| Update on Ruby's ears
Ruby, my Rotti/Lab mix, has had ear problems since I adopted her. Both ears were infected when I got her, and she was on an ointment that was not working. She went to the vet who put her on antibiotics, and Baytril otic, to be applied after cleaning with T-8 solution. This cleared up the right ear,but the left one remained infected. The vet office recommended Malaseb flush, which I did religiously for a couple of weeks, with no results. Then I tried the blue power ear wash which made her ear feel better, but no improvement on the discharge. Finally I took her back to the vet and they sent a sample for a culture and sensitivity, which was expensive, but it came back that she had pseudomonas,which is nasty, and it was sensitive to only Cipro, and no other antibiotics. It also showed a secondary sensitivity to Baytril. After only 3 days on Cipro, and Baytril ear drops, the infection already appears to have gone away. No more discharge or brown gunk when I wash her ears. I still have to finish the meds, but I'm optimistic. I guess the main point I wanted to make is that even though the culture and sensitivity was fairly expensive, it isolated the exact antibiotic we needed to use. Otherwise we may have spent months trying all the different antibiotics and developing a resistance to them, and delaying an effective treatment. I still will use the blue power ear wash as a deterrent for future ear infections, and to soothe her ears, but I am glad to have had the appropriate tests when needed. | 
