How to Treat Dog Ear Infection Without Going to the Vet
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Time to read 8 min
As a dog mum or dad, there’s nothing worse than seeing poor old Fido or Daisy in pain due to an ear infection.
Unfortunately, as one in five dogs suffer from some form of ear disease, this is a situation you are likely to be faced with eventually.
It is always advisable to take our four-legged friends to the vet whenever they are struck down with illness. This is especially important because veterinarians can treat the issue before it becomes much worse—potentially saving you a lot of money in the long run.
That said, given the current cost of living crisis, some people feel like they can’t afford to do this (side note: many vets offer payment programs for their services).
That is why an increasing number of dog owners are looking for solutions on how to treat dog ear infections without going to a vet, particularly if their symptoms are mild.
Well, if you find yourself in this boat, the good news is that there are some specifically manufactured ear products which are known to be much safer for your canine than some of the other at-home solutions you might read about on the internet.
In this post, we’ll highlight what they are. Hopefully, they will not only save you a bit of money but also ensure your pooch is back to full health as quickly as possible.
Table of Content
What Are the Causes of Dog Ear Infections? What Are the Symptoms of a Dog Ear Infection? When Should You See a Vet? When is it ok for me to treat my dog at home? How To Tell What Type of Ear Infection Your Dog Has Home Remedies for Treating Dog Ear Infections Conclusion FAQs What can you do if your dog has an ear infection and you can't afford a vet? How many types of dog ear infections are there? Products Featured In This Blog Related Readings
What Are the Causes of Dog Ear Infections?
The best way to treat a dog’s ear infection is to try and prevent it from happening in the first place. So, as a pet owner, it is a good idea to make yourself aware of what causes one to occur.
You might not know this, but a dog’s ear canal is more vertical than the ones we humans have, comprising an L-shape that tends to retain more fluid.
Unfortunately, this makes canines more susceptible to ear infections, which are typically caused by the presence of bacteria and yeast.
Some of the most common causes of ear infections include excess moisture, allergies, excessive wax buildup, foreign objects getting stuck in the ear and underlying health conditions such as hypothyroidism or autoimmune disorders.
In addition, ear mites can also be a source of infection for both puppies and adult dogs.
What Are the Symptoms of a Dog Ear Infection?
If your dog has an ear infection, they may exhibit the following symptoms.
Excessive scratching or pawing at the ears
Redness or swelling in the ear canal
A strong odor coming from the ear
Discharge, often yellow, brown, or black, coming out of the ear
Head shaking or tilting
Sensitivity to touch around the ear
Loss of balance or hearing
If your dog is exhibiting any of these symptoms, it’s important to act quickly to prevent the infection from spreading.
When Should You See a Vet?
In relation to these symptoms, there are many circumstances in which you should take your pet to a vet immediately.
For instance, if your pooch is displaying a loss of balance or hearing or tilting its head, it is essential to see a vet as soon as possible because it is almost certainly a ruptured eardrum and inner/middle ear involvement.
Similarly, if you see the ear is very swollen and has a significant discharge or foul smell coming from it, this is likely to indicate an infection that is of the level of seriousness which requires your canine to have medicated ear drops.
Other reasons to see the vet immediately are if the dog seems to be in pain, becomes aggressive when you touch its ears or appears generally unwell. Moreover, if the dog is scratching its ears a bit more than usual or seems lethargic and melancholy, this could also be a sign of an allergy or ear infection.
Overall, while you might think your dog is suffering from an ear infection, its issue might be indicative of a much wider issue, which may require prescription antibiotics, antifungal medications, or even surgery to fully resolve. Hence, the importance of seeing your vet.
If the infection has lasted more than a week without improvement, you should make an appointment immediately.
When is it ok for me to treat my dog at home?
If in any doubt, you should take your dog to the vet. However, you may consider treating your canine at home if you believe you have caught the issue early and the head shaking or scratching is only mild.
Additionally, it is probably okay to do so if your furry friend has only a little inflammation, and if there is any discharge, it is only in small amounts that seem more waxy than like pus.
How To Tell What Type of Ear Infection Your Dog Has
- When it comes to ear infections, there are three main types your dog might suffer from. All of them affect different parts of their ear.
- For example, Otitis externa is the infection or inflammation of the external part of your canine’s ear, i.e. the bits you can see. By contrast, Otitis media affects the middle part of the ear and can happen as a result of a foreign object penetrating the eardrum.
