Best Otc Treatments For Ear Infections In Dogs
While home remedies are natural and less intrusive and will generally work for minor ear infections in dogs, they aren’t always the best solution. I
f you noticed these home remedies not being effective enough, you might need a stronger solution.
Below are some of the best treatments for ear infections in dogs, available over-the-counter.
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How To Prevent Your Dog From Getting An Ear Infection
At Veterinary Medical and Surgical Group in Ventura we believe that prevention is always better than treatment when it comes to ear infections. To help prevent ear infections it is important to keep your dog’s ears clean and dry. Talk to your vet about the best cleaning solution for your pup and take the time to give your dog a weekly ear cleaning. It is also a good idea to dry your dog’s ears if they have spent time in the water.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet’s condition, please make an appointment with your vet.
If your pooch is displaying symptoms of severe ear infection such as loss of balance or unusual eye movements it could be a pet emergency. Contact our Ventura vets immediately.
Prevention Of Otitis Externa And Its Complications
Few effective preventive measures exist for otitis externa. Thorough otic examination of all patients presented for a physical examination helps with early detection of mild and early cases of otitis. When dogs are presented with early ear disease, thorough client education and detailed diagnostic work-up, including frequent follow-up examinations, can help prevent development of complications that may lead to chronic otitis, hearing loss, otitis media, and end-stage ear disease.
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Home Remedies For Dog Ear Infection
You can manage dog ear infection treatment at home with safe and effective remedies. In fact, its best to avoid veterinary treatments for ear infections. Heres why
The common dog ear infection treatment options from your vet include antibiotics, steroids, and topical medication. These medicines may help clear up your dogs ears at first but the problem often returns later. Thats because drugs only treat the symptoms you can see. They dont address the underlying condition thats causing the symptoms. And they can have negative side effects.
Antibioticscan disrupt the bacterial balance in your dogs gut, which can lead to more health issues due to bacteria or yeast that grow out of control.
Steroids work by suppressing the immune system and can cause harmful side effects. So avoid them as a dog ear infection treatment if you can.
Discharge and inflammation in the ears is a sign the bodys trying to remove toxins absorbed through food, medications and her environment. Thats a good thing! Your dogs body is working to heal itself by getting rid of harmful substances. When you close off that exit route by using suppressive treatments, it can drive the disease deeper. Itll come back somewhere else. And that means your dog will get sicker often with a more serious disease.
So, finding the cause of your dogs ear problems is the key to ridding her of them once and for all. Fortunately, there are ways you can do this at home.
Prevention: Keeping Your Dogs Ears Clean & Dry Are Key
Keeping your furry friends ears clean can go a long way toward preventing ear infections. You should clean your dogs ears at least every few weeks using a liquid solution or ear flushes, such as the vet-recommended Virbac EPIOTIC Advanced Ear Cleanser or PetHonestys Otic Ear Cleaner. If youre looking for a natural remedy for cleaning dog ears, you may want to consider Vet Organics EcoEars Dog Ear Cleaner.
For pups whose ears get dirty frequently, we recommend using PetMD Ear Wipes every day to remove debris and reduce wax buildup. Another preventative measure is to dry your pups ears after a bath or after swimming because bacteria and yeast thrive in moisture.
Its important to keep in mind that vigorous cleaning of an infected external ear canal can backfire on you. If your pup already has otitis exterma, extensive cleaning can sometimes lead to a middle or inner ear infection.
The video below is an excellent tutorial on how to clean dog ears at home naturally and gently using an ear cleanser solution.
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Treating Inner Ear Infections In Dogs
Chronic canine inner ear infections should be treated early, as if theyre left untreated they can result in permanent damage and hearing loss. If your pet gets an ear infection, its imperative that you consult the veterinarian and treat him immediately. Mild infections can be treated with medication while severe infections may warrant medical intervention.
Are There Other Signs I Should Watch For
Vomiting and nausea may occur during the acute phase of otitis interna. If the facial nerve, which is located in the area of the inner ear, is damaged by an inner ear infection, your dog may develop some of the following symptoms:
- drooling from the side of the mouth
- difficulty eating and dropping food
- inability to blink
- development of dry eye in the unblinking eye or Dry Eye in Dogs)
- drooping of the eyelids, lips, and nostrils on the affected side
- signs of Horners syndrome which include uneven pupil size, called anisocoria, prominent third eyelid, and drooping upper eyelid on the affected side
With long-term facial nerve paralysis the face may actually twist toward the side of the ear infection.
