continued ear infections and sluggishness

Question
Sweetpea, a miniature poople, and she has had ear infections all her life. We've had her to vets at least once a year sometimes more often. We've tried every kind of care. What I'm looking for at this point is something we can get to clear it up and keep it at bay, even if it means a daily application. Please help Sweetpea, she's 10 years old.

Answer
Hello Sue,
There are many kinds of treatments for ear problems, from home remedies such as using a mixture of Vinegar and Hydrogen Peroxide (pour in the ear and let the dog shake it out), to oral medication like Cefalaxen(?sp), to prescription ear drops such as Baytril Otic, Otomax or Mometamax.  
They all work pretty well depending on what kind of infection the dog has in the ear.  
If your current Vet hasn't been able to help you treat the ear problem once and for all, you might think about getting a different Vets opinion.

Poodles ears are very prone to infections and alot of things can cause them.  Dogs that swim alot are more likely to get infections, as are dogs that are in damp or very dry climates.  Some dogs are genetically "wired" for ear problems and seem to always have an infection of one kind or another, and some dogs may have a weakened immune system which can cause infections to flare up constantly.  
Keeping the dogs ears clean will help control ear problems, but keeping the ears too clean can cause problems because you remove the good bacteria and change the enviroment that promotes a healthy ear.  

Keeping the hair out of the ear keeps debris from hanging up in the ear, and cleanings should be done about every 2-3 months or so.  

As one who has a dog that has constant ear troubles, I know what you are going through.  Keep trying and eventually you will find something that works for you and her.  

I hope this helps you some.  If you have other questions, please feel free to ask.

Thanks for using AllExperts.com,
Kim