregnant. While this is not a common problem, it’s potentially devastating if it occurs.
Pete Keesling is a veterinarian at San Martin Veterinary Hospital. He writes a bi-weekly column for South Valley Newspapers. If you have questions about pet care, e-mail them to sm****@***oo.com or mail them to Lifestyles, 6400 Monterey Road, Gilroy CA 95020.
