Ear Infection
20 years ago
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20 years agoRelated Discussions
Ear infection
Comments (6)Garlic does have some interesting properties and may have value in treating or preventing cardiovascular disease or even cancer (much of the work is very preliminary). Even with its reputed antibacterial/antifungal properties, however, it's hard to see how active ingredients are going to migrate out of a clove of garlic wrapped in gauze, not to mention how tolerant people will be of having that stuck in their ear for extended periods. Garlic ear drops have been recommended by some herbalists for ear infections; one problem here (apart from a lack of studies showing it works) is that some garlic products have been shown to contain drug-resistant bacteria - so there's potential for causing infection by using garlic....See Moreear infection home remedy?
Comments (44)I'm a physician with an interest in evidence-based herbalism. I'm well aware that in medicine as well as herbalism "experience" and anecdotes can lead us astray, to the extent that useless and potentially hazardous treatments are kept alive in the face of solid research indicating otherwise. Medicine back in the days of Hippocrates believed that disease was caused by an imbalance in the "four humors" of the body. Those beliefs were deservedly discarded long ago. It seems that "herbology science" is still clinging to "hot or cold, wet or dry, excess or deficient condition" to explain disease - which is an unfortunate relic of the past. "Even if you don't mean to be, do you realize your posts come across antagonistic, demeaning and contentious?" In the past, some posters in this forum have taken the tack that disagreement with their beliefs is an attack on them as a person, and responded with personal critiques and insults. In your post in the thread about wormwood dangers you stated (without referring to the warnings others had posted) that your wormwood tonics were safe. Should I have regarded that as antagonistic, contentious and demeaning to my beliefs and responded accordingly? Instead, I asked you some followup questions and presented more evidence. I hope our interactions can be maintained on a level of civility and calm exchange....See More2 month old and ear infection?
Comments (3)Look at her behavior as if it were 'symptoms.' Does she seem to be in pain, or ill? (Having an ear infection, and grabbing the ear even can be painful for older children and for adults.) Is she feeding as usual, with the usual rate of wet and dirty diapers? If 'allergies' and/or asthma run in the biological relatives, your baby would have one risk factor in a general sense for developing ear infections. External ear infections can happen (with a baby, with that thumb thing and/or with bathing... older children would get 'swimmer's ear' as an external ear infection). Those would look different to a doctor, and they would require antibiotics but probably as ear drops and not as drops by mouth. Middle ear infections are the ones that would require antibiotics by mouth. These infections are more common where there are ear drainage problems structurally, or as a result of lots of fluid (allergies, colds, etc). A little fluid that won't drain can serve as a growth medium for bacteria behind the ear drum. Any extra fluid and pressure problems can feel 'funny' or 'weird.' A baby feeling those kinds of effects is likely therefore to grab at their ears. Usually, of course, the fluid drains as any cold or allergy symptoms resolve and although there can be some time of weird ear feelings there usually would be no infection. But, sometimes there is a progression to an ear infection and that weird or funny feeling can go to painful... and increasingly painful until it is unbearable. Watch her for signs she may be in pain and you will probably catch any ear infection problem in a timely manner (before it gets to the ever increasing pain point)...See Morefood change & ear infection?
Comments (16)The only way to be sure that an ear infection, or any other allergy symptoms, are caused by food is to do a complete food trial. If food is a problem, your dog should have symptoms year round. If her symptoms are not year round, she probably has environmental allergies and not food allergies. 1. All infections must be properly treated and gone. The Rx your vet gave should clear up any type of ear infection with the exception of ear mites, unless the infection is resistant. The fact that the infection came back within days of stopping treatment makes me think that the medication course wasn't long enough or that the infection is resistant. The infection must be cleared before starting the counting phase of the food trial. You should still feed the new food during the time that you are trying to control the infection, in case food is a problem. Otherwise, you will have a lot of trouble clearing the infection. 2. The counting phase starts after all infections are cleared and continues for 8 full weeks. During this phase, the only thing your dog can eat is the new food. You also have to change heartworm prevention to Heartgard Unflavored or to oral ivermectin, because all other heartworm preventions have beef and other flavorings in them that can interfere with the food trial. No treats, bones, or anything else besides the food can be given during this time. If something is accidently fed, you have to start the countdown all over again, because it takes about 8 weeks for the body to clear the effects of the inflammation. 3. The next phase is the challenge phase. This is often not done, but it absolutely necessary if you want to be sure that there is a food allergy. If your dog showed an improvement during the countdown phase, you feed the original food for about a week. The symptoms should return- ie your dog will get another ear infection. If the symptoms do not return, it was not a food allergy. If there was no improvement during the countdown phase then either your dog is also allergic to the new food, or she doesn't have a food allergy. I really like Natural Balance foods for diet trials, as opposed to most of the foods vets recommend (usually Science Diet, which I hate). You could also do raw or homemade diets, but it is difficult to afford foods that your dog hasn't eaten before. Duck is expensive when you buy at the grocery store, at least around here....See More- 20 years ago
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