Natural Treatment for Ear Infection in Dogs

Dogs hear the darnedest things, but their ears’ construction makes them especially prone to infection. The ear canal drops down and turns sharply before meeting the eardrum, creating dark, dank grounds for infection-causing bacteria and yeast to overgrow when exposed to moisture, explains Robert Silver, DVM, a holistic veterinarian in Boulder, Colorado. Floppy-eared dogs are even more susceptible because their canals don’t get much airflow to help dry moisture.

If your pup’s prone to infection, after he dunks in the lake or tromps through the snow, Silver suggests using a solution of one part acidic apple cider vinegar and one part astringent witch hazel to lower pH and up the ears’ natural infection-thwarting power. If his canals are inflamed or he’s been scratching, swap witch hazel for non-stinging spring water.

Pour the mixture into the ear canal; fill to the brim, and then compress the canal with your thumb and fingers. Keeping your dog still, vigorously massage the entire length of the canal from the outside–it’s OK to give it a good squeeze. After a few minutes of kneading, let him shake his head, and then clear out any remaining solution with a light towel. Repeat for other ear.

Chronic infections may stem from food allergies or sensitivities, so a holistic vet can help make appropriate dietary changes.

By Jayme Otto, Natural Solutions

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

No Emails H.

10:47PM PST on Jan 23, 2012

My dog has a chronic ear and I give him carrots and it seems to relieve him and he stops shaking his head. Also I found he had an allergy to wheat and grains. It has been a jeorney but will check out the Dr Dogs ear remedy.

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Cheryl B.

5:35PM PST on Nov 7, 2011

thanks for the info

5:34PM PST on Nov 7, 2011

KS G.

6:12AM PDT on Sep 7, 2011

Thanks for the article.

Gloria S.

10:38PM PDT on Apr 18, 2011

Great finding this site with so much useful information.
Had to say that finding a good dog ear treatment wasn't that easy. We tried so many things and including so many visits to the veterinarians office we lost count. Now we use Dr Dogs Ear Oil which is a natural dog ear treatment and is keeping our dogs ears in good condition, finally.
Take care when using prescription ear medicines and over the counter medicines or ear drops, some of them have side effects that can cause hearing loss. Also recurring ear infections can cause hearing loss and it did for our dog. Going with a natural dog ear treatment is safer and this remedy doesn't have the sting that vinegar or alcohol can. If your dog has recurring ear problems with dog ear infection you might like to check it out, glad we did. Find out more from the web site at http://drdogs247.com

Mara C.

5:31PM PDT on Apr 1, 2011

I'm not a doctor, but I do know that dogs can get fungal ear infections and/or bacterial ear infections. I'm curious to know if this "remedy" works on both?

rachael l.

9:06PM PDT on Mar 28, 2011

I am definatley going to try this with our dog. Thanks for the information.

Melody A.

7:30PM PST on Nov 12, 2010

Thank you

KrassiAWAY B.

5:52PM PDT on Oct 9, 2010

Very useful info. Thank you.

Rajshree B.

5:09AM PDT on Sep 27, 2010

Thanks for the info!