Basically, middle ear infection is a medical disorder that is quite often experienced by dogs. Some of them even have an infection in the ear that is so deep that it is difficult to cure. In general, there are two types of infections that are most common in dogs, namely bacterial infections and yeast infections, although the presence of fleas can also trigger infection. However, there is no need to worry because in fact, ear infections in dogs can be treated easily using natural ingredients. Although it can be treated with natural ingredients, it's best to take your dog to the doctor if he looks sick, doesn't want to eat, or has a foul-smelling discharge from his ear canal. If not treated properly, an already severe ear infection can lead to other complications, such as balance problems or hearing loss.
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Method 1 of 3: Treating Yeast Infections
Step 1. Clean the inside of your dog's ears with apple cider vinegar and distilled water
First of all, mix apple cider vinegar and water in a 1:1 ratio. Then, dip a clean cotton swab or cloth in the vinegar solution until it's completely wet, and use the cotton or cloth to clean the deepest part of your dog's ear you can reach. The mild acidity of apple cider vinegar can help clean your dog's ears and kill any infection-causing bacteria that may be there.
- Do not use this method if your dog already has a bacterial infection. If your dog's ears are sore and red, try another treatment method, as vinegar can make the sensitive ear area more painful.
- Remember, using vinegar can cause an uncomfortable sensation of pain and stinging. Also, wetting your dog's ears will make the area more humid. As a result, the infection is easier to occur afterwards!
- If you don't know what type of infection your dog has, get your dog checked by a doctor immediately to get a proper diagnosis.
Step 2. Apply coconut oil to the dog's ear canal to treat yeast infection
First of all, heat 2 tbsp. coconut oil and 2 whole cloves of garlic in a saucepan until the texture of the oil looks lighter; let stand the oil that has been infused with onions for 15 minutes. After the temperature of the oil drops, take a small amount of oil with a dropper and pour 2-3 drops into the ear canal of the infected dog. Lightly massage the bottom of the dog's ear for 1-2 minutes, then match the inside of the dog's ear with a cotton bud.
- Coconut oil can work as a mild antifungal agent so it can help get rid of yeast infections in the dog's ears.
- All the necessary ingredients can be purchased at various health stores or found on the organic ingredients shelves in supermarkets.
Step 3. Take your dog to the doctor if the infection doesn't go away within 2-3 days
Regardless of the type of infection, whether it's a fungal, bacterial, or flea infection, it's still a good idea to take your dog to the vet if his condition doesn't improve after a day or two. Most likely, there are other health problems that cause the infection, such as a compromised immune system or problems with his diet. Later, the doctor can prescribe medication to speed up the dog's healing process.
- Take your dog to the vet right away if he starts to appear in pain, gets irritated if you touch his ear area, or keeps his head tilted.
- If natural remedies are continued even though they do not show significant results, the infection can worsen and attack the deeper areas of the dog's ears. As a result, middle ear or inner ear infections can occur, which can lead to complications such as balance problems or hearing loss.
Method 2 of 3: Treating Bacterial or Flea Infections
Step 1. Clean the infected ear area with a general cleanser to remove bacteria
In a glass, mix 240 ml of warm water with 2 tbsp. hydrogen peroxide, then stir with a spoon until the hydrogen peroxide is completely dissolved. Then, take a small amount of the solution with a pipette, then pour 4-5 drops of the solution into the infected ear canal. Massage the area under the dog's ear for 30 seconds, then wipe off the remaining solution along with the dirt that comes out with a clean tissue or cotton.
- If you don't want to use hydrogen peroxide, or don't have it at home, try replacing it with 2 tbsp. plantain tincture. The plantain tincture is a mixture of alcohol and plantain herbs that contain natural antibiotic substances.
- All these ingredients can be purchased at various pharmacies or drug stores.
Warning:
While natural remedies for treating bacterial or flea infections may work well in some dogs, their effectiveness is inconsistent, and delaying medical treatment in order to apply natural remedies can actually make the infection worse. Therefore, if you really want to use a natural treatment method, at least do it under the supervision of a doctor.
