Ear Infection Remedies for Pets

Sunshine

Posted by Uvaid (Fort Myers, Florida, Usa) on 09/22/2012
★★★★★

Let me offer a way for your dog to stay healthy and free from ear infections, take him for a walk outside preferably in broad daylight. If your dog has long ear flaps pin them back. Mammals produce hydrogen peroxide naturally through a process called photo-oxidation. Photo-oxidation occurs when the melanin in mamallian skin is exposed to sunlight. This process is an animal's first line of defense against disease all over their bodies including their ear, nose, and throat. There is a direct correlation between available sunlight hours and the occurrence of colds, flu, and ear infection. During the summer months exposure to sunlight produces enough hydrogen peroxide to keep animals free of disease but during the winter months the process of photo-oxidation diminshes. In addition, a study under the direction of Dr. Cindy Dunn has found a significant reduction in bacterial colonies on skin including the ears and nose after exposed to natural light.

Exposing your pet to sunlight only for a few seconds everyday has proven health benefits. If you are not able to get out into the sun everyday, I suggest using a light supplement.

Rubbing Alcohol, White Vinegar

Posted by Jim (Perry, Mi) on 05/12/2012
★★★★★

My dog's ear was stinking real bad and she was itching. I used 2 cups vinegar 1 cup water 1 tsp rubbing alcohol mixed it all up put it in spray and treated her ears. She didnt like the smell but I noticed she wasnt scratching and the smell of her ears is going down. She is also a big swimmer will continue to treat her ears for a few weeks.

Hydrogen Peroxide, Vinegar, Rubbing Alcohol

Posted by Christine (Vancouver, British Columbia) on 04/12/2012
★★★★★

Our daschund, Copper, had a bad ear infection that had caused the ear to swell almost shut and was oozing a black discharge. We took 3 equal parts vinegar, rubbing alcohol and hydrogin peroxide, mixed well and applied enough to the ear to fill the canal area. We then massaged the ear for 2-3 minutes and had the dog shake her head several times to drain out the fluid. We then took papertowels and cotton swabs and swabed out the area carefully, as the skin was quite red and swollen. Within half and hour the ear swelling was reduced by half and the redness was significantly less. I treated her ear once a day for 3 days and the ear cleared up by day 3. Each day since I check and wipe out any new loosened wax, however the ear has never looked better. This remedy did not seem to cause our dog any discomfort, but we did use an ear lotion from the pet store to sooth irritation after the irrigation. Total cost was less than $10 and the quick healing for Copper was priceless.

Blue Powder Solution

Posted by Karen (Roscommon, Mi) on 02/11/2012
★★★★★

Our dog suffers from recurring ear infections. Our vet continued to give him a prescription cream. It would work while being used, but once it was gone, the infection returned. I finally did a search on the internet for a natural solution and found a recipe for the Blue Powder Solution... I mixed up a batch and finally, his ear infection was cleared up!

After being ear infection free for over a year, I got lazy about the solution and hadn't used it in quite some time.. He ended up with another flare up while we were on vacation. We purchased a herbal product, but it didn't seem to do much of anything..

As soon as we got home, I mixed up a new batch of the blue powder solution, only because his ear was very raw and tender, I used witch hazel instead of rubbing alcohol... It appeared to be very soothing to him, and within 2 weeks, the infection was gone..

I've learned my lesson.. I'll make sure he gets one dose a month from now on, which is recommended once the infection is under control.

The solution calls for boric acid and Gentian Violet Solution. I found boric acid at a "real" pharmacy and the pharmacist from Walgreens ordered the Gentian Violet for me (it only cost a couple of bucks)..

Great natural remedy that cost pennies, but most importantly, works!

Probiotics

Posted by Nancy (San Diego, Ca) on 01/26/2012
★★★★★

WOW... This site has been a godsend. My shihtzu has had chronic skin issues and ear infections for years. His skin has been managable lately but his ears never seem to clear up even after 2 weeks of a daily dose of ear antibiotics. I took him off the ears meds and started him on acidophilus mixed with fish oil on sunday-01/22/12. I also started wiping his ears with a 50/50 ratio of white vinegar and water. His ears are clearing up!!! I'm not sure if its the acidophilus, the vinegar or both. He's still doing a lot of paw licking at night around bedtime, of course, but not near as much licking during the day. I've given him plain yogurt a couple of times, also, but it's tough convincing him to eat it.

