So the flies are out in full force again...
My poor huskies ears are SO eaten up! Every year they get eaten up ( not bit, but eaten). They have a permanent "scabs" on the top of them.
A few years ago the vet said to put a fly repellent on them for horses, it comes in a roll bottle ( like role on deodorant). It has worked fairly well in the past but this year its not cutting it.
We took him to the vet a few weeks ago and he said to put a thick coat of vaseline on them every other day. The opposite days use diaper rash cream with zinc in it to help them heal. That seemed to keep the flies off of his poor ears for like a week or so.
Well tonight I went back out there to do the treatments again and his ears were bleeding again... and today there was small maggots on his ears. I washed them off and poured hydrogen peroxide on them and then coated them with Vaseline. But we need something more to do to stop this.
What do you use? The vet said if this doesn't work he can give us some stuff he has there... but a small tube of it is like $45 and only lasts a week. I know if it works its worth it... but before spending the money on it I would like to see if any of you have some other tricks to use that will be cheaper and just as affective.
Thank you!
I asked about "off" and the vet said he doesn't recomend it because of the grooming and if he would get it on his paws and then lick his paws it could get him sick.
Thank you everyone so far! I hate seeing him like this! This has been the worst its ever been, I wish the poor guy didn't have to deal with this, he is 16 so he should be living happy and free of any discomforts at this age :) We tried keeping him in the house but even on the hottest of days he is stir crazy and hates being in the house ( even though we make him when the weather is too hot out)
Skin So Soft by Avon. We mix it with some water in a spray bottle and spray our lab. It isn't cheap but we have had the same bottle for probably 5 years. We use about 1/3 SSS with 2/3 water.
We have a farm, and our neighbor used to have horses. That means we had lots of flies. I used Neosporin on our dog's ears when they got bad, but then I went to the feed store and bought a couple of bags that you hang from the trees. It traps the flies. I bought a couple of them to hang in the dog's yard. Our dog stays inside most of the time anyway, but then when she did go out the flies weren't bad at all. I can't remember what the bags were called, but if you check a feed store they may have them.
I've also heard of an old wives tale where you put pennies in a ziplock bag and hang it up. Something about the way the copper shines is supposed to keep flies away, but I've never tried it.
Good luck!
ETA: Grandma T reminded me that we did use Off sometimes, too, and it worked well, but we had to apply it every time she went outside.
This just freaks me out about your dog!
Cant you put "Off" or something that people use?
I am sad your dog is being tortured and eaten alive.
I wouldnt be able to tolerate that.
As Gomer would say "SHAZAAM!"
Fly mask if you could find one that just covers the ears. I know most horse ones cover most of the head, but it might be possible to modify one. It sounds like you are doing a good job of trying your best and it is great that you are working with your vet.
Skin So Soft by Avon is the worlds best insect repellant. In the military we just poured that bath oil straight on us and rubbed it in till we were shiny. Kept the bugs off in deserts and swamps, which is really saying something. Smells 'pretty', too.
I don't know about the edibility of it.
Hey, DVM mom! Can SSS be used on pets?
go to dogs.com its a great forum for pets, I looked up tea tree oil and that is a natural insect repellant, that might be worth a shot. if its their ears I dont see what the harm is in using a bug spray as long as you dont get it in their eyes and mouth area. If you go the tea tree oil route buy the oil its self dont buy the pre mix stuff, that way you control how strong. gl an really check out the site you can post any typw of ? and someone on there will have an answer.
Your poor pupster! Not sure if this would help, but this crocheted ear net helps my horses on trail rides: http://www.doversaddlery.com/ear-%26-eye-net/p/X1-2431/
Also, around the barn a mask like this helps: http://www.doversaddlery.com/cashel®-cool-crusader%3f-sta...
The full masks come in sizes and are adjustable. You might want to try a foal or weanling size for a huskie. Not sure if a mask is the whole answer, but maybe a repellant, like you've been doing, combined with a mask would help.
Good luck!
I grew up on an AKC dog kennel, and this is a common ailment.
Young dogs can handle it better. Old dogs like to lie around, fall asleep, and let the flies do their thing. The danger is when the flies lay eggs, which turn into maggots, which can cause a blood infection in the dog. An infection at age 16 will really stress out your dog.
We used "Flys-Off" and applied it hourly if necessary. (This is the horse stuff.)
Double coated breeds like huskies really should be kept indoors in hot weather anyway. They can only release heat through panting, and panting can't keep up in this heat.
They do go a little stir crazy, so keep him entertained indoors. Chew toys, stay in the room with him, play the radio (talk radio that doesn't include yelling). Give him access to his indoor kennel-- dogs usually love to cuddle up in their "dens." And take him for a nice long stroll at night.
I had this problem with my poor doggies too. What I used to heal up the sores on the ears was "Watkins Salve". Slather it on pretty heavy, the fly's can't get through it. It has a thicker consistancy than vaseline and really helps to heal the pups ears. You can use this salve on dogs but not on cats. Not sure why but I remember reading it on the old pot of salve we had when I was younger. The new pots don't say it anymore but I have contiued to use it for various wounds on my dogs with good results.
As for prevention we used a fly spray for horses I believe. But it didn't work as good as I would have liked. It helped but I'd still usually have to treat with the Watkins. But the sores would not be as big or severe when I used fly spray too. Sorry I don't remember what brand it was, but it was a fly spray for horses.
Hope that helps,
V.
I know how you feel!! Huskies get flies on their ears A LOT!!!
I'm going to ask two of my friends who have Huskies and see what they do!!!
I'm really !!! really!! sorry!!! it sucks when our beloved animals have problems like this!!!
Check back. I'll let you know what they say!!
Good grief! Poor doggie! I had a Siberian that lived to 16 and we never had ear/fly issues, so I'm sorry I have no reco's for that. She was an inside dog....is your outside all the time? If so, I'd move him indoors until this clears up completely THEN start using the treatments to prevent it.
