NATURAL EAR INFECTION TREATMENTS, REMEDIES FOR DOGS AND CATS

If you follow my blog you know I have two dogs. One of them has chronic ear infections caused by a suppressed immune system. I have always hated having to use one antibiotic after another.

Photo by Ottawa Valley Dog Whisperer

I ran across this blog by Ottawa Valley Dog Whisperer.  The writer offers several natural, herbal, homeopathic ear infection treatments for dogs and cats. There is even a list of herbs that can be added to food to help avoid infections. I saw a couple of ear flush recipes that I’m going to try.

As always, please consult your vet!

For instructions and recipes click here.

Cure For Ear Infection In Dogs

Dog ear infection home remedy vinegar comes in handy in the treatment of certain diseases that affect pets a lot more often. This is a compound that carries with it antiseptic qualities which are also very important in killing the bacteria or viruses that could have caused the disease.

Dogs may suffer from bacterial, yeast or even viral infections. The dog ear infection vinegar works by creating a suitable pH so that the ear can then knock out the disease. Usually, you prepare the treatment by mixing with water.

When to use the vinegar home remedy

You may not always use vinegar to treat the diseases that affect dogs. It is therefore very important to know the circumstances when the use of dog ear infection home remedies consisting of vinegar is applicable. You need not use vinegar when the ear drum of the dog seems affected.

When this is the situation, you may do considerable damage to the ears. This may even lead to the dog becoming deaf. There are circumstances when the problem may be solved only through a surgery. When the canal of the dog may not be accessed easily; is blocked, you might need to have the vet organize an operation to alleviate the problem.

The only situation that allows you to make use of this home treatment is when the canal seems open and the ear drum does not look very much affected.

Caution with the use of dog ear infection vinegar

You need to prepare the vinegar solution by diluting with water of an equal part. When you do not observe this, the dog can suffer immense damage to the ears. Also, use warm water to ensure that the dog is comfortable administering treatment.

Tips when applying the vinegar medication

You will need to trim any hairs that could prevent you from applying the medication well. A dropper comes in handy in the application of the solution. It has to be prepared by mixing with water.

Do not insert the dropper into the canal; by carefully positioning the dropper, you can easily apply the solution well. Ensure you do not introduce it to the eyes. Vitamin C as part of your treatment together with vinegar could also be beneficial.

More about dog ear infection home remedies can be found on dogearinfectionhomeremedyinfo.com

What Natural Remedy Can Cure My Dogs Ear Infection?

Obviously I took it to the vet . A MILLION times..but that doesnt seem to help her. Plus all they do is remove the hair from her ears and give her medicine for me to put in her ears that stings the hell out of her. (I see like her eyes get all watery) : *(
Can some1 PLEASE tell me something I can make that well help her, without it being so harsh?????

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Ear Infections in Dogs

Approximately twice per week we are presented with a dog that has rather profound and acute signs of vestibular disease. These patients usually present with a head tilt, often falling towards the side of the tilt, and occasionally vomiting. Early on, the dog will have a peculiar “typewriter-like” movement of the eyes which is called nystagmus. The eyes will move quickly in one direction then drift more slowly in the other direction and this eye movement will continue over and over again. Most of the time the owners are concerned that these signs might be related to a brain tumor.

About 95% of the time these dogs have a triad of subtle signs which in combination are pathognomonic or absolutely diagnostic for ear disease extending beyond the ear drum. The reason that these cases are presented to us on a referral basis is because this group of clinical signs is rare in the most common form of ear infection. The many thousands of dogs that get an ear infection every year have an infection of their external ear which is technically designated as Otitis Externa. These dogs will typically shake their heads and paw at their ears and rub their ears on the ground. Often evidence of an infection is readily appreciated when one looks into the dog’s ear canal unaided.

The vestibular signs described above don’t occur until the infection has spread past the ear drum which is the farthest medial (towards the midline) extent of the external ear canal.

Virtually all dogs whose infection has spread further and now have a more striking set of presenting signs has some if not all of the abnormalities caused by changes in all three of the nerves noted below.

1) Cranial Nerve VIII: Vestibular Disease – Head Tilt, Circling, Nystagmus (see above), Vomiting, Falling towards the side of the tilt

2) Cranial Nerve VII: Facial Palsy – Decreased movement of the face on the same side as the affected ear. The dog cannot blink his eye on that side and frequently his lip hangs down and won’t move. Most of the time the whole ear moves much less on the affected side compared to the unaffected side.

3) Cervical Sympathetic Palsy also called Horner’s Syndrome (named after Johann Friedrich Horner, the Swiss ophthalmologist who first described the syndrome in 1869) – the pupil is smaller on the affected eye, the eye is sunken back slightly making the opening or orbital fissure smaller, this sign is enhanced because the eyelid droops somewhat.

This triad of signs is not only pathognomonic or diagnostic for ear disease but in virtually every case where middle or inner ear disease is suspected all three of these nerves are affected. If one doesn’t have all three nerves affected, then one should put disease processes, other than an ear infection, higher on the list of potential diagnoses.

