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Which Home Remedy Should I Try First For My Dog With Chronic Ear Infection?

Posted By Joey (Tx) on 03/24/2016

I have a 12 yr old mini-schnauzer that has spent most of her life battling ear infections. After many many trips to the vet and hundreds of dollars, I need to find a home remedy. I've seen the different recipes to use. My question is What is the best thing to do first? Of the olive oil/garlic recipe, acv/water recipe, and the ointment of cortaid, Monistat, and polysporin, which do I use first? She walks with her head tilted, is constantly scratching, and doesn't even hear me if I walk up to her which scares the day lights out of her. I just need to know which remedy is the best to start with?
Thank you,
Joey

Replied by Theresa

(Mpls., Mn) on 03/24/2016

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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Hello Joey,

Does your dog have an active, ouchy ear infection - or at this point does she simply have gunky ears?

If she has gunky ears but no broken skin, I would clean them with 1/3 each water, vinegar and rubbing alcohol. If the skin is raw from scratching or broken in any way the cleaning solution will sting; in that case I would go with the garlic infused olive oil for a few days until the skin is healed. After that you could go with the Arcane ear ointment of cortaid, Monistat, and polysporin. That said, my first choice after years of tinkering are the ear cleaners the vet sells such as Epit-otic from Virbac. You can also get these online and IMHO are worth the investment. One absolute must have for a dog with chronic ear issues is Zymox Otic HCL - get this online too and use at the first sign of discomfort or head shaking. Judicious use of an ear cleaner and an ear medication should keep severe infections away.

And, often when you see a chronic condition other things are afoot - diet is a huge factor. Check your ingredient label on your bag of kibble and if you see grains in the first 10 ingredients you need to change groceries as grains are a huge contributor to skin and ear issues.

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