The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Allie (Bc, Canada) on 06/09/2013
★★★★★
For those dogs with itchy ears, ear infections.... I have a holistic dog consultant that helped me greatly. She recommened two main things: proper food - no corn, soy, or grain; and a deworming with Black Walnut. You can get Black Walnut at your health food store - my dog is 55 lbs, and I use 20 drops Black Walnut, in a syringe and into her mouth every day for 5 DAYS, then stop for 3 weeks, and then do it again for 5 DAYS. Right into your dogs mouth with the syringe and squirt it in. It tastes bad so putting it on their food won't work. ALSO, rotating food as well.... Switch from a chicken blend, to a lamb blend (lamb is actually best tolerated) to a fish blend, and round and round. Do a gradual switch though - so blend the new food into the old gradually increasing for about a week which gives your dogs digestive system a chance to adjust to the change otherwise you will have diahrrea and stomach upset. Good Luck!
Honey
Posted by Dr Scott (Brisbane, Qld) on 03/10/2013
★★★★★
1. For infected ears rather than putting acids or alcohols into the already inflammed stinging chronic ear, try Manuka honey. Doesn't sting, i'ts active again all the harmful organisms in the ear (including Pseudomonas), and is safe if the ear drum is ruptured. It soothes inflammed skin and may helps draw material out of eardrums like a poultice. There are no bacterial resistence issues either. Also helps to deodorize stinky ears as well. Only downside is it can be a bit messy to apply and when it dries but can remove with wet cloth. Just Instill a few mls with a syringe and massage in -its easier when warm.
Works wonderfully and very economical and I use this in my Vet practice.
2. For those waxy or itchy allergic ears water based products like vinegar doesnt remove wax very well, try either warm olive oil or very dilute orange oil mixed with a little oatmeal. Good luck
Rubbing Alcohol, Violet Solution, Boric Acid
Posted by Jp4120 (Phila., Pa) on 01/27/2010
★★★★★
cure for dog ear infections
this works perfectly for my dogs after many wasted trips to the vet and many useless expensive drug treatments
[Recipe found on the web ]
* 16 Oz. Isopropyl Alcohol
* 4 Tablespoons Boric Acid Powder
* 16 Drops Gentian Violet Solution 1%
Mix together in alcohol bottle and shake well. You also will need to shake solution every time you use it to disperse the Boric Acid Powder. To use, purchase the "Clairol" type plastic bottle to dispense solution to affected ears.
TREATMENT: Evaluate condition of ears before treating and if very inflamed and sore do not attempt to pull hair or clean out ear at all. Wait until inflammation has subsided which will be about 2 days. Shake the bottle each time before using. Flood the ear with solution (gently squirt bottle), massage gently to the count of 60, wipe with a tissue. Flood again on first treatment, wipe with a tissue and leave alone without massage. The dog will shake out the excess, which can be wiped with a tissue. Best done outside wearing old clothes, as the Gentian Violet does stain fabrics.
The SCHEDULE of treatment is as follows: Treat 2x per day for the first week to two weeks depending upon severity of ears. Treat 1x per day for the next 1-2 weeks. Treat 1x per month (or even less frequently, depending on the dog). All of these ingredients should be available at a pharmacy. Despite the alcohol, most dogs will not object to even the first treatment. The Boric Acid Powder soothes the ear. The Gentian Violet Solution is an anti-infection agent. The solution appears to work well on any and all ear problems from mites to wax to canker. After the 2nd or 3rd day you can clean out the ear with a Q-tip or cotton balls. Their success rate for this treatment is 95-99%. Those who do not succeed have usually not done the treatment long enough or have not been regular about it.
Witch Hazel
Posted by Kathy (Detroit, Michigan) on 01/04/2009
★★★★★
My black Lab mix has always had allergies that end up causing problems with her ears and infections as well. She is now eleven years old and for the last 5 or so years we have been cleansing her ears with witch hazel. Not only does it have antibiotic qualities, it also is an anti-inflamitory. We buy witch hazel OTC in any store. Use cotton balls made with real cotton, and lightly soak with witch hazel, being careful not to get the cotton ball so wet that it drips and runs into the ear. Gently swab the inside of the ear, and remove the dark matter that builds up in the ear.
Our dog loves the treatment. It doesn't sting and she finds it soothing. We try to treat her every other day, depending on the severity of the allergy outbreak. Works like a charm and she relaxes after a treatment. We have saved a fortune in vet fees and medicine. Our vet approved of our method.
Blue Powder Solution
Posted by Deb (Granby, Quebec Canada) on 12/07/2008
★★★★★
With regard to the smelly/itchy ear problem that I've seen in a couple of posts, we have used the Blue Power Ear Treatment from here:
http://www.itsfortheanimals.com/Adobe/Blue Power Ear Treatment.pdf -- It gets you out of using antibiotics for your fur-kids. I'll be giving our two dogs small amounts of garlic with their meal once or twice a week. Too much of anything can cause problems.