What is important to note here is that although many conditions affecting the brain are life threatening, most ear infections are not. For many years we explained how the bony sac that is the middle ear or Tympanic Bulla in dogs is a good place for infection to sit and cause the clinical signs described. Certainly the middle and inner ear is virtually the only place in the skull where all three nerves are in proximity to one another. Repeated advanced studies have shown the middle ears to look perfectly normal in the face of rather severe clinical signs. Some dogs definitely have severe middle ear infections that is well documented with advanced studies, but, I think, this is the exception rather than the rule. This leaves us to wonder if the adjoining bone, the petrous temporal bone, might be the source of the infection and the area in which these three nerves are affected. At the current time the exact pathology has been elusive and we really can’t say more than these dogs have ear disease. Fortunately, response to therapy is excellent.

In our hands topical medications alone are adequate to cure these cases about 95% of the time. We particularly like medications with Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) in them and have found most of them safe even when the tympanum (ear drum) is torn. Oral medications seem to be unnecessary.

If topical medication does not work, we recommend a thorough inspection of the ear canal and tympanum and bulla with endoscopy. This is often quite successful at removing much of the offensive material and increases the chance of a complete recovery. Unfortunately once the defenses have been breached and an ear infection has occurred, it is easier for the next infection to occur.

A very successful preventative approach that we use on dogs who’s infection is under control consists of keeping the ears acidified so that infection is much less likely to take hold. White vinegar mixed with an equal portion of room-temperature water placed in both ears without pressure and then massaged 100 times keeps most infections away. This 50% vinegar solution should be used twice per week for good long-term infection prevention.

Categories: The Brain Tumor that isn’t

Treating a Dog"s Ear Infection using a Home Remedy

Does your dog’s ears smell?

Treating your dog’s ear infection using a home remedy method can be a good starting place to ease the discomfort and that nasty smell. A chronic buildup of wax and debris in the ears, combined with incessant head shaking, scratching and other signs of discomfort, may be the result of a food allergy. Eating grains is one of the most common contributors to long term ear infections. Switching over to an All-natural pet food like Flint River Ranch or Life’s Abundance is the first thing you should do. Giving your pet a supplement such as NuVet Plus will also do the trick, and it’s a lot less expensive than going off to the vet’s office every time your dog has icky ears.A good home remedy is to make a topical solution of apple cider vinegar and equal part of warm water. Using a cotton ball, gently wipe the ears clean. This solution will help to acidify the ear, inhibiting bacterial growth. Never pour anything into your pet’s ears; do not push the cotton in too far and never use a Q-tip or other object that can cause severe long term damage to the delicate, sensitive ear canal, this is best done by a professional.Changing your dog’s diet can help to keep the ears healthy long term and a good cleaning every month may be all that is required to keep the ears smelling and feeling terrific.

Your Dog’s Ear Infection

Dogs are prone to ear infections because of the anatomy of their ears. They have a horizontal and a vertical component to them, so it is hard for anything in to drain out.

Signs of an ear infection include excessive head shaking, yellow to brown oozing in the ears, or a yeast-like smell. Additional signs of ear infections include redness and swelling.

There are several causes of ear infections. The most common cause of ear infections are due to allergies. Some dogs are more prone to allergies than others; therefore they get more ear infections.

If your dog does have an ear infection it is important to properly clean your dog’s ears before applying any medication.

To clean your dog’s ears, start by placing a few drops of an ear cleanser into the ear and massage the ear to help loosen any debris that is in there. Then use a cloth or cotton gauze to wipe the dirt out.

After your dog’s ears are thoroughly clean, you can then apply your medication. Follow your veterinarian’s advice about how much medication to apply to the ear, usually a few drops.

The treatment your veterinarian will prescribe will vary depending on the cause of the ear infection. For yeast infections, they might prescribe anti-fungal medication. For bacterial infections they will probably prescribe antibiotics. Normally, treatment is applied directly into the ears, but in severe cases systemic treatment may be needed. This usually means having to give your dog pills orally. .

Some breeds of dogs that are prone to ear infections include breeds with large ears that flap over the ear canal, and breeds of dogs that have a very small canal. These dogs need their ears checked often.

By knowing what to look for, you can detect ear infections early.

Cure For Dogs Ear Infection?

Some ear infections are caused by food allergies, especially to corn. I don’t have any short term solutions, but if you haven’t already, try switching him to a premium dog food – one with no corn, wheat or meat by products. Something like Wellness, Innova, Natural Balance, California Natural etc Avoid Iams, Pro Plan Science Diet or Eukanuba and definitely no supermarket brands.

pomeranian ear infection | Puppies & Dogs

Pomeranian with a bad ear infection.?

I just returned from the vet with my 6 year old pom. He has a severe infection ears. I have the medicine and a housewife, but I wonder if anyone else has experienced this with your dog?

Not with my dog but my cat had an infection ear recently. The vet said it was a fungal infection, much like yeast. He has given us some ear drops to clean the ear be used twice daily. He cleared quickly enough. My Lulu never had an inner ear problem, fortunately. We hope that your dog’s ears get better soon!

2011 December | Ear Infection in Dogs

December 12, 2011

  Ear infections in dogs are in reality quite simply treated. Other than a tooth infection there is not much more pain than an ear infection and I have personally experienced both.  Maybe the pain is so great because both are in the head area amply supplied with cranial nerves. I am amazed at what [...]

