13 Home Remedies for Dog Ear Infection

Dog being cared for by a vet

Dogs are known for their friendliness and loving nature. In return, they must receive attention and care from you. If you are also a dog owner, you might have come across one of the most common problems of dogs, i.e., ear infection. If your pet gets agitated without any apparent reason, scratches behind the ear, or shakes its head persistently, then all these might be indications of ear infection or potentially ear mites in dogs. To help your dog overcome these ear problems and infections in dogs, here are some easy home remedies for dog ear infection that you can use for canine ear infections.

How to Know if Your Dog Is Sick

Since your dog cannot talk, it can be hard for them to let you know when they’re sick. Often times, they just suffer in silence until something gives it away. That’s why it’s always good to look for symptoms and changes in all areas of your pets life. It all counts.

Changes in Bowel Movements

Whenever any creature has a change in the way their poop looks as well as the consistency of it, you can rest assured something is not right. For dog owners, this is one of the biggest signs to watch out for in your pet. 

Excessive Sleeping

Catching your pet sleeping too much can be due to all kinds of factors apart from sickness. They can be growing, getting older, or just in a tired season. But it can also point to sickness. Dogs tend to sleep quite a lot, but you know your pet to know exactly how much is too much and is abnormal for them.

Constant Peeing and Drinking

Is your dog acting randomly overly dehydrated? It can be such a hard thing to understand why, but really, their body may be going through changes you do not understand, and these changes can involve sickness.

Changes in Mood

Just think about how you feel emotional when you’re sick. It’s probably not very pleasant to be around you when you are feeling terrible if you’re anything like me. Dogs may also be more on edge, frustrated, or unhappy when they are sick.

Lowered Activity

This is a big sign, especially is your pup is super active! If you have an active dog, chances are this change will appear to you like the most noticeable and you will quickly wonder what health changes go along with it.

1. Macerated Garlic

garlic cloves on table

In case of mild infection, this remedy can be used. Use it on a daily basis until the infection heals fully.

What to do:

  • Steep 2 garlic cloves in olive oil.
  • Let the mixture sit for 2 weeks. Then, strain it.
  • Pour 2-3 ear drops of the mixture in the pet’s ear.

2. Warm Compress

Apply a warm compress to cure the outer ear infection. It effectively treats the associated symptoms like redness, pain, inflammation, and irritation of the ear.

What to do:

  • Soak a towel in hot water.
  • Squeeze the excess water.
  • Hold and press gently on dog’s ear.
  • Employ this remedy several times a day for the best results.

3. Apple Cider Vinegar

This is a solution with which you can also cleanse the ears with. The best thing about apple cider vinegar is that it does not let the ear infection aggravate.

What to do:

  • Add 2 tablespoons of ACV (apple cider vinegar) to a cup of water.
  • Give it to your dog at least 2 times a week.
  • Alternatively, mix equal quantities of water, hydrogen peroxide, and apple cider vinegar. Put this solution in the pet’s ear and rub the base of the ear. Thereafter, using a cotton ball, clean the ear as the hydrogen peroxide may fizz. This will also prevent the growth of yeast or bacteria.

We recommend Bragg Organic Raw Apple Cider Vinegar.

4. Vitamin E Oil or Cod Liver Oil

Use cod liver oil or Vitamin E oil to get rid of inner and middle ear infection of the dog.

What to do:

  • Crush a Vitamin E capsule and use the oil as the ear drop.
  • Alternatively, put 1-2 drops of cod liver oil in the affected ear.

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5. Margosa Oil

The antimicrobial properties of margosa are commonly used to cure dog’s ear infection.

What to do:

  • You can prepare herbal ear cleaner by mixing ½ teaspoon eucalyptus oil, 1 teaspoon tea tree oil, ½ oz olive oil and 1 oz margosa oil. The tea tree oil is well known for antifungal and antibacterial properties.
  • Put 10-20 drops of this dog ear cleaning solution into the affected ear canal of the dog, with the help of a dropper. Be careful to not get too deep into their eardrum.
  • Massage the ear’s base gently to spread the oil. This remedy will soothe the inflammation and provide relief.

