New puppy's ears red after eating. Is it a food allergy?

I am sorry to hear about Diesel! Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with. We can have allergies to ingredients in food (it is usually a protein source and not a grain allergy), or allergies to things in the environment like pollen, grass, dust, etc. If he isn't already on a fatty acid supplement, I would consider starting one (such as Welactin) as they can have anti-inflammatory effects in the body and reduce itching in some dogs if given daily. With mild allergy cases, sometimes antihistamines such as diphenhydramine, cetirizine, or hydroxyzine are used and are effective. You should discuss with your vet if they feel any of these are appropriate for Diesel. In severe cases we need stronger immune-modulating drugs such as Apoquel or Atopica (unfortunately these are also more expensive but can make a dramatic difference for some dogs). Sometimes these dogs also have secondary bacterial or yeast infections that may require treatment by a veterinarian as well that are contributing to the itching.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to Diesel's problem has recurred. Given his age the two most like underlying issues are allergies leading to uncontrolled inflammation or a polyp or other blockage of the ear canal. Either can lead to an infection of bacteria, yeast, or acombination of the two which will make the inflammation worse. As the inflammation worsens the infection will worsen, so it becomes a self-perpetuating cycle. Ears and skin can be very frustrating, so frequent rechecks and repeated testing via cytology (microscopic look from a swab from the ears) are needed to maximize treatment benefits. Hope this helps!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing her allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. The cefpodoxime should help with the bacterial infection component and the prednisone should help with the itch component. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!

It’s hard to say what is exactly going on here but it does look very inflamed and possibly infected. If thenlesionnhas been there more than 2 days and/or is getting worse and is irritating to Doja I would recommend having it looked at by your veterinarian. She may need antibiotics to help it clear up. As far as food is concerned, I generally recommend Hills, Purina, Royal Canin, Iams or Eukanuba. Since Doja is so young she needs to be on a puppy food as well. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Ear mites generally are noted first with signs of thick, dark discharge which appears a bit "crusty". However-the lack of these symptoms does not mean all is well with the ears of your pup. Dogs can get frequent ear infections, just like we can. I can tell from your photos that your pup has hair that grown down into the ear canals-this will be part of the problem. Those hairs trap debris, water from bathing, extra wax, etc and act as a great reservoir for bacteria to grow. I always recommend to my clients to have the hairs "plucked" by their groomer when they go or to come in to the office so that we can do it. After the hairs are cleared and the ears are cleaned, I like to do an exam of the ear canal and to take a swab of the ears to see what kind of yeast and/or bacteria are present there. It is important to have this exam performed by your vet to verify that your pet's eardrum is intact and not perforated. Likely your pet will get prescribed some antibiotics if your doctor finds it necessary, as well as pain medications or something for that awful itch. After everything is well controlled, it is usually easy to get my owners on a good ear cleaning regimen to keep ear infections at bay. I hope this helps! My best to you and your pup!

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!

Hi there. Recurring ear infections, or persistently itchy, irritated ears, are indeed a common sign of allergies in dogs. This can be due to environmental allergies, a food allergy, or both. Apoquel is usually effective at treating environmental allergy problems - so if it didn't help much, I agree that a food trial with a prescription hypoallergenic diet would be the next logical step. If she responds well to the prescription diet, you may be able to cautiously switch her back to an over-the-counter limited ingredient food for long-term maintenance.