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All About Pets: Dog’s Ear Canals Need Cleaning : Yeast Infection Best Treatment

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All About Pets: Dog’s Ear Canals Need Cleaning

August 4, 2013 by admin  
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Dog ears are very different from human ears. For starters, the ear cartilage can be very floppy in some breeds, such as cocker spaniels, labradors and hound dogs. In floppy-eared dogs, there is no air or light going into the ear canal. If any moisture gets in there then, being dark, stuffy and moist are the perfect recipe for yeast infections! Your groomer can spot an ear infection and your veterinarian can prescribe you an ointment to clear the infection. Yeast infections are very itchy, and your baby will be shaking those ears a lot, scratching them or rubbing them in the carpet. I think the yeasty ears smell very foul, they produce a nasty brown discharge and they make the ear canal very swollen. Imagine how uncomfortable that is!

I see many labrador retrievers with ear problems and the common cause is they swim in lakes. Of course, the dirty water stays in the canal and if the owner doesn’t rinse it with an ear cleaner then it will create a nasty yeast infection.

Infections may also develop when dogs have allergies or an excessive amount of ear wax is present. Most dogs with allergies have red skin and are very itchy. Your groomer may tell you to take your pet to the vet if that’s the case.

Sometimes the pet owners cause the ear infections by using hydrogen peroxide to clean the ears. Don’t do it! Hydrogen peroxide doesn’t evaporate easily and stays in the ear canal just breeding yeast. Also it is very abrasive to the tender skin in the ear canal

Another thing pet owners use is alcohol. It is not nice to burn that ear canal so do not use it either! Ask your groomer for safe ear cleaners you can get over the counter or your veterinarian if the ear has a specific infection.

Dog ears also have a different canal than us. The dogs canals are L-shaped and ours is just horizontal, the horizontal part of the dog’s ear is very deep. Good groomers know how deep to go when cleaning, whereas owners could do more harm than good when they use Q-tips to clean ears.

Some breeds have very hairy ear canals. The groomer will use a special powder and then pluck those hairs safely and painlessly. This is very important so your dog can actually hear you. I’ve seen some poodles, bichons and cockers with these issues, and the owners are so happy. They seem to really feel much better after having the ears plucked.

I have heard of some ignorant owners damaging the ears using Nair or wax to pull hairs. Do not hurt your dog by using people products on them!

Please ask your groomer for safe tips on keeping the ear canals healthy!

[ Tiffany Santos, a certified pet groomer, is a groomer at Orchid Springs Animal Hospital in Winter Haven. Email her at postmaster@osahvets.com. ]

Article source: http://www.theledger.com/article/20130803/COLUMNISTS/130809787?Title=All-About-Pets-Dog-s-Ear-Canals-Need-Cleaning

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Cleaning Your Dogs Ears

Dogs ears are prone to infection as you might already have noticed if you have a dog with problem ears. If your dog keeps getting infections here is some information that might help you deal with chronic ear infections.

Dog ear infections are usually called Otits Externa; this means an infection in the outer ear. (Otis Interna means an infection of the inner ear). Outer ear infections account for 90% of the infections in dogs; making ear infection the most common infection for a dog to be treated for. Ear mites can often accompany ear infections.

Dogs with allergies may experience more ear infections than other dogs. It can be caused by wax build up inside the ear. It can also be caused by long hair blocking the passage of air and creating a buildup of not only wax but also dirt and debris.

Regular ear cleaning will also get the pet used to having his ears handled which will make it easier to administer treatment.

You can prevent these infections by cleaning your dogs ears well and as part of your regular grooming regime. Cleaning your dog’s ears is simple and you only need a soft cloth and some ear cleanser. Lift the ears and massage some cleanser into the ear this should loosen the dirt.

Regualr ear cleaning is a powerful preventative measure; particularly if you have a dog who is at a high risk for ear infections. Ear infections are more common in dogs that swim often for example. Water inside the ears can be a problem for dogs who are essentially not designed for water.

You can spot an ear infection on your dog by looking for the following tell tale signs:

-smelly ears

-discharge

-excessive head shaking

-swelling

-redness in the ears

If your dog seems uncomfortable or is excessively scratching their ears it’s probably causing a great deal of distress. If you pet is scratching too hard this can even break blood vessels and cause swelling and bleeding.

You can try cleaning your dogs ears with white vinegar to remove dirt from the ear and promote the growth of good bacteria. Use the vinegar in the same way as the ear cleanser – pour it on and wipe gently inside the ear with the cloth or cotton. This might help ease the infection or even clear it up if the problem was not too severe to start.   If the infection is serious its time to call the vet. It can be cleared up easily. Most often the dog will need some antibiotics to help clear the problem.

If your dog has recurring ear infections the vet might suggest that you clip the hair around the ear or the vet might clip the hair around the ear. This often helps. If the problem is more extreme than that the vet might suggest surgery to allow for easier drainage of the ear canal.

Some breeds are more prone to chronic ear infections than others any breed of dog with large ears or particularly small ears will get ear infections easier than some other breeds.  Now that you know what to look for you should be able to detect ear infections before they become a serious problem

Ear Infection in Dogs

December 12, 2011

 

Floppy-eared dogs are prone to ear infections.

Ear infections in dogs are in reality quite simply treated.

Other than a tooth infection there is not much more pain than an ear infection and I have personally experienced both.  Maybe the pain is so great because both are in the head area amply supplied with cranial nerves. I am amazed at what dogs tolerate and remain tolerant and loving.  Chronic pain is exhausting.

I have had some dealings with pain. I had a vertebrae pushed out of place in 1966 and was in a steel and leather brace until 1981.  I had two cruciate tears in 1959 and had to keep my knees wrapped until I was supernaturally healed by my father God in 1981. Unlike Fido the pain sometimes taxed my loving nature.

