Ear infection in dogs is a medical issue that can be very frustrating to deal with. Because not only it is one of the common in problems seen in dogs, but also, they tend to keep coming back.
Also, it is very irritating for your tail-wagger too. Because he will experience constant itching and inflammation in his ear, and the only way they can find relief is by rubbing his head against an object.
Although it is usually treatable, ear infection in dogs can sometimes be a signal of a significant problem too. That is why every pet parent should know the ways to deal with this problem.
Therefore, in this article, we will provide information regarding the best treatments for ear infections in dogs.
But first, let’s a quick look at the possible causes of dog ear infection.
The Causes of Dog Ear Infection
It is hard to come up with a single cause of ear infections in dogs because there might be a lot of different things that are causing the problem. The most common ones are fungus, yeast, ear mites, or allergies. But ear infection can also be the result of a more severe issue, such as tumors or physical trauma.
In some cases, dog beds might be the culprit of allergies. The filling used in these beds might contain substances that can cause an allergic reaction. Hypoallergenic dog beds can help you create an allergy-free environment in your home by keeping away dust mites, mildews and mold spores.
The reason ear infection occurs very often in dogs is that a dog’s ear is more susceptible to the appearance of infection-causing agents. Because the ear canal of a dog plunges downward away from the ear opening and that is why it is the perfect environment for infection-causing agents.
Especially if your dog gets into the water a lot by either swimming or bathing, resident water can be a nest to yeast or bacteria. Because they love a warm and dark environment and the moist condition in a dog’s ear is perfect for that.
Also, we should mention that some dog breeds are more susceptible to ear infection than others because of their different types of ear flaps.
For instance, dogs with floppy ears tend to get more ear infections because their ear flaps make the inside of their ear darker and damper. On the other hand, upright ear provides much more airflow, and that is why it is harder for infection-causing agents to nest in it.
How to Cure Dog Ear Infection?
If you suspect that your pup has an ear infection, the best thing to do would be taking him to the vet. If you try to solve the issue by yourself, you can make the mistake of giving him the wrong medicine, and that can make the problem worse.
When you take your tail-wagger to the vet, the first thing he would do would be to diagnose what is causing the infection. Because if the infection is severe, the vet may have to sedate your pooch to able to clean his ear.
Besides, chronic issues might be tough to deal with, because they might require treatment two or three times a day for a couple of weeks. In some rare cases, the vet might have to give antibiotic pills to your dog for as long as six to eight weeks.
In typical cases, the vet will likely shave the fur around the hair to start the cleaning of the ear. He can also use some medications to dry your dog’s ear, which will make the procedure easier. If the issue is severe, the vet may also recommend anesthesia to reduce your dog’s pain.
After cleaning your dog’s ear, the vet will probably prescribe medication or antibiotics, and tell you to continue the treatment at home. Also, in case your dog seems to be suffering from any pain, the vet will likely prescribe something for the pain such as Tramadol.
Continuing the treatment at home means implementing the medications by yourself at home. That requires a lot of caution because as we mentioned above if you apply the medication in the wrong way, your dog might experience hearing loss or ear damage. We should also say that many vets usually recommend starting the treatment at home after a recheck appointment.
Mild cases will not take a long to be treated, and it will take around 7-20 days. But if the issue is severe, it might take much longer to treat the infection.
Home Remedies For Dog Ear Infection
If you don’t have a vet nearby, there are also a couple of homemade remedies that you can apply to your dog’s ear infection.
Lemon
As most pet parents already know, vitamin C is known for killing bacteria and viruses. You can apply it by rubbing the juice of the lemon to your dog’s ear. This will not only help to kill the bacteria, but it can also repel the flea that is on your dog’s ear.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil can be very effective if your dog’s ear infection is caused by fungus or bacteria. Because studies show that coconut oil is anti-fungal and anti-bacterial in its nature.
Epsom Salt
Epsom salt is another very effective remedy that you can apply to cure your pup’s ear infection. You can do it by dissolving a little bit of it and drench it on your dog.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is known to be nature’s best neutralizer, and it is very effective at neutralizing odor. But it is also useful for treating fungal infections. You can dissolve it in the water and pour it on the infected area.
Conclusion:
Ear infections can be tough to deal with since it might be hard to detect what is causing the problem. Also, it might be a long process to treat it because its treatment can be very long.
That is why we advise you to implement all the instruction that your pet gives to you. But if you don’t have a chance to visit the vet in the near future, there are some remedies that you can prepare at home that will relieve your dog’s pain.
