Comments | thedogowner: FOR KD and SPECK

thedogowner

FOR KD and SPECK

Jun 12, 2003 09:11

KD,

Here's the link to the "Blue Power Ear Treatment" that might help Speck's ears:

http://itsfortheanimals.com/BLUE.HTMLooks like you'll need boric acid, but maybe it'll help ( Read more... )

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goingferal June 12 2003, 07:59:33 UTC

You can get the boric acid powder at any pharmacy. Just ask the pharmacist.

Be CAREFUL. The gentian violet gets EVERYWHERE!! And, it totally stains. Your dog will have blue spots for months.

I, personally, just use the boric acid powder--but I'm dealing with mild ear problems, usually.

crepedelbebe June 13 2003, 21:00:31 UTC

You can get the boric acid powder at any pharmacy. Just ask the pharmacist.

I keep getting "Uh, we don't carry that anymore." But I'm going to keep looking.

One question I've had about boric acid powder since ages ago when you recommended dusting with it---Speck has a habit of scratching his ear, then licking his foot. Isn't it a bad idea for him to ingest some?

Be CAREFUL. The gentian violet gets EVERYWHERE!! And, it totally stains. Your dog will have blue spots for months.

Har. Well THERE'S a conversation starter.

goingferal June 13 2003, 21:10:13 UTC

I got my boric acid powder at a Phar-Mor Pharmacy here in town. Of course, that place closed recently....

I got a big bottle--about a pound of the stuff. Maybe less. At any rate, if you haven't found any before the 4th, bring some sort of container (if you have something) and I'll give you some of mine.

The boric acid powder is indeed poisonous. But not severely so. I think you'll be ok with it because (1) you don't use that much and (2) if this helps, then Speck won't be scratching his ears much.

What I do with the powder is dip a make up brush in it, and then brush it into the dog's ears. It doesn't sting or hurt or give them that Wet Willie sensation. (First I flush the ears out once or twice (or three days in a row if the ears are really bad). Then, once I feel the ears are clean, I dab the powder into the ear canal about once a day.

Re: crepedelbebe June 13 2003, 21:18:12 UTC

I got a big bottle--about a pound of the stuff. Maybe less. At any rate, if you haven't found any before the 4th, bring some sort of container (if you have something) and I'll give you some of mine.

I really would appreciate this, if I can't find it before then.

I've been reading the page TDO linked to---what's your take on the type of feeding described there? Speck eats the best dry food I've been able to find, with an occasional raw chicken breast, or an egg, or some veggie scraps, but I could certainly tweak his diet if it's going to decrease the brown/black gunk in his ears.

goingferal June 13 2003, 21:21:36 UTC

I like the raw feeding. Many of its proponents claim it is a panacea. While I don't think that, I do think that if you can do it--time and $$$-wise, it's the best thing you could do. With all of my critters, it's not possible right now for me, but TDO feeds all "raw"--you'll have to quiz her. :)

Re: crepedelbebe June 13 2003, 21:27:10 UTC

I like the raw feeding. Many of its proponents claim it is a panacea. While I don't think that, I do think that if you can do it--time and $$$-wise, it's the best thing you could do.

OK. I'd been thinking about it for a long time---switching dog food brands made an improvement, but the problem is still there, so I'm going to look into this more seriously now.

With all of my critters, it's not possible right now for me, but TDO feeds all "raw"--you'll have to quiz her. :)

...and she certainly couldn't have seen THAT coming. ;)

Seriously, I really appreciate all the advice you guys have given. I want to keep this little guy around for a long time and keep him as happy (and non-itchy) as possible.

crepedelbebe June 13 2003, 21:27:39 UTC

So...is Speck too small for chicken backs?

goingferal June 13 2003, 21:29:10 UTC

My cat eats them (when he can!), so I doubt he's too small.

You can always get a meat grinder and grind stuff up if he's having trouble.

crepedelbebe June 14 2003, 10:43:56 UTC

chicken backs

Just so I'm clear---he can have these bones and all?

thedogowner June 14 2003, 12:31:00 UTC

Just so I'm clear---he can have these bones and all?When I'm moving a dog onto a raw diet, I like to start with either chicken necks or start with ground up bones. It makes me feel better about knowing that their systems can handle the diet change and are digesting the bone appropriately. When I started The Younger Dog on raw, I ground up whole chickens and fed him that mixed with veggie mix and other supplemental stuff. After a week or two, I stopped seeing little white flecks in his poop -- that meant that he was digesting the bone ( ... )

Re: crepedelbebe June 14 2003, 16:24:36 UTC

Whee. Boy, do I owe you.

going to read immediately

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