Watch your dog's ears for signs of a painful infection.
Opportunistic ear infections are a plague of dogs, especially those with long, floppy ears. The inside of a dog's ear canal provides a hospitable place for bacteria, yeast and fungus to thrive. If your dog suffers with chronic ear infections, you may be looking for a way treat them naturally. Although a true infection can be treated only with medication prescribed by the veterinarian, there are some things you can do to help your dog get through yet another painful bout of infected ears. Make sure you have the correct diagnosis, support the veterinarian's treatment and prevent future occurrences.
Instructions
1. Observe your dog for signs of ear infection. Your dog's ear could be simply dirty and in need of a good flushing. If you notice head-shaking, ear-scratching or yelping if you accidentally squish his ears while petting him, you may be dealing with an ear problem but not necessarily an infection. You may note a foul smell and black or yellowish discharge. Only a veterinarian can truly diagnose the type of infection your dog's ears are harboring. Yeast infections are treated with a different type of medication than bacterial infections, so it is important to determine the type of infection you are attempting to treat. Dr. Lorraine Kassarjian, a South Florida veterinarian, reports that "Ear infections are painful and can cause ulcerations deep inside the ear, so it's very important to get the correct diagnosis and treatment because your dog may be suffering greatly from the pain of an infection."
2. Mix a solution to flush out your dog's ears. According to Vetinfo.com, mix 1/3 cup of white vinegar, 1/2 cup of rubbing alcohol and 1/3 cup of purified water in a squeeze bottle with a long nozzle. This natural ear flush can be used twice a day for two weeks. Next, step it down to once per day for two weeks, and then use it monthly as a preventative. Squirt the solution into your dog's ear canal, massage his ears and allow him to shake his head, and then remove the solution and the ear wax with cotton balls. If there is no improvement, you must visit your vet or risk your dog's overall health. In cases of severe infection or inflammation, your vet may use a steroid injection and then prescribe antibiotics and/or a medicinal ear flush and drops. After your dog's ear infection is successfully treated, you should take the necessary steps to prevent future occurrences by flushing the dog's ears.
3. Remove any water from your dog's ears after water play, and keep the outer part of the ear and the inner part (visible to the eye), clean with a cotton ball moistened with a little of the ear solution. This will help to prevent future occurrences of ear problems. If necessary, flush the ears weekly. Use a drying powder between cleanings to help keep the ears dry and inhospitable to bacteria and yeast.
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