Blue Powder Solution
Posted by renee (tully, new york) on 09/19/2007
★★★★★
The remedy is called Blue Power Solution and can be found on any search engine. My Bernese Mtn dog, Gunther had very serious infection in both ears and we tried clearing it up with prescription meds for 2 years. I found the solution by doing my own search for a natural treatment. After two years he was cleared of infection in about 2 weeks. I now only use it once a month. The vet was amazed!
Boric Acid
Posted by Dawn (Lewes, Delaware) on 03/13/2015
★★★★★
I take 150 ml of water and add a heaping teaspoon of boric acid and add 70 to 80 ml of clear vinegar to it. Then I pour it into those containers which have isopropyl alcohol sheets (can buy them in drug stores or Kmart or Walmart).
I pull out a sheet, squeeze out excess fluid and wipe out my dogs ears with it. Boric acid and vinegar kill bacteria and fungus. Boric acid can also kill ear mites.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Dixiechick (Lakeland, Fl) on 09/22/2010
★★★★★
I just discovered something alarming about canned dog food. One of my dogs is 5 yrs. Old and has never had an ear infection or ear problem. I just recently converted both of my dogs to a wheat-free and corn-free diet. I switched them both to Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance L.I.D. Food. Everything was fine until I purchased their canned dog food to add to the dry food. The dog with the ear infection wouldn't eat unless I added something, so that's why I purchased the canned food. She got a severe ear infection 5 days after consumming the canned food. I tried ACV and MMS. They did nothing. My neighbor had this same exact problem with his dog. Last year his dog was rushed to the vet with the same symptoms. His dog was being fed dry dog food with Alpo canned food. I never saw the correlation until it happened to my dog. Symptoms start as head shaking, then tiny bumps in the ear, then redness, inflammation, then pus. Also included were nose rubbing, scratching, coughing, eye swelling. The symptoms started on the day after eating the food and progressed to the fifth day with full blown redness, inflammation, pus, eye swelling, cough. It was unbelievable. Went to the vet for treatment. Dog is currently recovering with home made food and meds. My neighbor's dog and my dog are officially off canned dog food. His dog recovered nicely. There is something in canned dog food that is causing ear infections. It may not happen with every dog, but if your dog is sensitive you need to avoid canned dog food. It doesn't matter what brand, whether premium or low grade canned dog food. I saw it first hand using a premium L. I. D. Food. That's limited ingredient diet.
Garlic
Posted by Vera (Coloardo) on 11/14/2024
There are some people saying garlic is toxic to cats, and even dogs, on the webs. Yet the famous herbalist Juliette de Bairacli Levy treated her pets with garlic, no problem. I followed her recipe for garlic enemas for puppy worms with complete success. Does anyone have *real evidence* that this is an issue?
Cannabis Oil + Colloidal Silver
Posted by Denise (Rockford, Illinois) on 05/02/2019
★★★★★
I mixed an eyedropper full of organic cannabis oil that was cut with olive oil in the tincture only. Then added an eyedropper full of colloidal silver. Put it on a cotton pad and gently cleaned ears and swabbed all over the inside earlobe. Did this 3 x times daily. Healing took hold within a few days.
Amazing! It's gentle on inflammation and has no side effects.
Iodine
Posted by Dave (Boynton Beach, Florida) on 08/30/2017
★★★★★
I have 2 yellow labs, one 9 the other 6. Both have had ear infection problems. The 9 year old had ear infections when he was a pup through year 3. Then a redneck vet gave us the solution. Mix 4-5 drops of iodine with warm water, draw up in bulb syringe squirt in ear. Rub ear and side of head for a few minutes. Place cottonball in ear as far as possible, then pull out. Don't worry never lost one yet in over 5 years. Continue with cottonballs until clean. In two days, it'll be cured. Continue to do once every month or two. Don't let dog swim in ponds or lakes. Ocean, most rivers, and pool is okay.
Garlic
Posted by Om (Hope, Bc Canada) on 08/29/2014
★★★★★
For ear infections in dogs, use pure olive oil or sesame oil. Mascerate garlic cloves overnight and then apply warmed. ACV is too harsh for ear infection. My dog had his ear infection treated like this and all is well. It took less than three days but that is individual. This is med for humans, too. Namaste, Om
Sunshine
Posted by Uvaid (Fort Myers, Florida, Usa) on 09/22/2012
★★★★★
Let me offer a way for your dog to stay healthy and free from ear infections, take him for a walk outside preferably in broad daylight. If your dog has long ear flaps pin them back. Mammals produce hydrogen peroxide naturally through a process called photo-oxidation. Photo-oxidation occurs when the melanin in mamallian skin is exposed to sunlight. This process is an animal's first line of defense against disease all over their bodies including their ear, nose, and throat. There is a direct correlation between available sunlight hours and the occurrence of colds, flu, and ear infection. During the summer months exposure to sunlight produces enough hydrogen peroxide to keep animals free of disease but during the winter months the process of photo-oxidation diminshes. In addition, a study under the direction of Dr. Cindy Dunn has found a significant reduction in bacterial colonies on skin including the ears and nose after exposed to natural light.
Exposing your pet to sunlight only for a few seconds everyday has proven health benefits. If you are not able to get out into the sun everyday, I suggest using a light supplement.
