Ear cleaning advice please!

Wellyboots6

krlyr wrote: »

Like having 5 people hold him down when he is obviously distressed? :undecided You know your vet best, but I would not be letting my vet put my dog in that kind of situation

It was either that or sedate him, and there are risks with sedation, however small. With having no history on him I couldn't justify in my own mind sedating him when there may be no need to. He would have been distressed by sedation too, but with the addition of drugs which may not have been needed.

I was quite impressed with the way she did it. She tried to look with just the two of us holding him, but when it became obvious it wasn't going to be possible she got enough people in to be able to hold him down and get it done quickly. Much rather that than a prolonged wrestling match!

I don't think there is ever an easy answer to what is the best thing to do, guess you just have to go with your gut at the time.

On the plus side, managed to get some thornit in today and he is also letting me massage his ears as long as there is no tissue or cotton wool. Baby steps, very very small baby steps!

MissSarah151

katy721 wrote: »

It was either that or sedate him, and there are risks with sedation, however small. With having no history on him I couldn't justify in my own mind sedating him when there may be no need to. He would have been distressed by sedation too, but with the addition of drugs which may not have been needed.

I completely agree with this - and if I was in that situation I would rather have my dog restrained temporarily by people that are trained to deal with animals (especially because his owner was present for comfort) for the vet to check the ear situation before resorting to sedation - which in this case would have been for nothing as the ears aren't even infected or anything nasty.