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While allergies may not be the cause of your dog's infections, switching them to a hypoallergenic food may help. Choose a dog food that has 1 carbohydrate source and 1 protein source, then feed it to your dog exclusively for 8-12 weeks. However, it's best to take your dog to the vet if it seems to be in pain, it isn't eating, or its ear has foul-smelling discharge. If not properly treated, a severe infection can cause complications like hearing loss or balance issues.
If you think your dog has an ear infection, take them to the vet for treatment. Then learn how to prevent ear infections and properly clean your dog's ears. Many dogs suffer from painful ear infections in the middle or deep parts of their ear. The 2 most common infection types are bacterial and yeast .
Preventing An Ear Infection
To make this mixture, combine one part apple cider vinegar with one part spring water . Add it to a dropper or fill a cotton ball with it, and put a full dropper onto your dog’s ear. To try this method, add one drop of oil of oregano to ½ ounce of pure aloe vera juice. You can add a few drops topically to your dog’s outer ear or you can add a few drops onto his food if he won’t let you touch his ears. Scoop out the extracts of an aloe leaf and use a chopstick or a butter knife to spread it out. This ensures that the ointment is not clogged to ensure easier application.
Ear infections are typically caused by bacteria, yeast, or a combination of both. If you do need to clean your dog’s ears, wipe them out with a little organic witch hazel on a cotton ball. Never use anything smaller than your finger inside your dog’s ear (don’t use a cotton swab or you’ll risk damaging the ear canal). Before you think about dog ear infection treatment, you need to know about the different types of ear infections.
Can You Treat a Dog’s Ear Infection at Home?
The name sounds a bit scary and the sudden appearance of it is alarming … but there’s no need to worry. However, they are not a substitute for veterinary attention. Here are some natural techniques and tips approved by our experts that have proven their effectiveness. It is advisable to give it only every other day, or as a 5-day treatment with a 5-day break between the two, since prolonged use could increase the level of liver enzymes. Even the most responsible pet owner can't always protect their pet from a sudden accident or illness.
One of the natural remedies discussed later in this article, witch hazel, has properties that help dry out the ear canal. To prevent stagnant water from causing an infection in your dog’s ear, there are several precautions you can take when they go swimming or have a bath. You’ll need to be patient with the healing process when you’re dealing with chronic ear issues in your dog. As your dog releases toxins through her ears, remember that this is an important part of healing.
Moist Ears
But if they’re deeper in your dog’s ear, they may be hard to see. Make sure to look as far as you can into your dog’s ear if there’s nothing obvious on the outer canal. If your dog has an ear hematoma, most conventional vets will recommend surgery. The vet will drain the hematoma and remove any clots by making an incision in the hematoma.
Without dilution, the hydrogen peroxide will burn your dog’s already irritated ear canal. If a dog has an inner ear infection, the initial symptoms might only be seen in your dog’s behavior. Internal otitis media is much rarer but also much more serious.
Will Prednisone Help With Ear Infection
Dogs get ear infections when yeast or bacteria over-proliferate. Yeast, or single-cell fungi, are naturally found on your dog's skin and ears in small amounts. Certain conditions lead to an overpopulation of yeast such as biological imbalances, mechanical predisposition , excess moisture, and certain medical conditions. The canine ear canal is more vertical than that of a human, forming an L-shape that tends to hold in fluid.
Massage the base of the dog’s ears and let the oil soak in for about 30 seconds. Then use a tissue to clean out the dog’s ears, making sure to clean deep and remove as much wax as possible. Drip a coconut oil mixture into your dog’s ears to clear out yeast. Simmer 2 US tbsp of coconut oil in a saucepan along with 2 whole garlic cloves until the oil becomes thin. Let it cool for 15 minutes, and then use a liquid dropper to squeeze 2–3 drops in your dog’s infected ear. Massage the base of the ear for 1–2 minutes, then use a cotton ball to swab out the inside of the dog’s ear.
In simple words, there is an underlying condition that triggered the overgrowth of yeasts. Antibiotics, steroids and topical treatments are usually prescribed for ear infections. But these only treat the symptoms temporarily … and they can have nasty side effects. Your veterinarian should check your dog's ears in order to rule out other health problems.
And ear conformation in breeds like Shar-peis is also a factor. A little wax in the ears is normal so it’s better to leave them alone unless your dog is uncomfortable. Over-cleaning disrupts the delicate balance of bacteria in the ear and can lead to skin irritation and inflammation.
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