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EAR INFECTIONS CAN BE RUFF
TREATMENT TAKES TIME Chronic ear infections can be frustrating. When your poor pet is itching and in pain, you want to make them feel better as quickly as possible. If your dog recently went through an ear infection and now it’s back, you may think you can just call your veterinarian and ask for a refill of their last prescription. Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. Ear infections in dogs don’t just happen; they are usually the sign of an underlying problem. Ear infections can result from hormonal issues, environmental allergies, food allergies, autoimmune diseases, and more. If the root cause isn’t discovered, the infection will keep coming back. Finding the underlying cause of an ear infection can be tricky and takes time. For bacterial infections, a culture is needed to determine the best prescription medication. Different medications work on different infections, so trying to guess will be expensive for you and painful for your pooch. Additionally, allergy and blood tests may be needed to find the reason for the infection. Your veterinarian also wants to see your dog for every ear infection because a canine ear canal is much longer than a human’s, and an ear infection can cause a lot of buildup. Before treating an ear infection with drops, the ear needs to be sufficiently cleaned out by a professional. If the ear is not properly cleaned, any topical medication will not contact the dog’s ear tissue and provide the necessary benefits. After treatment is prescribed, a follow-up appointment may be recommended by your veterinarian to make sure that the infection is truly cleared and to gain extra clues about its original cause. It’s important to follow up with your veterinarian as instructed and schedule a visit at the first sign of problems. If you wait too long, your dog will
Some people are scared of me, and Mama thinks it’s since
I’m a pit bull. That doesn’t seem fair. Even though I can be very
serious, I also think I’m pretty nice. I even get scared, too (of fireworks, power tools, and, of course,
puppies). When I get scared, I hide between my mama’s legs, and she puts the weighted blanket on me until I feel better. So, maybe people who are scared of me just need their mamas, too.
My life is pretty good now, except for mealtime. Since I’m missing a few teeth, the peasant who feeds me (Mama) likes
to soak my food. This takes a very long time, so I must bark at her and run back and forth until it is ready — otherwise, I will surely starve.
Even though she takes too long to make my food, I love my mama a lot. Gracie says I’m a “mama’s boy,” and that sounds like a good thing to me. Mama keeps me safe, gives me soccer balls to play with, and rubs my belly — what more could a dog ask for?
rrot Dog Treats 2. In a large bowl, combine flour, carrots, apples, and broth and mix together well. 3. Sprinkle the countertop with flour and, using a rolling pin, roll the dough flat to about 1/2-inch thick. 4. Cut the dough into your favorite shapes. (Cookie cutters are encouraged!) 5. Bake cookies for 8–10 minutes. 6. Cool before serving and refrigerate to store. Directions 1. Preheat oven to 400 F.
be back at square one with full-blown inflammation, and it’s harder for veterinarians to locate the reason for the infection when your dog is in crisis mode. In the end, an ear infection may need a few months of treatments to properly clear. Please be patient with us while we do everything we can to get your dog back to feeling their best.
406.755.6886
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