Additional signs include redness in the affected ear and discharge with a foul odor. The outer ear canal may become thickened and hard to the touch from chronic inflammation and the lymph node at the base of the chin on the affected side may become enlarged. Your dog may become reluctant to move at all, preferring to sit or lay in one spot and his head may swing from side to side, even at rest. You may also notice short, rapid, side-to-side movements of the eyeballs called nystagmus.
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Does Apple Cider Vinegar Help Ear Infections In Dogs
Use A Mixture Of 50%.Ad find out the 11 common home remedies for dog ear infection immediately. Web by dog expert december 28, 2021 dogs faq. Web apple cider vinegar may help mild ear infections of the outer ear.Web Home Remedies For Ear Infections Salt.Web conclusion of will apple cider vinegar get rid of ear mites in dogs. Web how can i treat my dogs ear infection without going to the vet? There are many pet parents who give apple cider vinegar.Web Apple Cider Vinegar Is Excellent For Treating And Preventing Various Types Of Infections,.Web an apple cider vinegar bath can help get rid of the mange mites. Use our vet recommended spray to treat your dog’s ear infections safely & effectively. Web apple cider vinegar can clean a dogs ears and rebalance the skin ph, but it will also dry.Web A Dog Ear Infection Can Cause A Lot Of Discomfort In Your Pet And Can Also Lead To.Web how to use apple cider vinegar for dog ear infections. Learn how to treat dog ear infection with these natural treatments and remedies. Salt is probably the most readily available home.Web Dogs With Skin Allergies Develop Overgrowths Of Bacteria And/Or Yeast In.Fast free delivery w/amazon prime. Web the benefits of apple cider vinegar for dogs range from preventing flea. Web apple cider vinegar is a great solution to problems with a dog’s ear since it kills all.
How Can You Tell If A Dog Has An Ear Infection
Most ear infections come with signs from your dog that something is wrong. You may not notice anything by the external ear, or it may be red, swelling, or have scabs.
There may also be an odor in the ear, discharge , or hair loss in the area.
You may also notice head shaking or your dog scratching in and around his ear. These are all dog ear infection symptoms to be aware of.
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More Serious Causes Of Head Shaking
Ear mites or other parasites in the ear, aural hemorrhage , ear polyps , or even a secondary infection in the ear are all less common but still troubling causes for dogs to shake their heads frequently.
More serious health conditions that might cause a dog to keep shaking his head include foreign objects lodged in the ear canal, inflammatory diseases, and even neurologic disorders that cause head tremors that are easily confused with head shaking.
Diagnosis and treatment of a dog’s head shaking are critical, not only because it is a symptom of a potentially serious problem. Also, continued or particularly vigorous head shaking can lead to ruptured blood vessels within the dog’s ear flap. The aural hematomas that result frequently necessitate surgery to repair, which is why we should try to prevent excessive head shaking rather than just treat it when it occurs.
Diagnosis and treatment of frequent head shaking in dogs are critical for their health
How Can Ellevets Cbd + Cbda Help With Itchy Skin
Incessant scratching is miserable for pups and difficult for pet parents to watch. Fortunately, while ElleVets CBD + CBDA cant get rid of your dogs ear mites, it is proven effective in providing dogs support for itchy skin by working to improve discomfort and reduce inflammation.
ElleVet conducted a groundbreaking study in 2020 investigating the efficacy of our CBD + CBDA on dogs with Pruritus, or itchy skin. Results showed that over 65% of dogs enrolled in the study, who had not responded to other commonly used products, had a significant improvement in skin itchiness after using ElleVets CBD + CBDA. By modulating dogs inflammatory response and perception of discomfort, CBD + CBDA can help eliminate their urge to scratch.
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Since These Symptoms Are Similar And Usually Mean An Infection Why Can’t I Just Get Some Ear Medication
There are several kinds of bacteria and at least one type of fungus that commonly cause ear infections. Without knowing the specific kind of infection present, it is not possible to know which medication to use. In some cases, the problem is a foreign body, a polyp, or a tumor. Treatment with medication alone will not resolve these problems. It is important that your dog be examined to ensure that the eardrum is intact. Administration of certain medications can result in loss of hearing if the eardrum is ruptured. This can only be detected by a thorough ear examination by your veterinarian.
How To Clean Your Dogs Ears
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Will Dog Ear Yeast Infection Go Away On Its Own
It is unlikely for yeast infection in dogs ears to go away on its own.
In most cases, it takes between 4 and 6 for the infection to clear, with treatment. Based on the severity, the vet may recommend cleaning the dogs ear canal. Then, they will probably prescribe your dog medications or suggest using specific over-the-counter ear cleaners.
