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Dry the ear well, put a little Thornit powder in the ear and massage it twice a day while the symptoms persist. AKC is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to akc.org. If you purchase a product through this article, we may receive a portion of the sale.
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
Though it may sound contradictory, too much cleaning is actually bad for your dog’s ears. Much like our own ears, ear wax traps harmful microorganisms and prevents them from harming infecting the ear. Without ear wax, the ear canal would be very dry, making it easy for bacteria and yeast to cause an infection. They may use a medicated ear cleaner or apply a topical medication. A potent antiseptic, witch hazel is very effective when it comes to treating infections in your pets. Apply 5 drops of the strained liquid to your dog’s swollen ear using a dropper.
They spread from animal-to-animal or your pup can pick them up from simply lying down outdoors. They don't bite, but their presence irritates the skin in your dog's ears and makes them itch like crazy. Because they inflame the skin, ear mites in dogs can lead to ear infections. Tea tree oil contains antibacterial properties and is a bane to the yeast inhabiting your dog’s ear. Simmer two tablespoons of tea tree oil for the preparation on low heat for about a minute. You may add a couple cloves of garlic to enhance the antibacterial power of the oil.
Can You Treat a Dog’s Ear Infection at Home?
Mild-to-moderate ear infections frequently go away on their own. Fortunately, you can usually treat your symptoms at home in these situations. The CDC recommends rest, plenty of fluids, and pain relievers as the main home remedies for ear infections.
There will be obvious swelling and a firm swollen mass on the earflap that can feel spongy or like a water balloon. While it may look like it’s about to burst, hematomas rarely do. But they can be very painful for your dog, especially to the touch. Yeast thrive in humid, dark, warm areas, so your dog's ears offer a perfect environment. Floppy-eared dogs are especially prone to these infections because their ear conformation allows yeast to thrive.
Moist Ears
The ingredients used in eardrops that help dry out the ears include isopropyl alcohol or glycerin. Your veterinarian will diagnose your dog with a yeast infection after collecting a sample and examining it under the microscope. Samples are usually taken on a cotton swab or by pressing some tape or a microscope slide onto the affected skin. All samples are stained with a dye to highlight the yeast and/or other organisms so that they can be identified. Yeast is a type of fungus naturally present in the environment and on the skin that grows and multiplies in warm, moist environments. There are many different types of yeast but, usually, only one type of yeast causes infections in dogs - Malassezia pachydermatis.
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
Thankfully, these mild infections can resolve without the need to see a healthcare provider. If you need an antiviral medication, you should start taking it as soon as possible. For instance, if a virus like the flu has led to an ear infection, antiviral medications should ideally be taken within a few days of getting sick. Yeast otitis usually causes redness inside the ear, scaling of the ear flap or pinna, head shaking, scratching at the ear, face rubbing, and an odor. Most people don’t have oil of mullein lying around the home, but if you do, it can help reduce pain and minimize swelling in a dog’s ear. Applied with a syringe or a sponge, a green tea mixture can also be helpful in calming the effects of an ear infection in your dog.
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.
The recommendations above will give you some natural tools to manage both acute and chronic ear infections in your dog. Keep reading for advice from our Veterinary reviewer on preventing ear infections in dogs. Have your dog sit with his back up against a wall or in a corner of a room.
Dogs with erect ears, therefore, may be less likely to get infections because their ears receive more sunlight and airflow. Dogs that are stressed or weak due to disease are more likely to develop an infection. A good way to prevent infections is to ensure that your dog is fed premium dog food . Make sure your dog gets sufficient exercise and lives a stress-free life. One of the most common causes of an ear infection is antibiotics. Antibiotics are known to kill both good and bad bacteria in the gut, and this is why yogurt is often prescribed to replenish good bacteria.
