At wits end with this thing with Ella---WWYD?(very long)

We got Ella in July 2006, her mother was pure bred german shephard and her father was pure bred golden retriever. Around a year and half she started showing symptoms of ear infection, they gave her antibiotics 6 or 7 different times to no avail. They ended up putting her under and looking through her ears and saw alot of necrotic tissue and recommended surgeyr to correct it, $2,000 later we picked her up and she was fine for about 5 months and the infections came back, they put her on steroids long term to help with the inflammation and kept just treating the infections with antibiotics. We switched vets and in early 2009 went to out current one. She was baffled to the extent of her "disease", she said Ella was a special case and this normally doesn't happen to a 3 year old dog, usually see it in older dogs and the extent of Ella's infection was astounding. She put her under again and looked through her ears. There was no much necrotic tissue it had eaten it's way through her cartiledge and started eating at the bone, it's no wonder why the poor dog was in so much pain all the time. The only course of treatment since no antibiotics was strong enough to treat it was total ear canal abliteration---basically removing both ear canals and making her deaf. We poured over the decision for a week and finally decided to do it, we would rather have a deaf dog with no pain that a dog with a severe infection and in severe pain. Surgery, recovery, 6 weeks and $6,000 later she seemed so much better and she actually still had some hearing when you talk loudly to her which made us happy.
Everything was great until last summer, the infections started up again and all the black stuff throughout her ears which they chalked up to skin staph and did antibiotics which made it go away for a while. Noq this year she has had puss pockets drained and the latest one was 2 weeks ago and it took over a week for her to decide what antibiotic to put her on because she wanted to "speak" with the lab to find out exactly what kind of bacteria it is. They put her on Doxycycline and it seems to be doing nothing. Now from what they explained, removing the ear canals all together should have cleared up everything....there is nothing in there to get infected at this point and we are already up to $2,000 invet bills already this year.....why would this happen if she has no ear canals anymore....i don't know what to do anymore or where to take her? Will this every stop....there has to be a permamnent treatment for this poor dog....WWYD? Any help or insight would be appreciated...

Re: At wits end with this thing with Ella---WWYD?(very long)

My heart is breaking for Ella reading your post. I don't have any advice, but I pray things get better for her soon once and for all. No dog should have to suffer like that and go through what she has gone through. Poor baby.

Re: At wits end with this thing with Ella---WWYD?(very long)

Oh look at that face!! I too have no advice but want to offer hugs and my prayers for her, you and your family.

Re: At wits end with this thing with Ella---WWYD?(very long)

You are such wonderful doggie parents to her. You have done so much for her and that is truly to be commended.

I am not sure, I have never heard of a senario like this. Did you try another vet? Where do you live? I would love to recommend my vet to you, just to get another opinion.

Poor poor baby. She has been through so much.

Could it be MRSA and thats' why nothing is working?

Message edited 6/30/2011 1:25:05 PM.

Re: At wits end with this thing with Ella---WWYD?(very long)

Posted by Goobster

You are such wonderful doggie parents to her. You have done so much for her and that is truly to be commended.

I am not sure, I have never heard of a senario like this. Did you try another vet? Where do you live? I would love to recommend my vet to you, just to get another opinion.

Poor poor baby. She has been through so much.

Could it be MRSA and thats' why nothing is working?

Re: At wits end with this thing with Ella---WWYD?(very long)

Who did your surgery?
My husband is a vet. and he can maybe recommend a top specialist for you.

Re: At wits end with this thing with Ella---WWYD?(very long)

Dr. Chris Miles in Dedham, Maine. She did the ear canal removal of both ear canals and both ear canals are showing issues but her right one is the one with the major issues, she just had drains removed because the infection was so bad.

ETA: Lucerne Veterinary Clinic in Dedham, Maine is where the surgery was done and is the current vet, they just opened in late 2009.

Message edited 7/1/2011 2:00:51 PM.

Re: At wits end with this thing with Ella---WWYD?(very long)

I'm so sorry you are going through this. I don't have any suggestions except contacting other vets. Is there such a thing as an ENT vet specialist? I would google it and see what you come up with.

Re: At wits end with this thing with Ella---WWYD?(very long)

Re: At wits end with this thing with Ella---WWYD?(very long)

You should bring her to the LI Vet Specialists in Plainview. They are all specialists.

Re: At wits end with this thing with Ella---WWYD?(very long)

Well, having ear infections most of my early yrs., I can feel for poor Ella!!! Bless her heart!! She's a beautiful girl!!!! Prayers!!! Mary

My infections stemmed from severe allergies; Could Ella's?

Message edited 7/4/2011 6:51:42 PM.

Re: At wits end with this thing with Ella---WWYD?(very long)

poor baby. praying for her

Re: At wits end with this thing with Ella---WWYD?(very long)

Re: At wits end with this thing with Ella---WWYD?(very long)

I agree, LIVS, or the Animial Medical Center in Manhatten

Re: At wits end with this thing with Ella---WWYD?(very long)

I would recommend trying a homeopathic vet at this time. A different approach might be just the thing she needs.

Re: At wits end with this thing with Ella---WWYD?(very long)

no recommendations but I just wanted to tell you guys are awesome doggy parents. It breaks my heart that she has to go through this.