Bloodhound recurring ear infections after venison diet

Four months on venison with ear infections still cycling every three weeks tells me the venison probably isn't the problem — or at least isn't the whole story. True food allergies in dogs are actually less common than intolerances, and the tricky part is that many commercial venison foods contain additives, grains, or secondary proteins that can be just as reactive as the original offender. The most reliable way to actually pin this down is a strict elimination diet using a hydrolysed protein food, where the proteins are broken down so small the immune system can't recognise them — that removes the guesswork entirely. Before I point you in a specific direction, can you tell me: has your Bloodhound been seen by a vet for these ear infections, are they being treated each time with antibiotics or antifungals, and what exactly does the venison food you've been using contain beyond the venison itself?

That recurring pattern — clears with treatment, back in three weeks — is a classic sign that you're managing the symptom but not removing the trigger. Peas and potato are actually fairly common reactants in sensitive dogs, and they appear in a huge number of grain-free foods, so switching to venison kibble that still contains them may have made very little difference. At eight years old, Bloodhounds can also develop yeast-driven ear infections that are fuelled by carbohydrate load in the diet, not just protein allergens. What I'd want to know before recommending one specific food: is the ear discharge dark and waxy or more yellowish and wet? And has your vet done a culture to check whether it's yeast or bacterial?

Dark waxy discharge in a Bloodhound that recurs like clockwork is almost certainly yeast — Malassezia — and yeast overgrowth in ears is strongly linked to dietary carbohydrate and a disrupted gut-skin barrier, which food intolerances drive. The peas and potato in his current food are high-glycaemic, which feeds yeast. Here's my one clear recommendation: switch him to Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets HA Hydrolysed — it uses hydrolysed soy protein and a single starch source with no peas, potato, or intact animal proteins that he could be reacting to. It's specifically formulated to break the allergy cycle, and for a persistent case like this after a failed novel protein attempt, it's the logical next step. You'd need to do a strict 8-week trial with absolutely nothing else — no treats, no table scraps, no flavoured supplements.

Purina Pro Plan HA is available on Amazon UK without a prescription — it's classified as a veterinary diet but it's not prescription-only, so you can order it directly. And yes, 8 weeks is genuinely necessary, not a conservative guess. Food allergy responses in dogs involve the gut immune system, and it takes that long for reactive antibodies to clear and for the skin and ear tissue to stop being primed for inflammation. Most people stop at 4-6 weeks, see partial improvement, and conclude it didn't work — but they've actually done the hard part without finishing it. If the ears stay clear through week 8, you've found your answer, and you can then reintroduce one ingredient at a time to identify exactly what he was reacting to. I'd also strongly suggest asking your vet for a cytology swab next time the ear flares — just to confirm yeast versus bacteria, because that affects whether the drops they're prescribing are even the right ones.

Good plan — you're doing the right thing by tackling both sides of it. One practical note: transition onto the HA gradually over about a week to avoid stomach upset, mixing it in increasing proportions with his current food. Then once he's fully on it, that's your day one of the 8-week trial. Keep a simple log of any ear scratching or head shaking — it'll be useful data for your vet and it'll help you spot the improvement when it comes. Good luck with him.