Does your dog have itchy, gunky, smelly or even painful ears that don’t seem to get better? You’re not alone. Dog ear infections are one of the main reasons people take their dogs to the vet. Show But there are safe and effective natural remedies for dog ear infection treatment. Here’s how to manage dog ear infections. What Are The Symptoms Of Ear infection In Dogs?Ear infections can be painful or itchy, so here are some common signs you’ll know something is wrong with your dog’s ears.
In severe cases your dog may experience …
If you see any of these serious symptoms, you need to see your vet. But you can manage less severe ear infections at home. To get to the point, here’s what to do if your dog has an ear infection now. But you’ll want to read the rest of the post later so you understand more about types and causes of ear infections and how to prevent them in the first place. How To Tell What Type Of Ear Infection Your Dog HasBefore you think about dog ear infection treatment, you need to know about the different types of ear infections. They can be in 3 different parts of your dogs’ ear. Otitis externa Otitis media Otitis interna Home Remedies For Dog Ear InfectionYou can manage dog ear infection treatment at home with safe and effective remedies. In fact, it’s best to avoid veterinary treatments for ear infections. Here’s why … The common dog ear infection treatment options from your vet include antibiotics, steroids, and topical medication. These medicines may help clear up your dog’s ears at first … but the problem often returns later. That’s because drugs only treat the symptoms you can see. They don’t address the underlying condition that’s causing the symptoms. And they can have negative side effects. Antibiotics can disrupt the bacterial balance in your dog’s gut, which can lead to more health issues due to bacteria or yeast that grow out of control. Steroids work by suppressing the immune system and can cause harmful side effects. So avoid them as a dog ear infection treatment if you can. Discharge and inflammation in the ears is a sign the body’s trying to remove toxins absorbed through food, medications and her environment. That’s a good thing! Your dog’s body is working to heal itself by getting rid of harmful substances. When you close off that exit route by using suppressive treatments, it can drive the disease deeper. It’ll come back somewhere else. And that means your dog will get sicker … often with a more serious disease. So, finding the cause of your dog’s ear problems is the key to ridding her of them once and for all. Fortunately, there are ways you can do this at home. How To Treat A Dog Ear Infection Without Vet HelpFirst, a word about topical dog ear infection treatment. As you’ll see later, over-cleaning your dog’s ears can lead to ear infections. So it’s best not to put anything in your dog’s ears … even if she has an ear infection. If that happens, you know it’s a sign of deeper issues so getting to the root of the problem is key. But sometimes ear infections are just too uncomfortable for your dog and you need get her comfortable while you work on the root cause. Topical Relief Green Tea Calendula Tincture To use it internally, add 3 to 5 drops of GSE to your dog’s food. Oil Of Oregano Apple Cider Vinegar Mullein Drops To make your own mullein drops, loosely fill a glass jar with mullein leaves and flowers and cover with olive oil. For increased antibiotic effectiveness, you can add a clove or two of garlic per pint of oil. Let the mixture sit for 2 to 3 weeks. Strain and apply several drops of the warmed oil into the ear canal daily Homeopathic Remedies For Dog Ear InfectionsYou can use homeopathic remedies to treat a dog ear infection. Choose the remedy below that best matches your dog’s symptoms. Use a 30C potency. Belladonna – Use Belladonna when the ears are very hot and inflamed. Your dog may be impatient and irritable. Pulsatilla – This remedy is helpful for acute flare-ups. Often with sensitivity and redness, along with a yellowish discharge. Pulsatilla animals like to sit near open windows, hate getting their paws wet and won’t go out in the rain. They also tend to have a very sweet (and often needy) disposition. Hepar Sulphuris – Hepar sulph is useful for irritable animals who don’t like to have their inflamed ears touched. If your dog has chronic, recurring ear issues, it’s best to get help from a professional homeopath. They’ll do a complete analysis of your dog, then prescribe the appropriate remedy for all her symptoms. This approach will help get to the underlying cause of your dog’s ear problems. You can find a homeopathic vet at theavh.org. Most will do phone consults so they don’t have to be local. Now that you know how to handle an acute ear infection in your dog, it’s a good idea to keep reading, so you can prevent your dog from getting ear infections in future. What Causes Ear Infections In Dogs?These are some of the most common types of ear issues for dogs. Yeast Overgrowth For dog ear yeast infection treatment options, visit: How to manage dog ear yeast ear infections … Bacterial Infection Foreign Bodies You may see her shaking her head … but debris in the ears can cause irritation, bacteria or yeast overgrowth. Aural Hematoma Ear Mites But an ear infection is rarely just an ear infection. Like other skin conditions, ear infections are often a symptom of an deeper problem. Preventing Ear InfectionsThese are some things you can change to help prevent your dog’s ear infections. These are very important changes to make if your dog gets recurring or chronic ear infections. Diet Supplements Minimize Pharmaceuticals And Other Chemicals Vaccines, antibiotics and other medications, and chemical pest preventives all harm your dog’s gut health and disrupt her immune system. Make sure you only give the vaccines your dog really needs to protect her. Use natural alternatives to antibiotics and other medications when you can, and use natural pest prevention to keep the bugs off your dog. You can also reduce toxins by minimizing chemicals at home and in your yard. Choose natural shampoos to bathe your dog, avoid toxic cleaning products in your home, including your own body cosmetics and other products with artificial fragrances. Immune Support Manage Gut Health One problem you’ll want to rule out is leaky gut. Many dogs with frequent ear infections have leaky gut. Toxins and bad bacteria in the body harm the cells that line your dog’s gut. This lets unwanted food particles, bacteria and toxins into the bloodstream, which can lead to many chronic health problems. Excessive Ear Cleaning If you do need to clean your dog’s ears, wipe them out with a little organic witch hazel on a cotton ball. Never use anything smaller than your finger inside your dog’s ear (don’t use a cotton swab or you’ll risk damaging the ear canal). Other Chronic Disease Are Some Dog Breeds More Susceptible To Ear Infections?Any dog can get ear infections, but they’re more common in floppy eared dogs. These dogs’ ears create a cozy environment for bacteria. Some dogs like Poodles get them because dense hair traps moisture in the ear canal. Cocker Spaniels have more secretory glands than other dogs. And ear conformation in breeds like Shar-peis is also a factor. Long-Term Approach To Ear Infections In DogsIf your dog has frequent ear infections, follow the prevention steps above and make food and lifestyle changes that’ll help you get rid of the problem. You may want to work with your holistic vet to find the best approach for your dog.
You can easily manage ear infections like otitis externa with natural ear infection remedies including mullein drops, green tea, apple cider vinegar and calendula. For deeper ear issues (otitis media and interna), you may need to ask your holistic vet if you’re not sure which type of infection your dog has.
Otitis externa can progress to otitis media, and in some cases, that could develop into otitis interna. So it’s important to deal with ear infections promptly before they become more serious. In severe cases, your dog could develop facial paralysis, deafness, or symptoms of vestibular disease. You’ll need to be patient with the healing process when you’re dealing with chronic ear issues in your dog. As your dog releases toxins through her ears, remember that this is an important part of healing. The ears are one way your dog’s own healing power gets rid of toxins. You don’t want to suppress that process. Any drug or herb that can stop symptoms fast is likely to suppress them. This drives them deeper into the body where they can cause more serious issues later. The recommendations above will give you some natural tools to manage both acute and chronic ear infections in your dog. |