How to treat dog ear infections at home: 3 Tried and tested remedies
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Why Do Dogs Get So Many Ear Infections?
Observing Pippy’s ear anatomy:
- Pinna: The large flap of the ear.
- External Ear Canal: Large opening in the lower part of the pinna.
- Ear Canal Parts: Consists of a vertical and a horizontal section.
Common causes:
- Underlying Allergies: Ears and ear canals are extensions of the skin.
- Symptoms: Redness, discharge, head shaking, scratching, and sometimes a yeasty smell.
- Common Culprits: Yeast (most common), bacteria (e.g., staph or pseudomonas).
Home Remedies for Treating Ear Infections
Home Remedy #1: Witch Hazel with Aloe for Mild Infections
- Ingredients: Witch Hazel with Aloe.
- Properties: Anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and antibacterial.
- Application:
- Method: Use as an ear flush or direct drops.
- Procedure: Tilt your dog’s head back, apply about 10 drops, rub the base of the ear to distribute.
- Frequency: Twice a day for five to ten days.
Home Remedy #2: Green Tea and Apple Cider Vinegar for Established Infections
- Ingredients: Green Tea, Apple Cider Vinegar.
- Properties: Anti-inflammatory and antibacterial.
- Preparation:
- Green Tea: Steep half a cup for about 20 minutes.
- Vinegar: Add two tablespoons to create a 25% concentration.
- Application:
- Procedure: Draw a small amount into a syringe, apply five to ten drops into the ear base, rub well.
- Frequency: Twice a day for five to ten days.
Home Remedy #3: Over-the-Counter Medication Combination for Severe Infections
- Ingredients: Canesten (clotrimazole), 1% Hydrocortisone, Polysporin.
- Properties: Antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial.
- Preparation:
- Mix: One teaspoon each of Canesten, 1% Hydrocortisone, and Polysporin.
- Application:
- Procedure: Apply about a quarter teaspoon into the ear base, rub well to distribute.
- Frequency: Twice a day for five to ten days depending on the infection type.
If you have a dog with recurring ear infections, I encourage you to try these remedies. If one of them helps, I’d love to hear your feedback. Thanks so much for watching this edition of Veterinary Secrets.
Your recommendation for yeasty ear using Monostat and 1% Hydrocortisone worked phenomenal for my dog. I feed them a yeast diet also.
Hello I have been giving drops in my dogs food and eye for infections , she is responding better than the prescribed antibiotics medication from the vet, she had a eye infection and a hacking cough and I was wondering how long I should be doing this?
It’s great to see that your pets are responding well to the Colloidal Silver drops. Keep using it, and once you’ve achieved the desired results, you can discontinue it as needed.
What kind of drops?
Of colloidal silver
Dr. Jones, thank you so much for these remedies. My dog is currently suffering with a bad ear infection, so if this happens to her again, I have now bought all ingredients necessary to treat it myself, thanks to you ?
Here are safe and effective home remedies you can use if your dog has another ear infection:
Witch hazel + aloe flush – Mix witch hazel (with aloe) and gently apply about 10 drops into the ear twice daily for 5–10 days. It’s antifungal, antibacterial, and reduces inflammation
Green tea + diluted apple cider vinegar rinse – Brew green tea, cool, then add 2 tbsp ACV in half a cup of tea. Apply 5–10 drops twice daily for 5–10 days to help kill bacteria and soothe irritation
Natural ear wash – Dr.?Jones recommends a gentle, alcohol?free ear wash (e.g., his Natural Ear Relief Wash) used after cleaning to help calm and maintain healthy ears
?? Only use vinegar solutions on ears without open wounds, as it can sting . If the infection worsens, shows pain, foul odor, or discharge—please seek veterinary care.
For the 3 over the counter meds do you need to get it deep into the canal? Do you leave it in there or do you need to clean the excels out? Lastly do you still need to flush ears once a day before applying this?? Love your channel and so glad I found you.
Yes, for the three over-the-counter remedies, you should apply them into the visible part of the ear canal—just enough so the treatment reaches the affected area without pushing anything deep. After applying, gently massage the base of the ear, let your dog shake its head, and then wipe away any excess. It’s also recommended to flush or clean the ears once daily before applying the treatment to remove debris and help the remedy work more effectively.
I’ve been using the 3 ingredients in my dogs ear for 9 days and it’s still not gone. He’s still darkish pink. However the swelling went down and its not as red.
Nine days falls within the recommended treatment window (5–10 days), so partial improvement makes sense. However, since the pink coloration still persists, it’s a signal that the infection might not be fully resolved. At this point, it’s wise to have your dog evaluated by a veterinarian to determine if prescription treatment is needed.