Causes of ear infections in dogs and other pets.

MITES

An ear infestation with ear mites has a characteristic look to the wax and 90% of the time ear mites themselves can be seen moving around in the ear with an otoscope by a veterinarian.  The mites are easily killed with a commercial ear mite solution and some systemic treatments.  The problem may be in resolving the infection left by their presence and cleaning out the debri left by their habitation.  They don’t seem to be very neat inhabitants like the occupy Wall Street crowd.  The big thing with ear mites is to treat long enough through their life cycle so that when all the eggs are hatched out the young are killed and not able to reproduce.  Another important aspect is to remember how contagious they are, so it’s obvious they must have a presence outside the ear canals. Dogs and cats and other pets can share ear mites.

YEAST

Often ears are infected by yeast brought about by lowered resistance due to allergies and long-term ineffective antibiotic use.  The bacteria often will gain a resistance or tolerance to the antibiotic and it will not be effective, especially if it has an infrequent and not adequate exposure. I do not normally waste a client’s money doing a culture and sensitivity lab test to make a determination concerning their dog’s ear infection.  The discharge of the ears, color and odor pretty much lets you know what the offending yeast or bacteria is and what antibiotic the bacteria will respond to.

There are several products that can control yeast.  We make up our own called S & T Ear Solution which we have been pleased with for over 30 years.  This is especially good for dogs with low grade ear infections and dogs with floppy ears which do not air well.  Because it would burn an infected ear, the raw skin should be healed before the S & T Ear Solution is applied.  It is also good to use like a swimmer’s ear solution following baths and trips to the lake.

BACTERIA

The type of bacteria infection in the ear dictates the type of puss that is excreted.  The staph bacteria have a particular type of puss and the Pseudomonas and Proteus bacteria have a particular whitish-type puss and a sweet smell.  These bacteria are fairly resistant to a lot of common antibiotics.  They are what I would call garbage can opportunists that have gained ascendancy in the ear canal because the other bacteria have been killed off.  Their resistance must be taken into account when designing a treatment plan.  The lowered natural immunity of the ear has to be dealt with and the resistance of the ear increased.  The A.C.C.E. Healing Gel has been good at accomplishing this feat.

ALLERGIES

The biggest cause of ear infections is…                                                        …lowered resistance from allergies.

Many of these allergies are constant in the environment in the form of food.  The ears have a characteristic look which I call cellulitus.  The lining of the ear canal is not smooth-skinned like it should be, but looks like the tread of a tire.  This can be from a mild condition, looking like a street tire, all the way to more severe, looking like off-the-road mud grips.  It is inflammation.  This chronic inflammation can go on to cause granulation tissue (polyps) to cancer as the body tries to survive the insult.  The ultimate answer is to find the offending antigens then treat the concurrent infection while cleaning up the area of puss and discharge.  Anti-inflammatory herbal preparations are administered and the overall health is improved with non offending, healthy, good nutrient-rich food.  Inflammation is controlled and allergies are eliminated.  It sometimes take months to gradually turn this mess back to peace and health, but it is possible short of ear ablation and surgery.

We have some ear ointments that I favor and some we have modified.  The instructions on the containers often recommend the legal minimum that would do the job, recommending a few drops in a whole German shepherd ear.  The amount recommended would not even come close to coating the skin of the ear canal much less being therapeutic.  I recommend squirts, not drops.  Most of the ear solutions that leave our clinic I modify to make more cleaning or increase the amount of antibiotic to double or triple the amount from the manufacturer.  We have had great success with our A.C.C.E. Healing Gel in treating infected ears with antibiotic resistance.  Many clients have preferred it over commercial products.  Hope this helps in getting your dog on his way from infected ears to maintaining healthy ones.

Mark C. Ingram, DVM

Franklin Road Animal Hospital, Brentwood, Tennessee

For more information on holistic pet care please visit our website at www.holisticpetcaretn.com … Or phone us at 615-377-6457.

We would love to assist with the needs and healing of your beloved pet.  Out of state?  Ask about our long distance phone consultations.

http://www.holisticpetcaretn.com/

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Treating a Dog"s Ear Infection | ThriftyFun

Treating a Dog’s Ear Infection | ThriftyFun

Remember, that we are in the Information Age and never forget that, I also wanted to caution you about where the advice comes from, make sure it is from a reliable reputable source! These books: “Low Cost Natural Cures for your Dog and Cat, Your Vet Doesn’t Want You To Know,” by Dr. John Heinerman and “The First Aid Companion For Dogs & Cats,” by Amy D. Shaojai (with the advice from more than 80 of Americas’ Top Veterinarians, Advisor: Shane Bateman, D.V.M., D.V.Sc., Diplomate ACVECC are a great addition to your library and the knowledge that these books provide are truly a blessing for prevention and treatment alike. I wish you all the best for you and your pets!
By Debra An

My beagle has ear issues. I’m looking for cures. This book looks interesting. I have tried the dog ear wipes, they seem to be working well. I added a 2 drops of tea tree oil to the container.  I’ll let you know how it goes.

Some Tricks For Cleaning Your Dog"s Ears

We have found that Pyrs can be prone to ear infections.  In general, dogs with floppy ears are; their little, cute flops make for a great breeding ground for bacteria in their ears.  Most owners are apprehensive to clean their dog’s ears, fearful they will clean too deep and injure them.  A dog’s ears are much deeper than ours, and if you avoid Q-tips and use cotton squares you will not do harm.

