Dog misdiagnosed at vet?

Question

About 6 months ago my dog started acting like her ears were bothering her and she seemed like she couldn't hear all that well so we brought her to the vet and he diagnosed her as having an ear infection (which was expected). He gave her some antibiotics and we gave them to her as prescribed, until the bottle was empty. We also thoroughly cleaned her ears every day. She seemed to be improving but we ran out of medicine and the progress stopped and the infection came back. We went back to the vet and got another prescription, but that bottle also ran out and she still can't quite seem to kick the infection. We checked online and it seems like she was given the right drug. We decided to try a different vet and get a second opinion, she again prescribed the same drug but didn't bother to really examine my dog (it was a late appointment, we figured she wanted to go home). We have again run out of the prescription with no real improvement. We are still regularly cleaning her ears. Her hearing has returned. Within the last week we have noticed that she has started to walk with a limp (right front leg), which is concerning because her right ear is more infected. Could the infection be spreading? Why can't we seem to get it to go away? ANY advice is much appreciated!! 

Additional info:
Dog is a yellow lab, about 5 years old.
We live in the country and she spends hours outside everyday.
She loves swimming in our pond (which is clean with no algae but plenty of fish and frogs)
About a year ago we adopted a cat, which received a clean bill of health from the vet. My dog has never lived with a cat prior, and we are considering the idea that maybe something transferred to the dog from the cat. 
The cat and 4 people living in the house have no problems with ears or hearing. 

Thanks in advance!!!

Moondog · Accepted Answer

What makes you think the vet misdiagnosed the problem?  It sounds like an accurate diagnosis to me.

Ear infections are not easy to get rid of. It can take months. The dog is getting the infections because the ears are getting wet.  Keep her out of the pool.

Her limping has nothing to do with the ear infection, it's a separate issue.

bluebonnetgranny · Answer

Try to keep her out of the pond.  Ear infections start where it is warm & wet.  The object to clearing up an ear infection is to keep the ear dry.  I had the same problem with a dog a few years back.  Nothing seemed to help & someone suggested I just use a regular ear wash.  So I got a mid priced bottle & started out 3 times a day for a week & then two times a day for a week or two & then down to one time a day until it cleared up.  Once the infection & all was out of the ear & the canal looked back to normal,  I started a home made ear cleaner.  It burns like HELL on a raw infected year but it is a good ear cleaner when there is no infection.

1/3 c water
1/3 c rubbing alcohol
1/3 c apple cider vinegar
5 to 10 drops of tea tree oil

another recipe calls for 1/3 c witchazel instead of water.  I have never used that one.

Learning Daily · Answer

you might try adding  a few Tbsp of yogurt to her food.  look for No Sugar added.

Sometimes labs and other floppy eared dogs get yeast infections in their ears.  Antibiotics will sometimes provide some improvement, basically because its killing any secondary infections.

1-2 TBS of yogurt twice a day can really make a huge difference in keeping yeast infections down and under control

Its doubtful the limping is related.  you say your dog spends hours outside.  If the limping does not subside in a few days.. switches sides or  disapears and returns.  Have him checked for Lymes disease.

Jenny · Answer

As others have said, keep her out of the pond.

The food you're feeding could be causing it also. Grocery store brands are complete crap. They're horrible for your dog; they contain lots of wheat, grains, and fillers, which many dogs are allergic to, and allergies can cause chronic ear infections. If she's on one of those brands, switch to a high quality food like Innova, Evo, Canidae, Solid Gold, Before Grain, Triumph, Wellness Core, Taste of the Wild, or Orijen.

The limp may or may not be related. She could have injured herself running, playing, swimming, etc. when you weren't looking. If it continues for another couple days or seems to be getting worse, take her to the vet.

dorothy s · Answer

I have read all of your question and could not think of an appropriate reply until I read about your pool.

I have always had healthy ears, however when I started swimming in a clean pool I had very bad pains in my ears. Consequently I now use eat plugs. There is no way that your dog can wear ear plugs, nevertheless with ears that are bothering  your dog, you must not allow her to swim.

ragapple · Answer

thin possibility this could be ear mites

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_ear_mites.html

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Dog misdiagnosed at vet?

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