Red, itchy ear

[LailaGirl]

My almost-two-year-old Laila has had trouble with itchy ears before, which are most likely related to food allergies (vet has checked her out several times, and no ear mites, infection, etc.). I have had her on Wellness Fish & Sweet Potato for several months now and her ears have cleared up so much! They don't seem to itch as badly, and they look clean instead of gunky.

But today, she climbed up on the couch next to me and laid down, and her ear flopped over (natural ears), and when I looked down I actually gasped because her ear is so red. It has red, inflamed streaks, which I guess are where she has scratched it. It doesn't stink like an ear infection does. The other ear is 100% clean.

I am going to call the vet first thing in the morning (they are closed today for Independence Day) and I am sure he will tell me to bring her in so he can take a look. I'm just wondering what I should do to help keep the itching (and her scratching at it) under control until then... is Benadryl the best option? Or should I try to clean her ear out with something?

 

[aaoops]

How did you fix problem?

I was just wondering what you finally did to prevent the ear itching? My boxer has the same issues and she has been checked out for ear mites as well. They suggested she use hypo allergenic food... what did you do?

 

[violetashlee]

Violet has the same problem with one red itchy ear. We went to the vet last week and he put a topical steroid in her ear that helped the itching a lot... I didnt get any to take home, so, we'll see how long it lasts. So far, 4days and no itchy ears!

 

[maude]

Violet has the same problem with one red itchy ear. We went to the vet last week and he put a topical steroid in her ear that helped the itching a lot... I didnt get any to take home, so, we'll see how long it lasts. So far, 4days and no itchy ears!

Do you know what it was he used?
Thanks

 

[calimomma]

Before we switched her food, Abbi was getting yeast infections in her ears like crazy! Her ears would be so red and bloody because she would scratch at them so much while we were gone during the day. While we were home, we'd scratch her ears for her if we saw that she was going to. The vet would give us a saline-like solution to flush them out and then an ointment to apply in her ear. Bu by just switching her food, the foot licking has decreased, as has the ear yeast infections.