If you suspect your dog has an ear infection, always see a veterinarian before cleaning and attempting to treat their ears.  If their eardrum is damaged, some cleaning solutions may not be advisable.  Ultimately, they will need anti-biotics also.

Cleaning their ears can be a pain.  I know one of my dogs, Ana, is a living nightmare when it comes to her nails or ears.  I swear she can read my mind.  I try to “pretend” I have other intentions, but she always knows.  If you live alone, it becomes extra challenging, as you have no friends to help you corral your pup.

Never let these daunting aspects keep you from routine cleaning.  If you have a floppy, furry-eared dog, you should be cleaning their ears proactively.  Do not wait for an infection.

So…my tips.  If you have a nutty ‘squirmier’, find a corner in your house.  Have them sit into the corner, so they cannot back up and escape you.  This is the biggest helpful point.  If you have other dogs, ask them to go out back while you do this.  Dogs all stick together, and my other dogs make it a hugely entertaining game to thwart my attempts at treating my dog.

For me, I try to associate ear cleaning with a positive experience.  I offer treats before I do it, and offer treats right after.  If she freaks and makes it impossible, then no treats.  Never offer “good girl” merely because you were able to catch the rabid beast.  Praise needs to be awarded only when they are acting completely ideal.

Once I have my girl in a corner where she can go nowhere, I pause.  I wait for her to calm down.  When she has, I offer affection.  She almost thinks it’s all over, but then the ears must be cleaned.  I clutch her collar with one hand, and use the same hand to pull her ear back.  That allows me to hold her and use my other hand to squirt the fluid in.  A tip, is to warm the fluid in your hands before administering it.  Often the coldness of it can be shocking.  Have your cotton ready!  Once you squirt into their ear, massage the base of their ear deeply, ensuring you hear a ‘swishing’ sound.  That ensures the fluid is moving around deeply enough.  Sometimes it’s the ‘squirting’ into their ears that your dog doesn’t like.  If they don’t tolerate their ears being cleaned well, lay your cotton square down and saturate it with your solution.  Then, you can squeeze the cotton and drip the cleaning solution into their ears.  I find this actually works the best.

Avoid using Q-tips.  You may see your vet do it, but you also see your dentist poke your teeth with sharp objects!  While a dog’s ear is deeper than ours, it’s advisable to avoid using Q-tips in case your dog squirms.  It’s safer to use cotton balls/squares so we don’t risk injuring their ears if they jerk.

Get your ear cleaning solution from your vet.  Our dogs don’t need fragrance and fancy ingredients, which make it pleasurable for the owner but have no benefit to the dog. 

If this process is still too challenging, make the effort to take them to your vet and have the techs do it.  Ear health is important, and can lead to disease conditions if infections are left untreated.

Click Here for a good picture tutorial–as well as some additional information!

Natural Ways to Clean Your Dog"s Ears

Fortunately, none of my current dogs have had any ear issues and I haven’t had to think about cleaning their ears much. Occasionally, I take a damp washcloth and swipe their ears but I haven’t had to do any hardcore ear cleaning in a long time. I know other dog owners aren’t as lucky! Some breeds are more prone to ear problems than others and other dogs develop ear problems just in the summer months due to increased water play. My recently deceased chocolate lab Scooby loved playing in the water when he was young and at times did develop ear problems. I fortunately had a veterinarian that was willing to show me the proper way to clean my dog’s ears and how to know when to bring him to the vet and when to deal with it myself…..if there were only more vets like that! Obviously, if your dog has an actual infection, you will need to treat it with antibiotics from your veterinarian, but if you are just looking for simple everyday ways to clean your dog’s ears and keep him from developing an infection, here are some tips and resources.

Over at the Daily Puppy, they have a wonderful step-by-step guide on how to clean dog’s ears with vinegar and water. Be sure to follow these instructions carefully!!!! OR visit the ASPCA website to watch a video on cleaning your dog’s ears AND use their warning signs list to help you decide if your dog needs to see a vet. I also recommend talking to your vet about natural ways to clean your dog’s ears, the method you plan to use, and how often you plan to inspect and clean your dog’s ears. All dogs are different, and when it comes to ear cleaning, there is not a one size fits all, so talk to your vet before trying anything at home.

In my personal experience, all my current dogs have floppy ears and no hair that grows in them, so I inspect them regularly and usually only need to swipe with a washcloth. My in-laws however have a small dog that has to have her ear hair trimmed regularly, and they have to watch her ears more closely for possible ear infections. I have learned to NEVER use cotton swabs or go down into the dog’s ear with anything! You should only ever clean the outer part of the ear and if you think there is something inside the ear, see a veterinarian. Personally, I would just be honest with your vet that you want to use natural ways to clean your dog’s ears, and if they won’t help you determine the best natural ways to clean your dog’s ears, find a new trustworthy vet that will!

Ear Problems in Dogs

A dog ear infection is not only the most common of all dog ear problems, but it is one of the most common overall problems reported by veterinarians. It is estimated that approximately 20% of our dogs are affected by mild to severe ear infections.

What does that mean to you?

It means that your dog has a fairly good chance of developing a dog ear infection at some point.

