My one girl has suffered from ear infections in her left ear for most of her life,despite lots of treatments,antibiotics, ear flushing, swabs etc her ear is really bothering her again. My vet wants to take another set of swabs next week (could not do it today as I had already cleaned her ear) then treat with more antibiotics and do a lateral ear resection. There is some thickening of the ear tissues but the ear is still quite open and my vet thinks it is best to do it now rather than later when more radical surgery (total ear ablation) would be needed.Has anyone had this done and if so has it helped?

My first cocker spaniel used to suffer from chronic ear infections and had a procedure to widen the ear opening. I remember the vet referred to it as a zeps operation. I  think the spelling is wrong but thats how it sounded anyway. He was quite swollen after it and couldnt wear a collar for a week. He also got a pist op infection so required antibiotics. It was tough going directly after it but he never got another ear infection again.

Yes zep otoplasty is the other name for it. Pleased to hear your dog benefited from it. My girl has really suffered with her wretched ear and I cant remember the last time she was completely pain free. She seems to have that ear permanently dropped. I just have to do something to try to sort it once and for all. Poor girl runs if she even thinks I'm going near her ear.

My Sussex has had both ear canals removed (TECA surgery) and hasn't looked back, so if it comes to that I wouldn't worry too much. She can still hear (when she wants too) and all the infections, drops, flushes etc are a thing of the past.

I do not think we are even close to this yet but my vet was talking to me recently about what can be done with chronic ear infections and said a full removal is more effective and more successful.

As we do not need it I didn't ask too many questions and didn't really 'hear' all the terms she used but she certainly indicated that the more radical procedure is preferable, the dog can hear fine afterward and that, as infections are then a thing of the past, many owners say they wish they'd done something sooner.

I had a lab years ago who had an ear re-section and never looked back. Apart from some irritation from shavers rash over the area it healed well and she never had another infection. It was worth it and I would not hesitate to have it done again if needed.
Aileen

Thank you all for your replies. I have researched ear surgery but it's so much better hearing from real people who have already been through it. I'm still worried but feeling a bit more at ease at putting her through it.

I will let you know over the next few weeks how we get on.
Has anyone used any of the new Elizabethan collars? I have the bog standard one but have seen some different styles and wondered if they did the job as well as the hard plastic ones. I know the Buster collars are no good for this surgery as she would still be able to get at her ear.

Quick update

Had the results of ear swab back yesterday and it's a yeast infection this time, treating it with Malasectic ear cleaner and Canesten solution. Have to go back next week to check how the ear is going but vet thinks she may not be accepted for the re section if the middle ear is not badly damaged!

My Eve suffered from chronic ear infections for over a year, both ears. After surgery for haematomas on both ears, topical and then oral steroids when she reached 1 yr old, swabs, numerous sedations for flushing, pain killers for after flushing as her canals were so swollen he couldn't even see the ear drum, every type of drop you can think of ....and finally discussing TECA ( total ear canal ablation) when her ear canal swelled tight shut! we tried one last different ear cleaner and drops - Sancerum cleaner and Posatex drops. 2 weeks later the vet could actually look in her ear without sedation :-) He was so shocked, he said he was fully expecting her to have to have the surgery, her ears were so bad! We were jumping for joy as, if she did have to go the surgery route, we would have taken out a loan as our insurance refused to pay for anything for her ears as her 1st infection was within the 2 weeks we took out the insurance - we've paid over 1500 this last year :(

I researched the surgery options and decided TECA was the way to go instead of resection as although resection opens up the canal allowing free drainage, the chance of infection was still possible. The downside with TECA was the post-op pain and that you could get an abscess even years later and of course the limited hearing, but we figured her canal was shut anyway, so that;s how she was hearing anyway ;-) She has been infection free for 3 months :-)

Ear infections are such horrible things, I really thought it would never end. Best of luck whatever you decide, but just maybe, a simple change of cleaner and drops may work for you as it did for me x

After surgery recently one of ours came home with an Elizabethan collar, being so close to the ground couldn't walk unless remembered to look up and soon gave up as got stressed out nose diving into the floor. Bought a Comfy Cone it was softer & flexible but whether being black it upset him even more, sat trembling, wouldn't move at all apart from jumping around like a rabbit!.  But thinking that you dogs are taller it might be an option, costs around £23.00 fortunately for us the shop took it back!  The other problem with collars is that it stops them scratching but not rubbing, head goes to the ground & they rub inside - but again for ours the floor isn't far away! Gave up in the end as he didn't scratch but had to watch him 24/7 to stop the rubbing. Wish you both the best.

Ear infections really are horrid things. I hope your girl improves. I well remember the torture Sam had with his.