My dog has allergies and skin issues. Will Clavamox treat his new ear infection?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Daisy. That medication is typically administered by mouth. I am not aware for a formulation of that particular medication that is made to go in the ear. I would double check with her veterinarian on Monday, but in the meantime do not apply it to the ear. I hope this information helps!

Ear infections are usually treated with an antibiotic ointment that is placed directly in the ear and left in the ear to work in between cleanings. A typical schedule of cleanings include cleaning out the affected ear every twelve hours, placing the ointment in the ear, massaging and letting it set. This continues for a period of 7-10 days to completely clear the infection. There are some OTC ear infection ointments available but it is likely you will need to visit your vet for a prescription version. Amoxicillin is a general antibiotic and is more common in other infections such as skin or minor internal infections. It is best to check with your vet to see if it is appropriate for your dog's type of ear infection rather than just giving it. Giving the wrong medication or wrong dosage for the problem can actually make it worse, or even make your dog very ill.

Amoxicillin is an antibiotic and not effective against yeast which is fungal. Contact your vets office to prescribe appropriate medications for him as well as a cleaner to remove as much debris as possible. Sedation may be required if painful

I am sorry Emily is not feeling well. It sounds like you have already taken her to the vet and started clavamox. However if it is getting worse I would recommend taking her back for more testing. I think Emily needs blood work and a possible skin scrape. Older dogs can get skin mites, parasites and underlying disease that can make the skin looked infection. I have seen a few cases of liver disease that extremely affects the skin on the legs. You can try to give her a bath in medicated shampoo however more diagnostic testing is really the next step.

I am sorry to hear of Princeton's ongoing war issues. If you are concerned about possible medication side effects I would recommend discussing this with your regular veterinarian. I would also discuss with them the possibility of food allergies. Chronic/recurrent ear infections like you are dealing with for Princeton can often be secondary for a food allergy, a diet change may be what is needed for him. When considering a new food remember that the protein source is typically the thing that causes the allergy-look at Princeton's current dry food to see what the protein source is. You will need to look for a food with a protein source he has not been exposed to (remember that the chicken you feed mixed with his food is a potential allergen as well). Your vet can discuss any particular brands or products they recommend, and be aware that a food trial for allergies can take 6-8 weeks before any effect is seen. Also talk to your vet about culturing the material in Princeton's ears, if you haven't already. Sometimes the yeast or bacteria that is present becomes resistant. A culture will show what type of organism is present, and what medication is going to be most effective. Your vet can then help you tailor a new treatment plan to try and resolve the issue. I also recommend routine ear cleaning at home using a cleaning solution recommended by your vet. Keeping the ears clean of debris can help reduce the number of infections. Good luck-I hope you are able to get Princeton feeling better soon!

Some skin infections can take 3 weeks of antibiotics to clear. However, if its not gotten better, it may be a bit more complicated. As you mention, allergies may indeed be part of it. Eosinophils may indicate that there's an allergic component, so if you aren't addressing the allergies specifically. it may help to do so. Your vet may talk to you about trying some prednisone or apoquel to treat underlying allergies, and this may be very helpful. Weekly baths with a gentle non irritating shampoo may be helpful. I really like this one: https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/zymox-shampoo-with-vitamin-d3 Best of luck, thank you for using PetCoach!

Mometamax is for the ears. If your do has an allergic dermatitis then he may need an oral antibiotic, anti-histamine, corticosteroid, and/or other medications to help clear up the skin issue. You could also bathe him with a medicated dog shampoo and see if that helps his skin.