Do you notice that your dog frequently shakes his head and gives off a strong body odour? These symptoms can be due to numerous disorders, however, they are typical of an ear infection, a disorder that generally has a good prognosis but must be treated in time to prevent damage to the eardrum or affection of the deeper parts of the ear.
We should also know that this treatment can be done naturally, using resources that are effective in restoring our pet's he alth and that are also safe and less aggressive than pharmacological treatment. Are you interested in learning more about this option? In this AnimalWised article we talk about the home remedies for ear infections in dogs
Ear infection in dogs
First we must understand exactly what ear infection in dogs is, since initially we may believe that it is the same as otitis in dogs, however, they are two different terms.
Otitis is an inflammation of the ear and can have numerous causes, such as allergies, the presence of foreign bodies in the ear cavity or viral, bacterial or fungal infections. When there is an ear infection, there is usually otitis, since the colonization of the pathogenic agent causes inflammation in the ear canal, however, otitis is not always caused by an infection, as we have seen previously.
Ear infection in dogs: causes and symptoms
If our dog suffers from an ear infection it will generally be caused by a bacterium, fungus or yeast and our dog will usually manifest this infection at through the following symptoms:
- He shakes his head frequently.
- Excessive scratching in the ear area.
- Foul-smelling discharge from the ear that can be mistaken for strong body odor.
- Smell of "yeast" in the ear.
- Swelling in the ear area and redness.
- Hearing loss.
- Crusting or scaly lesions in the ear area.
- Signs of pain.
- Behavior changes, aggressiveness.
- Loss of balance.
In case you know that your dog's otitis has been caused by yeast, you can consult this other article on our site on Yeast Otitis in Dogs - Symptoms and treatment.
What to do if my dog has an ear infection?
If you think your dog may be affected by an ear infection, it is very important that you go to the vet as soon as possible, since the ear infection begins with a pathogenic colonization and inflammation of the canal ear, but if not treated in time, it can affect the middle and inner ear, causing irreversible damage to the eardrum.
The veterinarian will take into account the patient's medical history, the symptoms presented and will generally perform an otoscopy to assess the condition of the ear canal as well as the pathogen that is causing the infection.
Conventional veterinary treatment will be carried out using antibiotics (in the case of a bacterial infection) or antifungals (in the case of a fungal infection), these medications are generally used will be administered topically, but in severe cases they can also be administered orally, thus increasing the chances of side effects.
My dog has an ear infection, what can I give him?
If you have detected that your dog has pain in the ear and you suspect that it may be an infection, we advise you to never administer medicationwithout veterinary supervision. Most medicines suitable for human consumption can be harmful to your pet. In addition, there can be multiple causes of otitis in dogs: infection by parasites, allergies, hypothyroidism… so if we do not know the exact reason for their pain, we may complicate the infection by giving them a medication that the veterinarian has not prescribed..
What you can do until you go to the vet, or parallel to his treatment, is to provide him with some of the home remedies s that you will see below to help your pet in his speedy recovery.
We also leave you this other article about 10 prohibited drugs for dogs.
Home remedies for ear infection in dogs
Just as we can find multiple home remedies for otitis in dogs, when the inflammation is caused by an ear infection, we also have various natural alternatives at our disposal, let's see what they are below:
- Tea tree essential oil: is an ideal remedy for any type of infection, whether caused by bacteria or fungi. If the ear does not have injuries, we can directly apply 2 or 3 drops, each day. On the other hand, if the ear has injuries, we will mix the essential oil of the tea tree with sweet almond oil, adding 20 drops of essential oil in half a glass of sweet almond oil. We will apply 5 drops of this mixture daily.
- Application of hot compresses: topical heat acts as a vasodilator, this very quickly reduces inflammation and pain, in addition, By dilating the blood vessels, the irrigation of the tissues is improved and an easier recovery is promoted. We will soak a cotton cloth with hot water and after wringing out the excess water, we will apply gentle pressure on our pet's ear, applying these compresses several times a day.
- Garlic maceration: we will crush two cloves of garlic and pour them into a hermetically sealed jar with olive oil, later we will let it rest all the night. The next day we will strain the mixture and add 5 drops of this preparation in our dog's ear, we will administer it daily.
- Aloe vera: pure aloe vera juice is ideal for protecting our pet's ear canal, in addition, applied topically it reduces the inflammation and relieves pain due to its emollient action. We will apply it directly to our dog's ear at least 2 times a day.
- Homemade antiseptic solution: mix equal parts hydrogen peroxide (hydrogen peroxide), water and apple cider vinegar. We will soak a cotton swab with this solution and proceed to clean the affected ears.
Hydrogen peroxide for the dog's ear
If you are going to prepare the homemade antiseptic solution based on hydrogen peroxide for otitis in dogs, it is important that you make sure that the liquid does not enter the ear, as this could worsen ear pain in dogs. This type of antiseptic solution is used above all when the ear infection is external.
For all these reasons, the use of hydrogen peroxide in dogs' ears should always be superficial and very careful. If you have doubts about its use or about whether your dog's otitis is internal or external, we recommend go to the vetAlso, if your dog has pus in the ear, it will be crucial to take him to a specialist, since this can only be treated with medication.
Prevent ear infection in dogs
Popularly it is said that prevention is better than cure and this is a very true statement, therefore, we must adopt the following measures, which will help us prevent infection of ears in our dog:
- We must clean the dog's ears frequently with an antiseptic solution for veterinary use.
- It is important to prevent excessive humidity, so dry your dog's ears properly after bathing him and prevent him from spending long periods in the water.
- If your dog is prone to ear infections, it is a good idea to insert a cotton swab into his ears before bathing him to prevent excessive water entry.
- Give your pet a balanced diet, in this way you will keep its immune system in an optimal state.
