gross, but... human & canine sharing ear gunk?

[pintopiaffe]

:dead: No way around the grossness factor, is there? :lol:

I have long-eared dogs (lab/vizsla mix) and both have just come up with one ear with ear gunk. They are scheduled for the vet on Thurs. It's not bothering them, just noticeable visually. I've only dealt with it one other time--when they were neutered, vet sent them both home with Rx for the ears. I didn't even *know* there was an issue back then.

Now, the thing is, *I* have had itchy, leaky, crackly ears for way too long. Doc said just use the behind-the-counter sudafed. No help. It Will Not Go Away and I've never had it last this long before.

So, it occurs to me, we do share the bed. :uhoh: And when I'm not careful to lock them out of the bedroom, Eamon's favorite, FAVORITE spot is with his head on my pillow. Not a big deal, I turn it over so his drool spot's on the bottom... and I wash the bedclothes very often in hot water.

BUT... it just occurred to me (probably reading the current ringworm thread :dead:) maybe we're "sharing"? :no: :lol:

Possible? Or me just being hypochondriac again? :winkgrin:

[Dad Said Not To]

What kind of "ear gunk" do they have? If it's ear mites, in theory they're transmissible to humans, but I don't believe there's ever been a recorded case and there was actually a vet who tried to give himself ear mites by putting scrapings from infected animals in his own ears and never succeeded. If it's a yeast infection, it's not likely unless your ears tend to be damp all the time, but it's not outside the realm of possibility.

[Pookah]

Wow, that's a dedicated vet--I cannot IMAGINE trying to give myself ear mites!

[Pancakes]

Chances are you're both suffering from the same environmental allergen. Have you tried antihistamines on yourself?

For both of you, SOMETHING is causing the ears to get irritated...and most times than not it's allergy-related.

[Bluey]

Yes, ear mites can be transmitted to humans, I have a friend that got them from his dog, that got them from birds.

He had to get some medication from the Dr to get rid of them, but it was not the same his dog got from the vet.

I would think that today anything with ivermectin, for mites, would work for both, humans and dogs.

I would go to the Dr, not the vet, for your ear problems.;)

[JoZ]

I can't offer any assistance, though I do suffer from the crackling, itchy ears due to allergy -- but believe it or not, my interpretation of the thread title was even more gross than it turned out to be...

human & canine sharing ear gunk, JoZ interpretation:

Human: "Would you like seconds on the ear gunk?"
Canine: "Don't mind if I do... tasty stuff!"
Human: "Hey, leave some for me!"

[Pancakes]

Yes, ear mites can be transmitted to humans, I have a friend that got them from his dog, that got them from birds.

He had to get some medication from the Dr to get rid of them, but it was not the same his dog got from the vet.

I would think that today anything with ivermectin, for mites, would work for both, humans and dogs.

I would go to the Dr, not the vet, for your ear problems.;)

Agreed go to the doctor -- a simple ear scraping of the cerumin (earwax) will show if there are mites or not. I doubt you have them though, since people with them describe a sound like "crunching up paper" in their ear frequently.

Do you know what species of mite your friend got?
Human infections with animal ear mites are rare...usually occurs in heavy infestations and close contact.

OP, I would not be concerned that you have ear mites. I would be more concerned you have an allergy that has gone undiagnosed and could be something your pets are sensitive to as well.

[Guin]

Many people have really "gunky" ears but no connection to pets. I know a couple of people who have to go to their dr. every month to get their ears "flushed." I'm sure they don't have ear mites! :lol:

[greysandbays]

Does your job require the use of communication equipment that covers your ear[s]? Or do you spend a lot of time with a music gizmo stuck in your ear[a]?

If so, that could keep them damp enough for icky stuff to flourish.

[cloudyandcallie]

Ear mites? or ear canker? Long eared dogs with narrow ear canals are prone to ear infections and canker.

The remedy is to clean ears often with the appropriate solution, and then to use a drying agent to keep the moisture in the ears down. Both products can be found in catalogues such as Drs. Foster catalogue.

My dogs and cats haven't had ear mites since the last (and first successful) introduction of advantage and frontline.

If it is ear mite, clean out the ears and apply a product that kills the mites, also found in the pet catalogues.

[pintopiaffe]

:lol: GOTTA LOFF CotH! :lol:

No, not mites, I don't think anyway. Both of them have, instead of the regular ear wax (which they never usually have much of) a much darker stuff, but still a viscous fluid, that bothers them a little. Not a ton... I noticed Malarkey licking Eamon's ear obsessively like their mother used to do... and sure 'nuff his looked a bit gooky. Then Malarkey was scratching one morning and yelping at himself. :p He had the remains of a deerfly in the gunk too--so I'm not sure how far the deerfly got IN the ear. Neither have smelly ears, and neither are scratching obsessively... just the one licking the other sometimes, and then that one also cleaning his ear (lick paw, clean ear) more often than usual.

Does your job require the use of communication equipment that covers your ear[s]? Yes. Headsets on both ears. For 10 hrs a day, 4 days a week minimum. :( No way around it. I can no longer type without a phone headset (can't hold the phone in the crook of the neck) and the radio is a headset too. That might be changing to just one headset, which would let me change ears at least...

At least we don't *share* headsets any more. My mild OCD changed that when I started. :dead: Completely grossed me out to put on someone else's sweaty headset. (where's the puke emoticon?)

Really, while not going away, I don't think about it that much or it doesn't bother me constantly... just sort of popped into my mind when the second dog came up with gook and I had an itchy ear the same night. That, and of course, reading the Ringworm thread. :lol:

OK. Good. I didn't want to sound completely idiotic when they go to the Vet. And don't worry, *I* will get the HUMAN Doc to look at mine again. :yes: :lol:

Dr. had a looksee last visit and just said the real Sudafed. Which did nothing but make me not able to sleep. :sleepy:

[shakeytails]

human & canine sharing ear gunk, JoZ interpretation:

Human: "Would you like seconds on the ear gunk?"
Canine: "Don't mind if I do... tasty stuff!"
Human: "Hey, leave some for me!"

ROTFLMAO!!!

My dogs are looking at me like I've lost my mind laughing at the computer screen!

[Debbie]

Oh thank goodness for Joz... I'm not alone! :lol:

[Sing Mia Song]

Both of them have, instead of the regular ear wax (which they never usually have much of) a much darker stuff, but still a viscous fluid, that bothers them a little.
[snip]
Yes. Headsets on both ears. For 10 hrs a day, 4 days a week minimum. :( No way around it.

It may be from your headset and not your dogs...but it could be a yeast infection.

[draftdriver]

I recently heard that a few drops of warmed pure virgin coconut oil will help fight infections in human ears. This was in a peer-reviewed paper, but I can't find the link to it right now. Something about the lauric acid in it having anti-microbial properties.

It's inexpensiive, and might be worth a try.