We recommend Renewalize Certified Organic Neem Oil.

6. Witch Hazel

Witch hazel is useful for decreasing the discomfort your pet is experiencing. For this reason, it’s one of the most popular home remedies for dog ear infection.

What to do:

  • Combine equal quantities of organic apple cider vinegar and witch hazel.
  • Pour a few drops of this solution in dog’s ear canal with a dropper.
  • The ear cleaning solution will decrease the discomfort that your pet is experiencing.

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7. Aloe Vera Gel

aloe vera gel and leaves with spoon on board

This will help cure redness or irritation in the ear, which is why it’s a great remedy for an ear infection in dogs.

What to do:

  • Warm some aloe vera gel.
  • Pour 1 teaspoon of it in each ear of the dog.

8. Almond Oil

This remedy is very useful in loosening the wax and dirt, thereby reducing the risk of chronic ear infections.

What to do:

  • Warm some almond oil.
  • Put ½ teaspoon of this oil treatment in each ear and use a cotton ball to clean around the ear.

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9. White Vinegar

For this remedy, you need to combine water and white vinegar. The quantity of the white vinegar in the mixture should be enough to dry out the excess water; otherwise, the leftover water will lead to irritation. While pouring the mixture into dog’s ear, ensure that it (the mix) is at room temperature, as the cool mixture will cause more pain.

What to do:

  • Mix water and vinegar.
  • Carefully pour the mixture into the dog’s ear.

10. Probiotic Yogurt

This is the best natural remedy to ward off yeast infections as well as a bacterial infection. Moreover, it’s easy to find probiotic yogurt at any grocery store.

What to do:

  • Apply a small amount of organic probiotic yogurt (it must have active strains of probiotic bacteria) to the ear and around the ear flap.
  • Rub well.

11. Mullein

Mullein extract is obtained from the twigs and leaves of the mullein plant. It soothes the inflammation of the ear and is very effective in treating certain types of ear infection. Or else,

What to do:

  • Use mullein extract and apply it to the ear.
  • Alternatively, mix together garlic oil and mullein oil.
  • Put a few drops of this oil mixture in pet’s ear, 1-2 times a day.

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12. Pau d’arco

This herb called pau d’arco acts as an antibiotic and kills the infection-causing bacteria and fungi. That’s why it’s one of the most effective home remedies for dog ear infection.

What to do:

  • Combine equal parts of mineral oil and pau d’arco.
  • Massage the ear with this oil two or three times a day.

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13. Herbal Flea Powder

Mites or flea may also be the responsible for ear infection in dogs. It will remove the mites clinging to the pet and provides respite from the symptoms related to the ear infection.

What to do:

  • After a bath, sprinkle herbal flea powder that contains pennyroyal powder, eucalyptus, rue, wormwood, and rosemary, on the dog’s body.

Types and Causes of Dog Ear Infection

The infection can be of 3 types:

  • inner ear infection
  • middle ear infection
  • outer ear infection

In comparison to inner and middle ear infection, it’s easier to cure an outer ear infection (which is usually accompanied by a bad odor of the waxy discharge and inflammation), if you resort to home remedies. In case of middle and inner ear infection, it’s best to consult a vet.

Some of the major reasons that lead to an infected ear in dogs are:

  • improper hygiene
  • fungal growth
  • bacterial infections
  • yeast overgrowth
  • unhealthy environment
  • food allergies
  • mite infestation
  • ear mites
  • yeast infection

Here you can also see some more home remedies for dog ear infection:

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Conclusion

These are some of the best home remedies for dog ear infection you can try. However, there are some other things you should keep in mind before using them. Before using any home remedy, douse the infected ear with warm water, in order to eliminate irritants. Dry the ears properly. Maintain a good hygiene and groom your dog frequently to reduce the risk of ear infection. Some may use boric acid as a dog ear infection home remedy because it is considered a natural insecticide.

Lastly, never use over-the-counter medications or antibiotics without consulting a veterinarian.

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