The severity, diagnosis and treatment can vary quite a bit from dog to dog, so you must learn to recognize the symptoms, have them assessed by a veterinarian and move forward with the correct treatment in order to relieve your dog’s suffering as quickly as possible….

    Signs that your dog is suffering from an ear infection

    Causes of ear infections

    How to diagnose a specific ear problems in your dog

    Natural vs. conventional treatment options

    Prevention

Signs of a Dog Ear Infection

You are on this site, so you are likely to have a great relationship with your dog. This is the first step towards diagnosis!

Knowing your dog well enough to recognize strange behavior is key.

There are a several signs of a dog ear infection:

    A strange, often foul odor coming from the inner ear

    Consistent scratching and rubbing of the ear and/or head

    Discharge in the ear

    Overall changes in behavior including depression, tiredness and irritability

    Pain or tenderness of the entire ear area

    Redness or swelling of the inner ear

    Vigorous shaking of the head and tilting to a favored side

Since dog ear infection problems are widely varied and occasionally difficult to diagnose, it is helpful for you to do some research about all of the possible causes before you make an appointment with the vet.

Causes include…

    Allergies: Often dogs with allergies will suffer from ear infections. The ear infection could be the result of an inhaled particle or a food substance which can be the initial sign of a dog with a dog food allergy. In these cases, it is important to remember that you must treat the cause of the symptom along with the actual symptom. This means diagnosing your dog’s allergy along with treating and preventing future ear infections (more on this further down the page).

    Foreign Particles: After a nice walk, your dog often arrives home with a numerous particles from the trail on his fur coat! Occasionally one of those particles enters the ear canal and can cause a big problem. Foreign particles in the ear can cause an infection and, if untreated, a serious trauma to the ear canal.

    Heredity:  Certain dog breeds are recognized for having more ear problems than others, such as dogs with “floppy” ears (i.e. cocker spaniels, basset hounds, etc.) or dogs with hairy inner ear flaps (i.e. schnauzers, miniature poodles, etc.).  If you have researched your particular breed and found this to be the case, it is best to discuss a plan of prevention with your veterinarian.

    Hormonal Imbalances:  Certain deficiencies or imbalances of various hormones in a dog’s body can cause dog ear problems.  Irregularities in the glands, like the adrenal gland, can affect the health your dog’s skin and ears.

    Microorganisms: One of the most common of these types of ear infections is the dog yeast infection, but there are numerous types of bacteria that can cause dog ear problems.  These bacteria and yeast have a better chance of forming in the ear of an unhealthy dog or a dog whose ear environment has changed.  The normal, healthy ear has a good defense against these organisms.

    Parasites:  The most common parasite that makes the lives of our pets more difficult is the ear mite, Otodectescynotis.  These pesky little mites tend to favor cats, but certain dogs are hypersensitive to them.  Dogs with ear mites will often display excessive scratching of the ear and head, and can cause themselves serious ear trauma.

    Trauma: Certain accidents can cause trauma to a dog’s sensitive ears.  Wounds, if left untreated, can lead to serious infection and even deafness.  If your dog has suffered any type of physical trauma, make sure to check all areas of the body, including the ears, to make sure nothing has happened to them.

    Canine Tumors:  Tumors have been found in the ears of dogs.  This is a rare occurrence and can only be diagnosed by your veterinarian.

Dog Ear Infection : Diagnosis & Natural Cures

How to Diagnose Dog Ear Problems

As we discussed above, there are many causes of dog ear problems which can make it difficult to diagnose your dog accurately at home.

We recommend that you see your holistic veterinarian first to eliminate the possibility of a serious issue. Your vet has a variety of techniques to diagnose your dog’s ear problem. For example, they can…

     Look down the ear canal with an otoscope to observe the amount of inflammation present.  They will also be able to determine if the ear-drum has been affected or if there are any foreign particles or tumors visible.

    Use a cotton swab to remove a sample of the ear wax which can be viewed under a microscope and examined for yeast, bacteria or mites.

    Conduct a physical exam to get a better idea of the dog’s overall health.  Questions about the dog’s heredity and possible allergies may be asked.

Treatment of a dog ear infection will depend on what the initial cause of the infection was:

    Dog allergies

    Bacterial infection

    Dog ear mites

Dog Ear Infection

Note: If you’re still having problems and would like specific advice from our holistic veterinarians, you can click here to ask them directly via My Online Vet.

You can also review pictures and questions submitted by other visitors in our My Online Vet Ask-A-Vet Library section on Dog Ear Problems.

Dog Allergies

Ear infections caused by dog food allergies or dog skin allergies are often treated by regular cleaning of the ear with an appropriate ear cleaner and removing the allergen from the dog’s diet/atmosphere.

Bacterial Infection Treatment

Antibiotics are often prescribed by conventional veterinarians for any type of a bacterial infection, but it is much safer over the long term to use holistic treatments.

Cleaning the ear regularly with diluted white vinegar or apple cider vinegar is an option. Another effective product to consider is Dr. Rose’s Remedies Natural Salve/Spray.

Consult with your local holistic vet for other appropriate substitutes.

Dog Ear Mites

Ear Mites can cause a crumbly, dark brown substance to form in the ear.  You may be able to diagnose this on your own.  Place ear wax from your dog’s ear under a bright light and look for small white specks.  The ears need to be cleaned daily during treatment along with a prescribed treatment from your holistic vet to kill the existing ear mites.  This can take a few weeks to cure completely so don’t be discouraged if it doesn’t work right away.

