Home Remedies For Dog Ear Infection | The Best For Your Dog

You want to know more about home remedies for dog ear infection. Your dog is in pain, scratching his ears or shaking his head. You are smelling a bad odor or seeing a discharge coming from his ears.

Don't panic, we will give you some tips and tricks that will help you to fix your dog's problem.

Before we talk about home remedies for dog ear infection, you should know more about:

Causes of these infections:

• Unfortunately, some dogs are more liable to get ear infections than others; like those who have floppy ears. 

• Unlike humans, Dogs have an L-shaped ear canal that tends to hold in fluid and that's why they are more susceptible to ear infections. 

• Frankly speaking, bacteria and yeast are the main causes of the infections, which may be alone or in combination. But also ear mites can share in this. 

But what actually makes this infection build up? 

 Some predisposing factors:

- Excessive cleaning:

Some of us are thinking they are helping their dog when they are overcleaning it, but in fact, they don't.

- Wax impact.

- Injury to the dog's ear canal.

- Allergies:

Either it was skin allergy or food sensitivity.

- Endocrine and autoimmune disorders.

- Moisture:

Which creates a spectacular environment for bacteria to grow up.

You are suspecting your dog is having a current ear infection, don't feel helpless. When you know more about the types of dog ear infections, you will be able to help them either with using the home remedies for dog ear infection or if the problem is beyond your limits, you can easily get your vet's advice.

There are 3 types of ear infections depending on its site: 

• External ear infections:

This is the most common ear infection and it happens when there is inflammation of the cellular lining of the external ear canal, sometimes it is combined with a middle ear infection and it is pretty serious, so it is always better to get your vet's advice.

• Middle ear infections:

This is the most painful type of ear infection because fluids are built up in an incarcerated space. This can be very serious if left untreated.

• Internal ear infections:

Plus sharing some symptoms and seriousness of middle ear infections, dogs also can have a loss of balance.

What are these home remedies for dog ear infection?

A lot you can do at home, but if you are not sure enough about your dog's condition, it is always better to get the vet's advice. Before applying any of these home remedies for dog ear infections, make sure your dog's ear is clean enough and totally free of debris. 

• Grooming: 

It is not just a part of home remedies for dog ear infection, it has a leading role in prevention and treatment, try to trim the extra hairs in your dog's ear canal, if you can't, just take him to a professional groomer. These hairs can block the air passage to the external ear canal making it dry and this will make it more prone to infection.

• Warm fomentation: 

You can also apply some warm compresses on your dog's ear many times a day, this will help to reduce the pain and inflammation as well.

• Olive oil: 

This can help to soothe your dogs’ irritation, suffocate any mites in the external ear and clean the debris out. You can warm some olive oil almost to reach your dog's normal temperature, then apply a few drops in the external ear and massage it for one minute.

• Coconut oil:

It is tolerated by most dogs and it helps to reduce the dogs’ pain and gives a soothing effect. It is thought to be both antibacterial and antifungal through a study done in 2008 about dermatitis.

• Green tea: 

You can boil some green tea and let it cool until it is warm like a tear, then apply a few drops and massage.

• Grapefruit seed extract:

This is one of the best home remedies for dog ear infection because it is a natural antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral. It can be applied topically or mixed with the food. If you will mix with the food just add 3 to 5 drops to your dog's food, and if you will use topically you can mix 10 drops from the extract to ½ oz of pure aloe vera and use it to clean the ears.

• Oil of oregano:

You can add a drop to ½ oz of pre-warmed pure aloe vera and use a cotton ball soaked in this mixture to clean your dog's ear.

• Calendula Tincture: 

You can add 5 - 10 drops of calendula tincture to one cup of lukewarm filtered water and put a few drops into your dog's ear.

• Apple cider vinegar: 

It will reduce your dog's pain and inflammation as well. You can mix a part of it with a part of filtered water then you can clean your dog's ears with a cotton ball soaked into this mixture.

• Mullein Drops: 

This is also one of the best home remedies for dog ear infection and it really works for all kinds of ear infections and you can easily prepare them at home, you just have to fill a jar with Mullein leaves and flowers then cover it with olive oil. You can add 2 garlic to every pint of oil then leave it for 2-3 weeks. When it is ready, you can use a few drops of pre-warmed oil into your dog’s ear canal daily.

Besides using these home remedies for dog ear infection, you can use some of them to prevent this infection from happening and to clean your dog's ears.

Tips will help you to prevent dogs ear infection:

• Clean and dry your dog’s ear if it gets wet or after swimming.

• Diet:

High-starchy food helps to flare up yeast infections, so make sure to feed your dog with a high fiber balanced diet.

• Mineral oil:

If you will clean the dog’s ear with a cotton ball soaked in mineral oil, make sure not to go deeper.

• Gently clean the visible debris. 

• Grooming:

As mentioned above will also prevent infections   

• Vitamin supplements:

Omega 3 fatty supplements once daily can help in cases of allergies.

• Always rule out the underlying causes when your dog gets sick.

Summary:

You are not helpless, there are a lot of home remedies for dog ear infection you can easily do at home and soothe your dog. A balanced diet and vitamin supplements will help to prevent the recurrence of dog ear infections. If you applied the home remedies for dog ear infection and it didn’t work, or if you aren’t sure of your dog’s condition. Don’t hesitate to go to your veterinarian and ask his advice.

By DR/ DINA HASSAN AHMED

 Read more about: 

Home Remedies For Ear Mites In Cats

Dog Hair Loss Home Remedies

Home Remedies For Dog Allergies