I plan on buying raw, organic Apple Cider Vinegar this weekend so that I can really soak his paws and see how that works. I also plan on gradually adding to his water.

Hydrogen Peroxide

Posted by Lovemydogs (Loveland, Co, Usa) on 11/26/2011
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I used hydrogen peroxide/water and this was the ONLY thing that helped Honey's ears. She is a 4 yr. old Shar Pei/Boxer mix and this dog is everything to me.

I had tried at least 4 different vet-prescribed medications and 1 OTC product for her chronic otitis externa. The vet also suggested a mix of vinegar/water to flush out the gunk but it didn't provide lasting relief. Basically, nothing worked.

My mom, in all her wisdom of 55 years, then suggested a 60/40 mix of peroxide/water, respectively. I saturated two cotton balls with the mixture, placed one in each ear, and massaged gently, letting the liquid loosen any buildup. I let her shake her head to get any excess out (and I get very dirty in the process). :)

I repeated this treatment once a day for one week. And her ears are better than they've ever been. They're not red and inflamed, nor are they as stinky. She isn't scratching at them as much, but she will lightly scratch at them every so often.

Now that they've cleared up, I'm going to try the coconut oil to soothe the skin in her ears. (The OTC treatment I had tried before the peroxide had left her with dry skin inside her ears). I'm going to apply the coconut oil with a swab but not POUR it in. I tried using coconut oil before but this was when she was on the other medication and her ears were not as cleared up.

I've read all over the internet "Don't use peroxide!" or "It can harm your dog's ears!" and my vet even hinted that she wouldn't put peroxide in her ears so don't use any product that contains it on my dog. BUT it has worked better than any other medication they've prescribed. How do you explain this?

Could it be that they want me to spend $15-$30 on a tiny tube of crap that doesn't even work so they can drive an Audi and not care about my dog's well-being and health? I'm not a conspiracy theorist but I'm looking at the cold, hard facts. I'm looking at the most amazing dog I've ever had and finally seeing her ears healed! How could the vet not have known about this miracle treatment that can heal my dog's ears and, not to mention, save me tons of money. I can buy a bottle of hydrogen peroxide for $1 and it lasts me for months.

My dogs mean the world to me; they are my family. And I would not take time make this post if I didn't really try this treatment and believe in the results. So you can try this if you want and post the results. I hope it will work for your dog, too!

Rubbing Alcohol, White Vinegar

Posted by Airpan (Houston, Tx) on 10/18/2011

I have also heard of grain alcohol (everclear) being used to dry out ear canals in pets and humans. I was on a dive team when I was a kid and I kept getting swimmer's ear. My grandmother purchased a bottle of it and with a capful would fill my ear, I would let it sit there for about 30 seconds and then tilt my head over a towel to drain. After that, never got another swimmer's ear infection again.

Witch Hazel, Boric Acid, Gentian Violet

Posted by Bunny (Boston, Ma) on 09/17/2011
★★★★★

Here's a recipe for ear infection (fungal, bacterial, etc. ) gotten from a vet many years ago. It worked for my dogs.

4 oz. witch hazel (or alcohol although alcohol stings)
1 T boric acid
4 drops gentian violet (pharmacy).

I mixed it up in a little brown bottle with dropper.

Apply to ears 2 x day for a week, then once a day until resolved. It stains so be careful where you apply.

Colloidal Silver

Posted by The_specialist (Atlanta, Ga) on 09/04/2011
★★★★★

My dogs had has ear infections and I was able to heal them in just 2 days with colloidal silver. Just a few drops in the infected ear, and in 48 hours, the ear infection was gone. It has happened several times and it works all the time.

