Replied by Theresa (Mpls., Mn) on 11/15/2015

Theresa

The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.

About Theresa

Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.

Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.

Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and  fueled  her quest for the knowledge held in lore,  and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.

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You can use ACV to clean healthy ears, but for infected ears it will cause pain and I would not recommend it at this time [putting 2 tsp in a bowl of drinking water is OK].

A very simple remedy is garlic infused oil. I typically crush a couple of cloves and let it steep over night, but you could also run a few cloves through a garlic press or mince them very finely and then let them sit 10 minutes; then add to the oil - I use olive oil as it is usually handy - and allow the juices to blend with the oil. Strain the bits of garlic out and warm to body temperature before adding to the ear. Use a liberal amount - you want to be sure it reaches deeply into the ear. Massage the base and listen for squishy sounds to ensure the oil has penetrated deeply. Fresh garlic is a strong antimicrobial agent and you need to let it sit for 10 minutes to fully activate it.

Other considerations would be a trip to the local drug store for these products:

1 tube Monistat (women's vaginal yeast infection product, generic is fine - the active ingredient you want is Miconazole Nitrate)

1 tube Polysporin (Bacitracin and Polymyxin B are the active ingredients you want, so any similar antibiotic cream with those active ingredients would suit)

1 tube Cortaid (The active ingredient is Hydrocortisone which helps with swelling and inflamation and itching)

Contributor Wendy originally posted this with directions - you may have to scroll down for it:

https://www.earthclinic.com/pets/ear_infection.html

I also highly recommend Zymox Otic with hydrocortisone which you should be able to order online - IMHO this is a must have in your doggie ear care toolbox; not only does it have the hydrocortisone but it also has enzymes which help digest yeast and bacteria and you do not need to clean the ear with this product which suits dogs with very painful ears.