Ways to Prevent a Dog Ear Infection from Recurring

The key to floppy, happy and healthy dog ears is CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN!

Look in your dog’s ears on a weekly basis to check for wax build up, foul smells or other common symptoms of a dog ear infection listed above.  And no matter what you find, clean the ear often using your vet-approved method and a good natural ear cleaner.

Consistent and proper dog grooming will also help to keep your dog’s ears healthy.  Any excess hair growing around the inner ear can be cut to provide additional air flow to the ear to prevent the lodging of debris.

http://www.organic-pet-digest.com/dog-ear-infection.html

Thursday Thoughts: Dogs & Ear Wax

This week I noticed my golden retriever was itching her ear a great deal more than usual and it was making a sort of squishy noise when she did. After examining her ears, I found an excessive amount of dark brown, dry and wet, ear wax piled up! Obviously dogs naturally produce some ear wax, but there are signs you can look for to know whether something more may be going on and your dog is in fact in need of veterinary care.

Warning Signs:

• Ear discharge


• Bad smells


• Redness


• Swelling


• Crusty skin


• Hair loss


• Dry Black/Brown ear wax resembling coffee grounds

Possible Health Concerns:

• Ear mites + Parasites


• Bacteria build up


• Ear Infection

Solutions:

• Consult a veterinarian


• Perform weekly ear maintenance (see below)


• Aristopet ear power


• Ear cleaner for dogs and cats


• Ear wipes (30 pack)


• Epi-Otic (4 oz)


• Malacetic Otic (118ml)


• Oticlean cleaning solution


• Aristopet ear canker drops


• Illium ear drops


• Troy ear canker drops

How to Prevent Future Ear Infections:

Use a cotton ball or Q-tip to gently clean the outer portion of your dog’s ears, DO NOT enter the canal or enter where you can no longer see the Q-tip. On the Q-tip or cotton ball you will want a light bit of pet safe hydrogen peroxide, mineral oil, or one of the solutions listed above. If you notice hair growing within your dog’s ears make sure to consult a vet about tweezing some of them out to avoid the hairs getting matted and tangled. Sometimes too many baths can even lead to an ear infection, so try to keep your dog’s ears as dry as possible when bathing your pet or place cotton balls in their ears during their wash.

Here’s a video of one technique to use on your dog

http://youtu.be/99x64TF8ppU

 

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How To Treat Ear Infections in Dogs with Home Remedies or Veterinary Medicines

 When dogs ears are sore and red, tender to the touch, possibly swollen and inflamed, you need effective treatment to soothe and relieve ear ache pain. Dog health can be affected, the dog won’t feel good and might not eat when dogs ears are infected. Just as in people, when dogs ears ache, it can hurt to eat and they may whine or cry because of painful ear symptoms.

Treat ear infections in dogs as soon as you notice the symptoms. The symptoms of infected ears in dogs are usually easy to see and you should keep a watchful eye so if dogs ears get an infection you can treat it right away. Relieving the pain and getting rid of ear infections in dogs doesn’t have to be expensive but let’s be clear, you HAVE to give it proper treatment because it won’t go away without it and things will only get worse.

Veterinary treatments are a sure answer to dog ear problems. Prescription antibiotics can be prescribed by your veterinarian as well as ear drops to help heal the infection. Natural remedies can help with mild infections and may be effective in controlling recurring or chronic ear infections in dogs (and other animals too).

Some home remedies for treating ear infections in dogs can be made yourself. There are effective over the counter ear medicines too that are available without a prescription from the veterinarian. If the ear infection is very severe you might need services from your veterinarian but if you catch the problem early enough there is a good chance that over the counter or OTC treatments will help cure the dogs ears of the infection.

Dogs suffering from common ear yeast infections can benefit from apple cider vinegar and natural yogurt. Adding a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to the dogs water or adding a tablespoon of natural unflavored yogurt will help to control the yeast overpopulation in the dog which can help to control ear yeast infections from flaring up. Using soothing ear drops will be needed in cases where the dogs ears are red, swollen, tender to the touch or with a discharge from the ears. Oozing sticky substance from the ears means an infection of some kind, these can’t be treated with ear cleaners, it’s not dirty ears so dog ear cleaners aren’t going to get rid of this problem. For dog ear infection, antibiotics are usually needed, in mild cases you can use natural antibiotic ear drops such as Dr Dogs Ear Oil or visit your vet for prescription ear drops. Don’t delay when the dogs ears are sore, they won’t feel well and it’s important to keep your dog in good health so take action as soon as you notice ear problems. Itching ears, scratching at the ears, excessive paw licking, whining, crying in pain, discharge from the ears, sticky substance in the ears, black debris that looks like coffee grounds in the ears are all signs that it’s time to get a dog ear treatment started.

Control and prevent symptoms of ear infections in dogs, cats or horses. Effective remedy for ear problems in pets large and small.  Find out more about this powerful all natural remedy. Get fast relief for your dogs ears today from http://drdogs247.com

Dog Ear Infections Treatment and Treating Ear Pain in Dogs

Dogs ears are very sensitive and unfortunately, some dog ear infections just don’t seem to stay away. They are the recurring or chronic ear infections in dogs that make the dog and the owner suffer miserably.

