Never put anything in your dog's ear without veterinary instruction. Your veterinary team can help you find the ideal treatment to treat the infection and give your dog much-needed relief.
While taking your pup to the vet is always a safe bet, some easy and effective home remedies can help relieve their discomfort, like wiping their ears with cider vinegar, coconut oil, or tea tree oil. However, as with any ailment, it's best to invest in the best pet insurance for dogs for added peace of mind.
First and foremost, it's important to regularly clean your dog's ears with a gentle ear cleaner. You can also use natural remedies such as apple cider vinegar or tea tree oil to combat infections. However, it's crucial to avoid inserting anything into your dog's ear canal, as this can cause further damage.
In most cases, a dog's ear infection will not go away on its own. What's worse, if you wait too long to treat the ear infection, it can become much more difficult to get under control. An untreated ear infection can lead to chronic issues, hearing loss, and sometimes the need for expensive surgery.
Just be aware that the longer you ignore an ear infection, the more difficult it becomes to shift it (and the more painful it is for your buddy). The most severe cases can lead to permanent hearing damage and facial paralysis - so it's definitely a good idea to get it sorted quickly.
Dark brown or black—This type of earwax is commonly associated with yeast and/or bacterial ear infections. It's a good idea to consult with a veterinarian if earwax is this color. Brown—Light brown earwax is normal and expected. If the wax is accompanied by odor or inflammation, it can be a sign of infection.
Dog Ear Infection Treatment
It's best to see your veterinarian as soon as you notice signs because ear infections won't go away on their own. You'll usually need prescription dog ear infection medicine, Pashaian-Grant says.
To clean the ears, tilt your dog's head downward with one hand and squirt a gentle cleanser recommended by your veterinarian into the ear, filling the canal. Holding the ear closed, give it a nice massage, really squishing the cleanser around in there. That softens any gunk inside.
Antibiotics (e.g., amoxicillin-clavulanate, enrofloxacin, clindamycin, or cefpodoxime) will be used for a bacterial infection for a minimum of six to eight weeks. If the infection is fungal, an anti-fungal medication (most often itraconazole) will be prescribed.
They will likely extract a sample from the infected area to look at under a microscope. From there, they can determine whether your dog has an ear yeast infection or bacterial infection – or both! Your vet will prescribe medication to treat the infection.
The ears often become red and inflamed and develop an offensive odor. A black or yellowish discharge commonly occurs. In chronic cases, the ears may appear crusty or thickened, and the ear canals often become narrowed (stenotic) due to chronic inflammation.
Spray a mixture of equal parts apple cider vinegar and distilled water into the ear. Vinegar can fight bacterial and fungal invaders and soothe swelling. The acid may ease any pain that your dog is experiencing. An alternative to vinegar is witch hazel, which itself has anti-inflammatory properties.
Never put olive oil, vinegar, shampoo, or any other substance in a dog's ear. Also, avoid poking around with cotton buds in the ear, you will only work any wax and debris further in and potentially damage the eardrum.
Helping with itchy ears
Add a few drops of coconut oil to your dog's ear and then massage around the area. This will help to clean out excess wax leaving your pup with clean ears. Now there is no excuse for them not to come back when you call!
With treatment in the early stages, an uncomplicated ear infection will typically clear up within just a week or two. If your dog's ear infection is more severe or is caused by an underlying health condition, treatment may be more challenging and may take months to resolve.
To clean the ears, tilt your dog's head downward with one hand and squirt a gentle cleanser recommended by your veterinarian into the ear, filling the canal. Holding the ear closed, give it a nice massage, really squishing the cleanser around in there. That softens any gunk inside.
If your dog has a yeast ear infection you may notice one or more of the following symptoms: Red or brown waxy discharge in the ear. Itching, scratching & pawing at the ear. A cheesy or musty smell coming from the ear.
Can I get antibiotic ear drops over the counter? No, antibiotic ear drops aren't available over the counter. These medications require a prescription from a healthcare provider. You can purchase some antifungal ear drops over the counter.
Apple cider vinegar helps by acting as a cleanser and an anti-fungal and antibacterial agent. Dabbing this into your dog's ears sparingly can help to clean out the inside of their ears and treat the infection.
Infections of the middle and inner ear are less common. Symptoms of middle/inner ear infections differ from outer ear infections, and you may notice vestibular signs consisting of head tilting, circling, nausea, falling, vomiting, and abnormal eye movements or eye position.
carbs and sugar are what yeast thrives on. Feeding a high carbohydrate kibble diet often leads to food allergies or intolerances that make your dog more susceptible to yeast.
Causes of Ear Infections in Dogs
While bacterial infections are the most common cause of ear infections in dogs, yeast, ear mites, and fungus can all cause your dog's ears to become infected and uncomfortable. Other causes of dog ear infections include foreign objects lodged in the ear, trauma, and tumors or polyps.
Basset Hounds, Chinese Shar Peis and Labradoodles top the list when it comes to the dog breeds most prone to ear infections.