Distilled White Vinegar

Posted by Joeybluesmom (San Diego, Ca) on 07/31/2011
★★★★★

Oh my goodness, I just have to get on here and say thank you for this website!!!!!! I thought my dog was going deaf. He hadn't been able to respond to anything for about 5 days and I just thought it was old age... My dog is currently on Tom's mange treatment and just developed a nasty ear infection of which at the age of 11 he has never had. Poor guy. So, I jumped on earth clinic to see if there was a cure for ear infections that I could do from home. Sure enough, vinegar and water! Go figure. So, I made a 50/50 solution of the white distilled and water and used a medicine dropper and filled his ear with it. I rubbed that hollow area from the outside for a few seconds and let him shake his head to get the excess out. And guess what? Within a few minutes he was responding to everything we said! I almost cried. I've never been so happy to hear my dog growl and bark when we say "Here, Kitty kitty"!! There are no words. My heart is so happy right now. If I hadn't seen it myself, I'm not sure I would have believed it.

Honey

Posted by Jan (Downers Grove, Il) on 04/15/2011
★★★★★

My shizh-tzu had ear pain so bad he yelped at the slightest touch. He would scratch at it and whine in pain and then shake his head. I always treat his ears after his bath with tea tree oil/water, and tried just plain tea tree oil a few times, to no avail.

Then remembered the Manuka Wound Honey I had just purchased, so I squirted a glob in his ear. Of course, it didn't go inside to well, so I followed it with 2 good sprays of apple cider vinegar, which washed it down into the ear canal. I massaged his ear for about a minute to work in well, then used a damp paper towel to remove most of the sticky residue around the outside of his ear. He shook his head once or twice, some brown crud came out, which I wiped away, and he has been fine ever since!

It has been 3 days, and no more scratching, shaking or pain! That is way faster than any antibiotic, which requires 2-3 applications a day for several weeks. I'm so thrilled to find something so healthy that works so perfectly, and for almost no expense at all! Win-win! ;D!

EC: APPLE CIDER VINEGAR -- AND WATER. One part ACV to two parts water seems about right.

Dietary Changes

Posted by Dixiechick (Lakeland, Fl) on 09/22/2010
★★★★★

I just discovered something alarming about canned dog food. One of my dogs is 5 yrs. Old and has never had an ear infection or ear problem. I just recently converted both of my dogs to a wheat-free and corn-free diet. I switched them both to Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance L.I.D. Food. Everything was fine until I purchased their canned dog food to add to the dry food. The dog with the ear infection wouldn't eat unless I added something, so that's why I purchased the canned food. She got a severe ear infection 5 days after consumming the canned food. I tried ACV and MMS. They did nothing. My neighbor had this same exact problem with his dog. Last year his dog was rushed to the vet with the same symptoms. His dog was being fed dry dog food with Alpo canned food. I never saw the correlation until it happened to my dog. Symptoms start as head shaking, then tiny bumps in the ear, then redness, inflammation, then pus. Also included were nose rubbing, scratching, coughing, eye swelling. The symptoms started on the day after eating the food and progressed to the fifth day with full blown redness, inflammation, pus, eye swelling, cough. It was unbelievable. Went to the vet for treatment. Dog is currently recovering with home made food and meds. My neighbor's dog and my dog are officially off canned dog food. His dog recovered nicely. There is something in canned dog food that is causing ear infections. It may not happen with every dog, but if your dog is sensitive you need to avoid canned dog food. It doesn't matter what brand, whether premium or low grade canned dog food. I saw it first hand using a premium L. I. D. Food. That's limited ingredient diet.

Rubbing Alcohol, White Vinegar

Posted by Sp (Lavergne, Tn) on 07/31/2010
★★★★★

I have been using rubbing alcohol and white vinegar (half/half), no water, on my dog's ears. My little malteese poodle has a tendency to get smelly ears, yeast problem, so I decided to use this mixture. I tilt his had side way and put about 3-5 drops in each ear and massage it in for a few seconds, then I wipe off the excess from his ears with a tissue. I do this after I bathe him. I continue doing that once a day for the next 2 days. He shakes his head for a few minute, afterward he is fine. I have been doing this for about 2 months now and he has no problem with smelly ears. I'm relieve to have found an easy solution to take care of his ears. Thank you all for the very helpful information.

Rubbing Alcohol, Violet Solution, Boric Acid

Posted by Melissa (Atoka, Ok) on 05/09/2010
★★★★★

It's a miracle !!