Step 2. Clean your dog's ears from fleas and/or bacteria using calendula oil
First, put the calendula flowers in a can, then pour the olive oil over the surface. Leave the can for 3-4 days until all the goodness of the calendula is absorbed into the oil, then strain the oil into a glass or small bowl. With the help of a pipette, pour 4-5 drops of calendula oil into the ear canal of the infected dog. Leave it for 45 seconds, then wipe the inside of the dog's ear with a clean, dry tissue.
Calendula is able to work very effectively to eliminate fungal and bacterial infections in dog ears. If you don't want to make your own calendula oil, you can buy ready-made products at major health stores
Step 3. Sprinkle boric acid in your dog's ears after bathing or swimming
The more often your dog's ears get wet, such as after bathing or swimming, the greater the risk of infection. To kill infection-causing bacteria, try sprinkling about 1/4 tsp. boric acid into each dog's ear after bathing or swimming. Lightly massage the area under the dog's ear for 30 seconds, then wipe off any residual boric acid with a tissue.
- Be careful, boric acid is a substance that can endanger the lives of humans and dogs if accidentally inhaled or swallowed. Therefore, always keep boric acid powder away from the mouth and nose of you and your pet dog.
- Don't have boric acid? Please buy it at the nearest pharmacy or drug store.
Method 3 of 3: Prevent Ear Infections
Step 1. Clean the dog's ear canal with olive oil once a month
Pour 2-3 drops of olive oil into the dog's ear canal, then lightly massage the area under the dog's ear for 30 seconds so that the oil can be absorbed better. Then, use a tissue to remove as much of the earwax that is on the inside of the dog's ear as possible. Get ready to be surprised when you see the amount of poop it manages to remove!
Olive oil can help soften earwax and prevent excess earwax from building up. Both are very important to prevent infection
Step 2. Ask the doctor not to pluck the hair on the inside of the dog's ears
It is an ancient belief that dogs with drooping ears and long hair are at a higher risk of developing ear infections, especially when their ear area is always warm and moist. To reduce the humidity, most groomers or people in charge of caring for the physical appearance of the animal will pluck the hair in the area. In fact, this behavior can trigger small open wounds that are prone to bacterial infections in the area inside the dog's ear!
On the other hand, the notion that dogs with ears hanging down and covered with thick fur are at higher risk of developing ear infections is true
Step 3. Provide food that is free of allergens (hypoallergenic) to dogs to reduce the risk of infection due to allergy problems
In some cases, food allergens can increase your dog's risk of developing an ear infection. Even if the infection isn't directly triggered by an allergy problem, there's nothing wrong with switching your dog's food to products that are free of allergens. In particular, choose a diet that contains at least 1 source of carbohydrates and 1 source of protein, then make sure your dog only eats these foods for 8-12 weeks.
- If after that the infection no longer occurs, the most likely cause during this time is an allergy problem.
- Ask your doctor for appropriate dog food recommendations.
Step 4. See a doctor if your dog's ear infection doesn't go away with the help of natural remedies
If not treated for too long, the infection can get worse and cause various health problems that are dangerous for dogs. Therefore, if natural remedies do not work to cure the infection within two months, take your dog to the doctor immediately. Ideally, your doctor will prescribe antifungal, antibacterial, or ear drops after examining your dog's condition.
In some cases, medical drugs (such as rabies vaccine or parvo vaccine) can actually trigger ear infections in dogs
Tips
Do not use two or more natural remedies at the same time. If your dog's infection clears up after you apply three natural remedies, for example, you likely won't know which method actually worked
Warning
- Understand that the use of natural remedies is not always successful, and may make it more difficult for doctors to treat infections that are not checked immediately. That's why it's always best to take your dog to the vet as soon as the infection occurs.
- Never apply apple cider vinegar or other natural remedies to a dog's ear using a cotton swab. In fact, the flat tip of the cotton bud will actually push bacteria deeper into the dog's ear canal and risk damaging the eardrum.
