Double Ear Infection

[Sally]

Three weeks ago I groomed a Great Dane that was a new customer. Last week her owners took her to the vet and he said that she had a double ear infection from whatever I used to clean her ears with. I used Top Performance Ear Cleaner (which I've never had a problem with)and I don't squirt it in her ears, I only moisten a cotton ball to clean the ear. I'm so careful about holding their ears down while washing and rinsing. I've been grooming for 3 1/2 yrs. and never been told I caused an ear infection. I feel terrible and am wondering should I call the customer and ask for a copy of their vet bill and repay them or offer free groomings for whatever the cost is? Thanks.

[k2p1e]

Hmmm...I don't know. Maybe call the vet and ask him what you could have done differetly? Explain how you do his ears and maybe it was an underlying problem?

I cannot see how using cotton balls to apply the ear cleaner would leave enough of the solution in the ears to cause an infection, was it a reaction? I would tlak to the vet or ask for the vet bill and go from there.

[Peaster]

You might try and do a search for old threads on this subject as other have had simlar problems.

From my understanding you should not be able to "give" in infection unless you cleaner is contaminated "transfer from a dog that did have a infection". A flair up of symptoms may occur from an "existing" infection can occur after cleaning. My understanding has always been that we can bring somthing existing to the surface but we can't cause an infection.

I sugest talking to the vet and asking what is unique about this dog as cleaning the ears is a widely recomended activity for owners and is part of the treatment for clearing up an existing infection that caused an infection as you want to know how to prevent a recurance. Also realize that what the vet tell the owners and what the owners tell YOU the vet said may not be the same thing :-)

[diamienono]

Again with the vet blaming the groomer. UGH. What a way to give the client an answer. I would first call the vet. Tell him what you did and what you used. There is no way that you caused the ear infection. It was probably brewing when you did the dog. Don't offer free services till you talk to the vet.

[rapuzzled]

Before you do anything you should call the vet. A lot of times these things become a he said she said type of thing. Make sure that that is actually what the vet said. Sometimes owners will hear what they want. The vet may have asked if the dog was groomed recently, and from there the owner may have come into their own that it was your fault. In any case, it is very hard to prove that you actually caused the ear infection.
In the long run it may be easier to just pay for the vet appt. Just think carefully about what you want to do. Oh, also make sure that if you do decide to pay for it, get a detailed bill. Make sure that you are not also paying for vaccines, or check-ups, etc. Good luck!

[Amber]

I had a problem years ago with a client and the vet dead set I was the responsible one for endless ear infections in a st poodle finally after months of me feeling horrible and trying to figure out what I was doing wrong with this baby, the owner came in with the answer her neighbor had been spraying the dog with a water hose when it was outside. I unfortunatly got blamed for it at least for awhile. The owner was very apologetic.

[SpikeyTheYorkie]

First, my opinion is that brand of ear cleaner isn't so good. (And personally, I don't like the smell). You also might want to see if it has drying agents in it, as that is helpful.

I used to use that brand, on cotton, but it would easily drip off the cotton into the ear canal. It is important that if you clean the ears with a moist solution of any kind, that you follow behind with a dry piece of cotton or gauze (this is according to the vet I work for). The vet techs are not allowed to clean the ears and let the dog go, they have to follow up with dry gauze to wipe out the excess moisture. This might help.

I don't know if you should give 'em a free groom, I might pay the vet bill.

But talk with the vet FIRST. Don't just pay the bill. You want to know he/she (the vet) told the owner that it was caused from grooming. Perhaps this dog has chronic ear problems and they are blaming you, or perhaps it appeared a day or two after your groom---thus leaving the vet few other conclusions.

Tammy in Utah

[scrubapup]

I've been using that brand of ear cleaner for years. Never a problem.

[Helly]

1. Don't feel terrible. You probably didn't cause it.

2. Some vets will pull "blame the groomer" out of their hats because it sounds better than "I don't know".

3. Sometimes what the vet said and what the client heard are two different things.

4. Don't feel terrible. You probably didn't cause it.

[JJk]

Oh, the old never ending story again. I think someday I might receive a phone call says the dog is overweight because I kissed it too much when I groomed it.

[PoodlePal]

My only comment is that when I was in grooming school and when I worked in a groom shop, none of the other groomers cleaned their hemostats between ear cleanings. I have numerous pairs of hemostats and every evening they go in a jar of barbicide.

[baddog]

Oh, the old never ending story again. I think someday I might receive a phone call says the dog is overweight because I kissed it too much when I groomed it.

ROTFLMAO!!!!!!

I use the oxyfresh ear cleaner, it's expensive but does a great job, esp on those cruddy golden ears! I think the owner is looking to blame you, esp a dog with "stand up " ears, you'd think they'd notice right away, not 3 weeks later. I think sometimes people do this b/c they think groomers are stupid , I can't tell you how many times I've heard...."how would you know my dog has xyz wrong, you're just a groomer" Imagine someone saying that to a hair stylist ! Sometimes as groomers we get no respect, but it is such a small % of people but it gets on one's nerves.

[Jadenlea]

I think that is absolutely ridiculous. First off... How can the vet know you caused the ear infection? And secondly if you did, how could he know it was the product you used on his ears (as opposed to water in the ear or a transfered infection ect)

I say this all the time... Talk to the vet because he probably did not say that. He could have given it as an option and the owner took it as truth.

Calling the vet has a second benefit to finding out the truth. It gives you the chance to show this vet that you are a caring groomer and a real person who cares about her reputation and the health of the dogs she takes care of. IF he did really say that off the top of his head, he will certainly be more careful next time about saying something like that again. You arnt just a nameless "The groomer" anymore. You are a real live person that he has actually spoken to.

[rapuzzled]

Oh, the old never ending story again. I think someday I might receive a phone call says the dog is overweight because I kissed it too much when I groomed it.

That's too funny! I will have to remember that one!