- If you notice that your dog is becoming deaf or repeatedly losing balance, this can be a sign of Otitis interna, which affects the inner ear.
Home Remedies for Treating Dog Ear Infections
On the internet, there are suggestions for home remedies that include oil or oregano, green tea, and apple cider. However, these methods are not recommended for dogs, as they can be potentially dangerous.
The big danger in doing this is that your dog might have an unidentified rupture of its eardrum, which can only be identified when a vet examines its ear canal with an otoscope.
If the wrong type of cleaner enters the middle or inner ears, it can cause damage to vital structures, which may affect their hearing and some cranial nerve functions. This damage could be irreversible, so it is not worth taking the risk.
Another thing to consider is that acidic, astringent, and alcohol-based cleaners should be used with caution. Ideally, you should take your pet to a vet for an initial check, as they will be able to advise the most suitable cleaner for it. You can then use this to prevent future infections and avoid ongoing bills.
Using the wrong cleaner could make the problem much worse, which would only be more expensive for you in the long run.
For those looking to ease their dog’s suffering without a trip to the vet, it is recommended to use a specifically manufactured gentle water-based flush product. Options containing chlorhexidine and tris-EDTA (e.g., Nextmune Otodine) are particularly effective.
Another good choice is something like peptivet oto gel, which has soothing properties and helps with the ear's barrier function against bacteria and fungi.
Should your dog have wax, ceruminolytic cleaners work well in breaking them down, while antibacterial and antifungal cleaners are good for infections, and water-based flushes with chlorexidine and tris edta in sensitive ulcerated ears.
However, as previously mentioned, the best way to determine the best course of treatment is to see your vet.
Conclusion
In an ideal world, if your dog is suffering from an ear infection, you should take him to a vet. But if you simply can’t afford to do this or aren’t able to book an available appointment for a few days, sometimes your best course of action is to apply some home remedies.
If your dog is currently in pain, we hope this post on how to treat dog ear infection without vet has provided you with some useful advice to make them feel better.
FAQs
Are you looking for some specific information about how to treat dog ear infection without a vet? Here are a few answers to common questions people have about this subject.
What can you do if your dog has an ear infection and you can't afford a vet?
If you find yourself in this situation, one thing you can do is clean the ears with a gentle water-based flush, such as those containing chlorexidine and tris-edta (e.g. Nextmune otodine).
How many types of dog ear infections are there?
Overall, there are three different types of dog ear infections. They are Otitis externa, which affects the part of your dog’s ear that you can see; Otitis media, which is localised around the middle part of the ear; and Otitis interna, which affects the inner ear. The latter two should absolutely not be treated at home.
However, it is worth noting that problems in your dog’s ears can also be down to other issues, including one of several different types of bacterial infections, yeast or even allergies or other underlying causes.
Dr. Kathryn Rosalie Dench
With nearly two decades of experience, Cambridge veterinarian Dr. Kathryn Dench is dedicated to enhancing animal health through holistic practices. A member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, she focuses on preventive care over traditional methods, particularly for long-term wellness solutions in pets suffering from anxiety and chronic conditions. As Chief Scientific Advisor at Paw Origins, she champions holistic strategies and education to revolutionize pet care practices.
Products Featured In This Blog
Related Readings
Could you share about the manufacturing process?
Unlike many faulty products and some of these best-sellers you see on Amazon that have heavy metal toxicity, and mislabeling, our manufacturing facility is GMP certified .
A GMP Certification means there's an emphasis on quality, documentation, inspection, and safety. Further, our manufacturing process is environmentally friendly, using a clean C02 extraction. We don't overproduce in this artisan process. Quality is of great importance to us. We also have 3rd Party Lab Results to verify and assure the highest quality of our products.
Do Paw Origins products undergo laboratory testing?
Yes! Our manufacturing process involves undergoing 3 rounds of quality testing at 3rd-party laboratory at both the batch and product level. We have strict rules when it comes to quality and standards.
When testing, if a certain element is off on that batch, we throw away all of it and start over. After the product has been through the whole procedure, the testing is over and the product officially has a Certificate of Analysis (COA), which ensures the safety of your furry friends.
You will be surprised at the amount of garbage and harmful ingredients there are in cheap, low-quality products being sold in the market. They are extremely damaging to your pet’s health, and more dog owners should be aware of the ingredients used. Our products have ingredients you can read and pronounce, and contain only the highest quality organic ingredients.