Dog ear infections treatment is always needed because ear problems only get worse if left untreated. In fact, if you don’t do something to help with dog ear infections they can lead to serious problems like broken blood vessels (hematoma) which can need expensive surgery and your dog can lose it’s ability to hear. While suffering from dog ear infection it is often the case that your dog can’t hear. This type of hearing loss is usually temporary and once treatment for the dogs infected ears has been completed the hearing will normally return. In some cases where the dogs ears have suffered recurring ear infections for many years or where dogs ears have been left untreated the dog could lose it’s ability to hear and it will be deaf for life.

Infections in dogs ears should always be treated and treating ear pain in dogs ears is imperative. If you have ever suffered from ear ache pain you’ll know how excruciating the pain can be. Watching your dog suffer with an ear ache is heartbreaking for most dog owners. The dog will cry in pain, whine, whimper and they will be pawing or scratching at the infected ears, shaking their heads or rubbing the ears against things. These are very good indications that the dogs ears are suffering and treatment for the dog ear infection as well as treating ear pain is in order.

Home remedies or holistic cures for ear infections in dogs can be used or visit your local veterinarian. If the dogs ear infection is severe then your only choice may be to visit your vet as natural antibiotics and natural treatment for ear infections in dogs works best when the infection is mild and just getting started. If you’ve left the dogs ears unattended for awhile you might find the dog ear problems to require veterinary assistance. Usually attentive dog owners notice the signs and symptoms of dog ear infections right away. The visible signs of pawing, itching, whining and crying from ear ache and pain is something hard to miss. Additionally, the dogs ears usually have some kind of discharge from the ears, oozing, gooey, icky and sticky substance coming from them and there can be a very foul odor. If the dogs ears are smelly and stinky, it’s time for treatment.

Dog ear infections : While the ears sometimes have a black tarry discharge, these are not dirty ears. Dirty ears can be cleaned with over the counter dog ear cleaner but an ear infection will need real medicine. Whether you choose to use natural dog ear treatment or prescription antibiotics is a personal preference so long as you do start treating ear pain in dogs ears right away and get the dog ear infections treatment effective to rid the dogs ears of symptoms. You don’t want your dog to suffer so when you see the signs then take action. Dirty ears don’t cause the dog to whine and cry. If they are crying in pain, they have an infection and need help so don’t delay, get it right away. When your dogs ears are aching it’s time to get dog ear drops and start treatment.

Control and prevent symptoms of ear infections in dogs, cats or horses. Remedies ear problems in dogs ears once and for all. Find out more about this powerful all natural remedy, antibiotic, anti-inflammatory and pain reliever, everything you need when the dogs ears are suffering. Get fast relief for your dogs ears today from http://drdogs247.com

How to Clear Up A Dog"s Ear Infection Without Medication

© shoutingforha

I’ve talked about our loveable mutt, Brick, quite a bit here on the old blog.  One thing I haven’t told you is that the beast’s ears are prone to growing that smelly, black funk that is associated with doggie ear infections. 

Our veterinarian isn’t sure why Brick’s ears are so susceptible to yeast infections.  Most likely it’s a combination of an unknown allergy (one that can only be diagnosed with high-dollar blood tests) and the likelihood that one of the dogs in his mysterious gene pool had some wacky ears.

During Brick’s early years, I would drag the poor dog into the vet’s office every time his ears became gunky.  The solution was always the same – an expensive and ridiculously tiny bottle of Mometamax. Unfortunately the drops never worked and it would usually take two or three treatments to kill the infection once and for all.

At one point, the infection was so severe that the insides of poor Brick’s ears had become red and raw.  It was obvious that my poor dog was in pain.  In an effort to ease his suffering I decided to try and clean some of the black gunk from his ears.  

I armed myself with three things…  A bottle of witch hazel, some Q-tips and a few wet wipes. Witch hazel seemed like a good choice because I knew it wouldn’t sting Brick’s sores and it’s anti-inflamitory properties certainly wouldn’t hurt.  

I poured a little witch hazel into a dish and placed the ends of a small handful of Q-tips in to soak.  I began by taking one of the wet wipes and tried to gently wipe away some of the goop inside Brick’s ears.  

Next, I tackled the maze of nooks and crannies that make up my dog’s outer ear canal.  Dogs have some crazy ears!  Using one of the witch hazel soaked Q-tips I would gently clean each crevice, being careful to get a clean swab any time one became visibly dirty. 

It was tedious work but I was surprised by how quickly the skin changed from an angry red to a healthy pink color just by removing the gunk.  Once Brick’s ears were sufficiently cleaned, I used another wet wipe to give his ears one last wipe.  I repeated this process daily until any sores or signs of redness were completely gone.   

To my surprise, Brick seemed to enjoy having his ears cleaned and the infection didn’t come back within a few days like it did with the medication.  In fact, his ears stayed healthy and yeast-free for several months. 

I use witch hazel to clean Brick’s ears on a as-needed basis.  The telltale sign that some ear funk might be brewing is a sudden increase in scratching.  As soon as I notice that back paw clawing away at an ear I know it’s time to break out my tried and true home remedy.  

If your dog suffers with occasional or even severe ear infections, I hope you will give witch hazel a try.  It might just be the solution you’ve been looking for.

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I am not a veterinarian and I make no promises or guarantees that this treatment will work on your pet.  I am simply sharing something that has helped my dog in the hopes that it might help yours as well.  

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This post is part of Works For Me Wednesday over at We Are THAT Family.  Pop by for some more handy tips.