Tips especially for all dog owners about ear infection in dogs:causes, symptoms and natural treatment. We have had dogs for over 12 years and we have extensive experience with all kinds of disorders in dogs. An ear infection is unfortunately a more common problem in adult dogs. These tips can help you identify the causes and symptoms. In addition, I will give you tips for a natural treatment of ear infections in dogs.
Usually ear infections only occur in adult dogs, in a few cases a puppy will also suffer from it. Ear infections are actually common ailments in dogs and almost every dog will experience them at some point in his or her life. Of course this does not mean that it is painful and that the dog must be treated. Unfortunately, it also appears that some breeds are more sensitive than others. That is why it is good to discover and treat ear infections in dogs in time.
The first sign of ear infection in dogs is often head shaking. The dog tries to get rid of the pain and any excess earwax by shaking. Scratching the ears with the paws is also a clear sign that the dog is suffering from an infection. Another symptom of an ear infection is a bad smell coming from the ear. Finally, the ear may also be red and slightly swollen.
Now that you know what the symptoms are, you are certainly curious about the cause. For adult dogs, an ear infection is caused by a fungal infection or a bacteria. In some cases, ear mites can also cause inflammation. This will especially be the case with puppies. Other causes that can trigger infections:excess hair growth in the ears, too much earwax, allergies (nutrition, hormone imbalance and hypothyroidism.
Unfortunately, some breeds are more prone to getting ear infections than others. Below is a list of dog breeds that are especially prone to ear infections. If you happen to have one of the varieties below, be extra alert:
An ear infection can be diagnosed by the vet. This will take some wax or fluid from the ear and look at it under a microscope. This can identify the cause of the infection. Of course, the infection can be treated with medication, but there are also natural remedies that help treat an ear infection.
Before you tackle the infection yourself, it is important to clean the ear well. NEVER DO:Never clean your dog's ears with cotton swabs! With this you push bacteria and dirt even deeper into the ear canal with all the consequences that entails! How can you clean the ear? To do this, use a cotton ball and special means to clean the ears. Drip the cleaning agent in the ear according to the instructions and gently massage the product into the ear. Place the cotton ball in the ear canal and leave it there for about 10 minutes. This prevents the product from running out of the ear and earwax and ear fluid are immediately collected. You can also use apple cider vinegar instead of a remedy from the vet/pet store (see below).
NOTE:If your dog has problems with his balance, walks in circles or his eyes do not function properly, it is better to leave the treatment to a veterinarian. There may be a deeper cause or infection that cannot be treated with home remedies.
After all the warnings, you are probably curious about how you can treat mild forms of ear infections. Below you will find 4 tips to deal with the infection naturally:
Only use this if your dog's ears aren't red or swollen, or the vinegar will be too painful. However, apple cider vinegar helps very well with minor infections. Vinegar is known for its many healthy properties. This also applies to the treatment of ear infections. Vinegar can kill bacteria and fungi. To treat your dog's ears, take one part water and one part apple cider vinegar. Mix in a clean glass. You can now drip the mixture into the ear by means of a pipette or clean the ear with a cotton pad soaked in the mixture.
As you may have noticed, I love using essential oil (today also known as essential oil). You can make 1001 of them and the oils are particularly good for the general well-being of humans and animals. PRELIMINARY WARNING:Never use undiluted oregano oil! To treat an ear infection, mix 1 drop of oregano oil with 15 ml of pure aloe vera juice. Drip a small amount in your dog's ear and clean the ear with a cotton pad with a few drops of aloe vera oregano on it.
Like oregano, calendula also has many antiseptic properties. In addition, calendula is analgesic. Ideal for tackling an ear infection. Although it is quite possible to make your own calendula oil, you can also buy ready-made calendula oil for convenience. The oil can be used both internally and externally.
Much has been written about coconut oil, but you may not have known this remedy to treat an ear infection in dogs. Coconut oil is both antibacterial and antifungal, making it the perfect remedy for treating an ear infection. The oil is heated to lukewarm and with a pipette 2 – 3 drops of oil are dripped into the ear. Keep this up for 5 - 7 days, about 3x a day. After healing, you can continue to use the coconut oil once a week to keep the ear clean (preventative).
As you can see, you can use apple cider vinegar and coconut oil and even calendula to preventively protect the ears against infections. Although not always preventable, you can also try the following things to reduce infections:
In the list of dog breeds prone to ear infections is the pit bull. Since 2015, we have had a very sweet pit bull, which unfortunately not only turns out to be allergic to certain foods, but also suffers from ear infections more often. This manifests itself in Daisy by itching and frequent scratching of the ear. Although Daisy is incredibly sweet and patient and you can do almost anything with her, she doesn't like touching her ears. I try to avoid this, because she has a lot of pain with an infection and starts beeping when I touch her ear.
Cleaning is therefore not an option, but trying to prevent it is. After a lot of searching I came across a natural product that helps to keep the ears clean. These are ear drops with propolis, tea tree and calendula. These were purchased at Lekkerhoning.nl. All beneficial substances that ensure that excess fungal growth is prevented. The drops also provide a natural balance that prevents an infection.
We use the drops every now and then and I really notice a big difference. Our Daisy has much less trouble with her ears. That's nice because she lets the drops set without any problems. Prevention is also in this case much better to cure. No chemical agents have been added to the drops, so that they are not extra burdensome for the body. Ideal for dogs that are prone to ear infections.
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