Ear infections can be painful for dogs and lead to serious consequences if they are not treated. Many dogs – especially dogs with long ears – will have an ear infection at some point during their lives. Fortunately, there are some good home remedies for dog ear infections and these infections can often be cleared up quickly.

Causes of Your Dog’s Ear Infections

Dogs typically get ear infections for one of a few reasons:

1. Moisture in the ears. Dogs who go swimming can get water trapped inside their ears. Ears provide the perfect dark, moist environment for bacteria to grow, leading to infections. Always dry your dog’s ears well if he goes swimming and after a bath.
2. Long ears. Dogs with long ears are often more prone to ear infections for the same reason dogs who go swimming are: moisture can become trapped in a dark, warm environment, allowing bacteria to grow. If your dog has long ears, try to keep the hair inside the ear trimmed to allow more airflow. Check the ears weekly to make sure they look and smell normal. Dogs with upright ears are less likely to develop ear infections compared to dogs with long ears.
3. Allergies. Some dogs can have food allergies which will result in yeast infections in the ears. Yeast grows naturally in a dog’s body, but if a dog has a yeast allergy, the yeast can get out of control and result in a dark growth in the ears. Dogs who have this kind of allergy are often allergic to some kind of grain in their food. Feeding a grain-free diet often helps the problem, along with using dog ear infection home remedies.
4. Mites and other parasites. Mites can be a cause of ear infections in dogs. Mites (otodectes cynotis) are very tiny insects that feed on your dog’s skin and ear wax. They are not the same mites that cause mange on your dog’s skin. Ear mites are most commonly found among puppies and young dogs and they are easily passed among dogs and cats (but not people). They are the most common cause of a dog scratching his ears red and tilting and shaking his head. If you have a puppy or young dog scratching his ears and indicating that there is a problem, he probably has ear mites. Once your dog starts scratching, the ear can quickly develop an ear infection.

Home Remedies for Your Dog’s Ear Infection

Normally, if your dog is not experiencing any problems with his ears, it’s best to leave them alone. Check his ears every week when you brush or groom your dog to make sure they look and smell healthy. Ears should be pink-white with no sign of scratches or sores. There should not be any foul odor. Ears should smell clean. There should not be any noticeable wax or dirt. If your dog has been playing in the dirt or mud you might find some superficial dirt on the ear flap, but it should wipe away easily with a wet cloth. Do not dig inside the dog’s ear canal. Otherwise, you might cause a problem where none exists.

On the other hand, if you find any evidence of an infection, you can use a natural remedy for dog ear infections to take care of the problem. Most of these home remedies for dog ear infections predate the medications you can find at the pet store or from your vet. Unless your dog has a serious infection that won’t clear up, these natural ear infection remedies for dogs should be effective.

You can make a basic ear cleaner at home that will kill many kinds of bacteria. Mix a solution of 1 cup of lukewarm water and two tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide or vinegar (apple cider vinegar or white vinegar). This basic mixture is good for wiping the ear and removing loosened debris with a cotton ball. Remember that you should not dig into the dog’s ear canal or poke anything into it. That includes a Q-tip. You can clean the dog’s ear, when necessary, by putting a few drops of this mixture into the ear canal and gently rubbing the base of the ear. Then use cotton balls or a tissue to softly remove any loosened debris brought to the surface.

Essential Oils for Dog Ear Infections

If your dog has any superficial scatches or cuts inside the ear that look like they are becoming infected, you can use calendula lotion (from marigold) to help heal them. It’s easy to find over-the-counter at most drugstores and it’s inexpensive. If you prefer to make your own calendula lotion you can follow a recipe such as this one:

Ingredients:
4 ounces calendula-infused oil
2-4 ounces calendula-infused distilled water
0.5 ounces beeswax
0.5 ounces vegetable glycerin
0.5 ounces witch hazel
1/4 teaspoon grapefruit seed extract (optional)
15 drops essential oils of lavender (optional)

Comfrey is another herb that can be used as a natural ear infection treatment for dogs.

Some essential oils can be beneficial for dog ear infection home treatment, but they usually need to be used sparingly or mixed with a carrier oil.

Tea tree oil is a natural disinfectant, as is the similar niaouli. It’s one of the best natural remedies for dog ear infection. Tea Tree Oil is a broad spectrum anti-microbial and it’s frequently used to get rid of the itch and swelling associated with ear infections in dogs. Please be careful and do not let your dog ingest any. It can be fatal if a pet swallows it.

Other Home Treatments

Another excellent home remedy for dog ear infections is gentian violet. Gentian violet is an antiseptic dye that is used to treat fungal infections. It also has properties that make it useful as an antibacterial to prevent infections. It is a purple dye that will stain your dog (your floor, your hands, and so on) if you spill it, so it should be used with care. If you accidentally stain your dog purple, it will take several baths before he is a normal color again. (We speak from experience.) Most dog owners use it as part of the “Purple Power” recipe:

Ingredients:
16 oz. bottle isopropyl alcohol (or witch hazel)
4 tablespoons boric acid powder
16 drops gentian violet 1% solution

Mix all ingredients in the alcohol bottle and shake well before each use.

Treatment:
Fill ear with solution and massage gently for 30 seconds. Wipe with a tissue. Fill a second time and wipe without massaging. The dog will shake the excess out. Be careful; the gentian violet will stain. You can use an eyedropper to fill the ear or keep the solution in a bottle with a dropper for a top.

Treatment Schedule:
twice a day for the first 2 weeks
once a day for the next 2 weeks
once a month thereafter

You can find this recipe all over the Internet, posted by dog breeders and dog show exhibitors. It’s been passed around for at least 20 years. It can be difficult to find gentian violet at your local drugstore but you can order it online. It’s not expensive. Gentian violet and the Purple Power formula are not for basic ear cleaning, but they do make a good remedy if your dog has a fungal ear infection.

Other natural remedies for dog ear infections include mullein oil and colloidal silver. With colloidal silver you can apply a few drops to the ears each day (7 to 10 days) until the dog gets some relief, according to those who favor it.

Treatments for More Serious Cases

In most cases natural ear infection remedies for dogs are quite effective to stop an infection that is just getting started. A dog that is scratching his ears and shaking his head, or whose ears are starting to show signs of an infection will usually respond to some of the home treatments discussed here. However, if your dog’s ear infection does not get better after a few days of treatment with a home remedy, you should not hesitate to take him to a veterinarian. A stubborn ear infection can be hard to treat and your dog might need antibiotics or something stronger than a home remedy. Always do the best thing for your dog and put his health first.

* This article is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to replace the knowledge and experience of a trained veterinarian. We do not support the self-diagnosis and treatment of your pets without first seeking advice from a professional.