discoloration of fur on eard

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discoloration of fur on eard

Posted : 6/5/2006 3:33:31 PM

I have a chocolate lab who is about 3 years old. I have only had him about two years. During that time he has had several ear infections, which just seem to be getting worse. However that is not my whole concern. The fur on his ears has been getting lighter in color and in the recent weeks the fur on the outside has started to fall off and thinning. I can see the dry scales on his ears but I don't see it anywhere else on his body. They don't seem to itch.
Any ideas?
Are the ear infections related to the skin on the outside of the ears?

The vet has checked for mites. We have talked about putting him on a "vet diet", but I am not sure I believe all that he is telling me. He has been on benadryl and a prescription allergy medication, but niether seem to do much except make him sleepy.

cakana

Posted : 6/5/2006 5:14:53 PM

Based on my experience with my lab, the ear infection never affected the hair on the outside of the ear, so I'd be looking for something different. Have they done a culture on the ear infections. If not, I'd insist on that so you know if it's fungal (yeast) or bacterial. The majority of my lab's were yeast, but there was one that was bacterial and the meds were different.
What are you currently feeding? I made a food switch a little over a year ago to Natural Balance Duck & Potato and honestly, we went from chronic ear infections, cleaning them all the time, all of that, to zero ear problems. It was really amazing and the only thing I can attribute it to, was the food change. Unfortunately, the other allergy and skin problems haven't resolved at all for us, but before you go with the vet's prescription food, you might try one of the Natural Balance allergen formulas. If it helps the ears, at least it's something you could use for the life of the dog.