Replied by Theresa 
(Mpls., Mn) on 09/24/2013
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.
-----------------------------
How To Show Theresa Your Appreciation
If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.
http://www.piperslegacy.org/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Get-Bobo-home/1409993732632080?sk=timeline&ref=page_internal
http://ted.earthclinic.com
Hey Jackie! You said: "My dog has crusty outer ears and he is now losing the hair on the back of his ears."
By 'crusty outer ears' do you mean the edge of the ear flap? There is a condition that affects the edge of the ear flap called Canine Idiopathic Ear Margin Dermatosis - you can read up about it and basic treatment options here:
http://en.wikivet.net/Ear_Margin_Dermatosis
Please take time to do a photo search on the internet for this condition to see if this is what you are seeing in your dog; this condition is also seen in dogs with hypothyroidism, so another condition to read up on.
If 'crusty outer ears' referse to the back of the ear flap [as opposed to the fairly hairless inside of the ear flap] then it sounds like an irritant is in the ear canal.
Dogs will scratch the back of their ears bald, raw and bloody for ears clogged with dark waxy gunk; this dark waxy gunk is often associated with yeast and diet issues. They will also scratch their ears raw if they are infected with ear mites. And they will also scratch up the inside of the ear as they try to remove the irritant from the ear canal with their claws.
If you have the money a vet visit is in order to check for hypothyroid and ear mites. For inexpensive home remedies you can start with cleaning the ears.
For tender 'ouchy' ears first steep a couple of good sized cloves of garlic in a cup of olive oil overnight in the fridge. After the oil is infused with the garlic, strain out the garlic -and then warm up the oil. Once the oil is luke warm or a tad warmer, insert it into the ear - use an eye dropper or a syringe or any clean bottle with a small nozzle. You want to flood the ears with the oil, and then massage the base of the ear canal [near the jaw line] to make sure the oil is all the way down; you should hear squishing sounds. The olive oil will help soften up waxy gunk so it can be shaken out of the ear when the dog shakes his head, and the garlic has antimicrobial and antifungal properties as well. Use the garlic infused olive oil twice a day - am and pm - for 3-5 days. You can use the antibiotic ointment you have on the back of the ears if they are scratched raw and scabby.
When the ears are no longer tender or sore and the inside skin has healed you can change the ear cleaning solution - a number of possibilities are provided here:
https://www.earthclinic.com/pets/ear_infection.html
Consider using one of these remedies if you suspect ear mites:
https://www.earthclinic.com/pets/ear_mites.html
Also consider Ted's remedies for ear mites:
https://www.earthclinic.com/pets/dog_mange_cure.html#TEDS
If the ear issue is not related to mites, ie chronic gunky ears, you will need to stay on top of the ears to keep them healthy; this may mean cleaning weekly or daily. Also consider looking into your dog's diet, as chronic gunky ears has been linked to food allergy.