My 6 yr.old yorkie has suffered all her life from allergies, yeast infections in her ears, chewing on herself until she made sores. She has been treated with antibiotics,allergy medicines,Prednisone,medicated shampoos,& even ear surgery. Nothing worked for long. She was scratching and crying almost constantly. my daughter told me about Earth Clinic, so I started using some remedies I read about & they helped,but the one that worked a miracle for her ears was the one that you mix: 1- 16oz bottle of alcohol, 4 Tbsps.Boric Acid & 8 drops of Genetian Violet, mix together in the bottle of alcohol. Shake well before using. Clean the ears then apply drops to ears twice a day for one week, then once a day for a week. As soon as you see improvement,you can decrease how often you have to use it. I apply it once a week now and I can't beleive how much she has improved. I also give her the ACV & accidophilus in her food. I can't thank you enough !!!

Rubbing Alcohol, Violet Solution, Boric Acid

Posted by Jp4120 (Phila., Pa) on 01/27/2010
★★★★★

cure for dog ear infections

this works perfectly for my dogs after many wasted trips to the vet and many useless expensive drug treatments

[Recipe found on the web ]

* 16 Oz. Isopropyl Alcohol
* 4 Tablespoons Boric Acid Powder
* 16 Drops Gentian Violet Solution 1%

Mix together in alcohol bottle and shake well. You also will need to shake solution every time you use it to disperse the Boric Acid Powder. To use, purchase the "Clairol" type plastic bottle to dispense solution to affected ears.

TREATMENT: Evaluate condition of ears before treating and if very inflamed and sore do not attempt to pull hair or clean out ear at all. Wait until inflammation has subsided which will be about 2 days. Shake the bottle each time before using. Flood the ear with solution (gently squirt bottle), massage gently to the count of 60, wipe with a tissue. Flood again on first treatment, wipe with a tissue and leave alone without massage. The dog will shake out the excess, which can be wiped with a tissue. Best done outside wearing old clothes, as the Gentian Violet does stain fabrics.

The SCHEDULE of treatment is as follows: Treat 2x per day for the first week to two weeks depending upon severity of ears. Treat 1x per day for the next 1-2 weeks. Treat 1x per month (or even less frequently, depending on the dog). All of these ingredients should be available at a pharmacy. Despite the alcohol, most dogs will not object to even the first treatment. The Boric Acid Powder soothes the ear. The Gentian Violet Solution is an anti-infection agent. The solution appears to work well on any and all ear problems from mites to wax to canker. After the 2nd or 3rd day you can clean out the ear with a Q-tip or cotton balls. Their success rate for this treatment is 95-99%. Those who do not succeed have usually not done the treatment long enough or have not been regular about it.

Dietary Changes

Posted by Dee (Keene, Nh) on 10/27/2009
★★★★★

I have finally cured my cocker spaniel's ear infections. He had a yeast infection in both ears - first I tried Zymox which worked but then his infections came back. He also had a skin condition which cockers are known for. I've kept his ears clean and have been giving him Alaskan Salmon Oil and changed his diet to foods from his origin - Cockers came from Portugal - so basically foods that his ancestors ate - lamb, etc.

Hydrogen Peroxide

Posted by Bonnie (Southwest Harbor, Me Usa) on 10/14/2009
★★★★★

I read a post about treating dog ear infection with home remedies. I used 1 Tbsp. Balsamic vinegar, 2 Tbsp. hydrogen peroxide and 3 Tbsp. water and swabbed ears with this. Two treatments and the irritation and redness was gone. Cleaned ears for three day and she was cured. No doctors visits. This works!!!

Tea Tree Oil

Posted by Llv319 (Mastic Beach, New York) on 08/19/2009
★★★★★

my dog had an ear infection for years. vet gave him meds but nothing worked.he had brown discharge and always scracthed and cried. then i used TEA TREE OIL. a couple of drops everyday and cleaned out the gunck! every other day i used ear powder to help dry up the ear.in a week it was gone. it's been years now and no infections. i use this remedy still as a preventative every few weeks. puppy is happy.