Itchy Dog Ears? Try These Effective Home Remedies

Understanding Dog Ear Infections

Many of our dogs struggle with recurring ear infections. Often, this is due to an underlying allergy that leads to a secondary yeast infection. If your dog is constantly shaking his head, scratching his ears, or if there’s a foul, yeasty smell, these are tell-tale signs of an ear infection. You might also notice black, waxy debris building up in the ear.

I’ve shared various remedies before, but today, I have a brand-new treatment that consists of three natural components.

Step 1: Nettle Leaf Tea

The base of our remedy is nettle leaf tea. I have brewed half a cup of strong nettle tea, which is about eight tablespoons or 120 milliliters. Nettle tea is an excellent natural antihistamine, which makes it very useful for managing allergies. It also has anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce the inflammation in the ear caused by underlying allergies.

If you prefer, you can even pick some fresh stinging nettle, dry it, and brew your own tea. For our remedy, make sure it’s a strong brew for the best results.

Step 2: Apple Cider Vinegar

Next, we’re adding apple cider vinegar—specifically, two tablespoons (30 milliliters) of raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar. I like using Bragg’s brand for this. Apple cider vinegar has both antifungal and antibacterial properties, making it ideal for combating yeast and bacterial infections in your dog’s ears.

However, keep in mind that apple cider vinegar can be irritating if your dog has open sores or red, inflamed skin. If that’s the case, skip this ingredient and use only the nettle tea.

Step 3: Tea Tree Essential Oil

Finally, we’re going to add tea tree essential oil. Tea tree oil is well-known for its antifungal and antibacterial properties, which makes it perfect for addressing yeast infections. Add ten drops of tea tree essential oil to the mixture.

Mixing the Ingredients

So, here is the full list of ingredients for our ear infection remedy:

• ½ cup of strong nettle leaf tea (120 milliliters)
• 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar (30 milliliters)
• 10 drops of tea tree essential oil

Combine all the ingredients well, and our natural remedy is ready to use!

Application Instructions

To apply this remedy to your dog’s ear, I suggest using a 3-milliliter syringe. Draw up about 5 drops of the mixture, and apply it directly into your dog’s ear.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Tilt the Ear Back: Gently lift your dog’s ear flap (or pinna) back to expose the ear canal.
2. Apply the Drops: With the ear tilted, apply 5 drops directly down the vertical ear canal.
3. Massage the Ear Base: After applying the drops, hold the base of your dog’s ear and gently massage it. You should hear a swishing sound, which means the solution is working its way from the vertical ear canal to the horizontal ear canal.

Repeat this treatment twice a day for 5 to 10 days.

That’s it! This natural remedy is easy to make and very effective for treating ear infections in dogs. Just remember to use it twice daily and be gentle while applying it. Ear infections can be uncomfortable for your pet, so keeping it soothing and calm is key.

Thank you so much for watching this episode of Veterinary Secrets. Don’t forget to click the subscribe button, and if you haven’t already, check the link in the description to receive your copy of my free book.

See you next time, and take care of those furry friends!