1 yr Old Chocolate Lab Ear Intections

Question
I was hoping you could help me try and pinpoint what has been causing my 1 y/o Lab to keep having chronic ear infections. We are currently in the process of switching his dog food from Kirkland's puppy food (chicken & vegetable# to another Costco brand #Nature's Domain Salmon & Sweet Potato Grain Free). We have been in the process of switching it over the past week or so and was hoping that his ear infections would be put at bay since this new food that we are trying is grain-free and we were thinking previously that his problems could be contributed to food allergies. To help deal with his ear infections, we have been using a few different ear washes with him and depending on how bad he has been scratching at his ears, he usually gets his ears cleanse anywhere from 1-5 times a week. We have had him to the vet for medication before and we have been treating him with Mometamax that was prescribed to him as need be. Are there any other factors that you can think of that have been contributing to his ear infections? Could this be a temporary thing that will come to pass after we get him switched all the way over to his new food? Thanks for any insight that you can provide us with!

Answer
Food allergies are always my first suspicion with chronic ear infections. I think you are on the right path switching foods and the Nature's Domain Salmon is almost completely different ingredient wise, great choice! Give it 4-6 weeks, once you are completely on the new food, to see if he improves. Your dog may be fine on a grain free food or he may be sensitive to carbs of any type.

If you don't see an improvement after 6 weeks, I would try a completely carb free food such as canned. Dry foods have to use carbs, canned don't but lots still do to lower production costs. If you end up needing to try canned, make sure you buy canned that has no carbs (no rice, barley, potato, sweet potato, etc) and as few ingredients as possible. Ideally, meat and vitamins only.  I like Merrick Before Grain 96% canned foods but there are several brands out there. The cost of food will be higher but if you solve the problem, your dog will be healthier, happier and you won't be paying for vet visits, prescription ear meds, and ear washes.

One last tidbit, make sure your dog is not getting any treats, table scraps, Nothing else... while you test out the new food. It could easily be that innocent looking biscuit or pizza crust that he is allergic to :) Once his ears clear up, then you can bring treats back into the fold so that if they are the cause, you will be able to say, Ah! you were fine till we started giving you X again. Since he is 1 yr, if you are working on training and need to give food rewards, just use his kibble during this 6 week trial period.

My Golden mix had ear infections for years, until I took him off dry food, I hope this helps your baby!

Best,

Tracie Fowler
Triangle Pet
www.TrianglePet.com