Are Some Dogs More Susceptible To Inner Ear Infection
Dogs with long, heavy ears seem to be predisposed to chronic ear infections that can ultimately lead to otitis interna. Spaniel breeds, such as the Cocker Spaniel, and hound breeds, such as the Bloodhound and Basset Hound, are the most commonly affected breeds. Regardless of breed, any dog with a chronic ear infection that is difficult to control may develop otitis interna if the eardrum is damaged, as a damaged ear drum allows bacteria to migrate down into the inner ear.
“Dogs with long, heavy ears seem to be predisposed to chronic ear infections that ultimately lead to otitis interna.”
Excessively vigorous cleaning of an infected external ear canal can sometimes cause otitis interna. Some ear cleansers are irritating to the middle and inner ear and can cause signs of otitis interna if the eardrum is damaged and allows some of the solution to penetrate too deeply.
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What Should You Expect At The Vet For Ear Infections
Expect your vet to inspect your dog’s ears thoroughly. He will look at the outer ear canal, check for ear mites, and look for irritated skin inside the ear.
The vet will not only want to check for infection but determine what type it is.
Otitis refers to ear infection, and types include otitis media, middle ear otitis interna, otitis externa, and infections affecting the inner ear canal or vertical ear canal.
What If Your Dog Has Chronic Ear Infections
Chronic ear infections can be time-consuming and frustrating for the pet, the owner, and even the veterinarian.
Certain breeds of dogs are known to more commonly experience recurring ear infection issues, according to the Veterinary Information Network.3 This can be partly due to genetics, ear shape, or ear confirmation. Over time, proliferative ear tissue can form, making treatment more difficult.
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Cocker Spaniels and Springer Spaniels commonly get chronic infections due to long, floppy ears and a high numbers of ceruminous glands .
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Shar-Peis have small ear canals that can trap and hide debris.
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Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers are prone to allergies and underlying sensitivities leading to chronic or recurrent ear infection.
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Schnauzers and Poodles often have excess hair deep in the ear canal.
Chronic dog ear infections require closely working with your veterinarian to treat. It is important that your vet does testing to choose the appropriate medication. Chronic infections can require medication consistently for 6 to 8 weeks.
After treatment, testing is needed again to ensure that all the infection has cleared. If we stop medicating too soon or do not treat underlying problems, it is easy for the infection to return, sometimes even becoming resistant to many medications.
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How To Keep Skin Infections At Bay
The first step in keeping your dog healthy is to address any existing skin problems. If you notice a rash or hot spots, see your veterinarian as soon as possible.
To help prevent infection, here are some tips:
- Clean your dogs ears regularly. If your dog has ear mites, use medication or sprays to kill them before they spread to his skin.
- Keep his nails trimmed and clean. Nail trimming can help prevent infections in the dogs feet that may spread to his skin.
- Keep dogs from licking their paws excessively. The more often a dog licks his paws, the more chance he has of getting an infection there.
How To Treat You Dogs Ear Mites
Because ear mites can cause serious discomfort and health complications for dogs, and are also highly contagious, its important to address ear mites as soon as possible. Your veterinarian will need to examine your dogs ears and look at a sample under a microscope to confirm the diagnosis and determine whether a secondary ear infection is present. Treatment options for a dog with ear mites may include:
- A thorough cleaning at the vet
- Prescription ear drops and medications such as Advantage Multi, Simparica, and Bravecto
- Ivermectin injections
Your vet may be able to thoroughly clean your dogs ears and perform all of the necessary treatments in just a single visit, though sometimes they may send you home with a prescription. Any bacterial or fungal infections should also be treated.
If one animal in a household is diagnosed with mites, all pets should be treated at the same time. It is also a good idea to wash your pets belongings in hot water and vacuum floors to eliminate mites from your environment. This prevents ear mites from hiding out on one pet or in your home and then reinfesting others once treatment has stopped. Your veterinarian may want to re-examine your pet to ensure that the mites have been eliminated after the initial treatment has been performed.
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What Are Ear Mites
Ear mites, Otodectes cynotis, are parasites that live on cats, dogs, and other furry mammals. These tiny pests are usually found in the ear canal but can also live on the skin surface, and feed on skin oils and ear wax.
It takes approximately three weeks for a mite to develop from an egg to an adult. While living on their host, adult ear mites live about two months, during which time they continually reproduce. They can live in the surrounding environment, but only for a limited amount of time .
Ear mites are highly contagious and can cause quite a bit of discomfort and irritation for your dog, so addressing and preventing ear mites is essential to your pets health and happiness.