Tea Tree Oil
Posted by Llv319 (Mastic Beach, New York) on 08/19/2009
★★★★★
my dog had an ear infection for years. vet gave him meds but nothing worked.he had brown discharge and always scracthed and cried. then i used TEA TREE OIL. a couple of drops everyday and cleaned out the gunck! every other day i used ear powder to help dry up the ear.in a week it was gone. it's been years now and no infections. i use this remedy still as a preventative every few weeks. puppy is happy.
Hydrogen Peroxide, Vinegar, Rubbing Alcohol
Posted by Tracey (OR) on 11/07/2021 1 posts
★★★★★
Hi Jessica, you want to use apple cider vinegar (ACV). It's much better than regular white vinegar. And to Kathy, that is, equal parts apple cider vinegar (ACV), peroxide and water. My husband and I have a cattery in Oregon, and have 20 cats, at present. Unfortunately, one of our babies got sick with ear mites, which quickly spread to all the other 19 kitties, as most were litters of kittens from our queens! We have always favored natural remedies. My grandmother had been an advocate of apple cider vinegar, claiming it could cure just about anything that ails you. So, I decided to try the ear wash, made up of equal parts apple cider vinegar (ACV) and warm water, in a spray bottle. You want to use a bottle that has a setting for a light mist. Spray in cats/dogs ears twice a day, for 7-10 days. I'd recommend going a full 10 days, to be certain all larvae, as well as the mites, are good and dead! We decided to follow this method up with yet another natural home remedy, using warm olive oil and coconut oil. Just warm up a little of each kind of oil, together, dab with a cotton ball, in kitty/dogs ears. Be sure to wipe out any excess oils. These work beautifully together, as the oils, really help to calm and soothe the redness and irritation from the mites/infection. Which, in my opinion, the ACV/H2O mixture, because of its acidity, doesn't necessarily do, on its own. Another natural option, follow-up, to the ACV/H2O mixture, is Aloe Vera. I'm happy to report, our cattery is free of mites! I hope this is helpful! It certainly was for us and we have 20, very grateful babies!
Garlic
Posted by Art (California) on 11/14/2024 2681 posts
Hi Vera,
There are quite a few articles on the web from known sources discussing how garlic and other members of the allium family such as onions is toxic to dogs and cats because of its thiosulfate content. On the other hand, thiosulfate is not toxic to humans. Some of you may remember thiosulfate as a remedy that Ted often used for humans. Here are a couple of example articles with this first one being from the American Kennel Club (AKC) :
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/can-dogs-eat-garlic/
https://bottletreeanimalhospital.com/blog/what-should-i-do-if-my-dog-eats-garlic/
Here is a relevant quote from their article :
' Yes, garlic is potentially dangerous to dogs. This is because garlic and related plants such as onions are toxic to dogs. Garlic can cause anemia and signs of toxicity when eaten in high enough amounts. All forms of garlic are potentially toxic to dogs. These forms of garlic include ':
- Raw garlic
- Cooked garlic
- Garlic powder
- Garlic paste
- Pickled garlic
- Liquid garlic
- Garlic oil
- Any food with any type of garlic in it
https://www.petmd.com/cat/poisoning/can-cats-eat-garlic
A relevant article quote :
'Whether cooked or raw, garlic is toxic to cats, and your pet should never eat it in any form, including :
' Garlic is a bulbous vegetable belonging to the genus Allium, which also includes onions, chives, and leeks. None of these should ever be included in your cat's diet or treats. '
' Garlic contains a toxic compound called sodium n-propyl thiosulfate. This toxin causes damage to red blood cells, making them fragile and leading to their breakdown and destruction (hemolysis). Hemolysis results in anemia in addition to red or brown urine discoloration. Anemia means the body's organs are no longer getting enough oxygen and, in severe cases, can result in organ failure and death. '
'Garlic poisoning can become life-threatening and should be treated as a medical emergency. If your cat ingests garlic, take them to the vet immediately. Do not wait until they are acting sick. '
Animals are a gift from the angelic realm that we can learn from, and they can not tell us when they are sick or in distress so it seems worthwhile for us to exercise as much caution as is possible in what we feed or give to them to eat.
Art
Garlic
Posted by Vera (Colorado) on 11/15/2024
A few more notes on garlic and thiosulfate. All the sources that I have seen do not explain the supposed toxicity to cats. AI does not report any cats harmed by it. There are people completely panicked and asking web vets for help, just because their cat "may have" chewed on a clove, or actually at one. The vets said that it would take 3-6 cloves to cause problems, and that the ingestion would need to be chronic. Also, the AI says that thiosulfate is not toxic, but used as a poison antidote. Unless I see more convincing info, I don't believe this to be an issue in practical terms. To urge cat owners to go to ER immediately upon ingesting a bit seems irresponsible.
Here is another answer from AI: "Based on the available research, thiosulfate appears to be generally well tolerated in cats. There is no evidence to suggest that thiosulfate has inherent toxicity to cats. In fact, thiosulfate is often used to treat cyanide poisoning in animals, including cats, as it helps convert cyanide into thiocyanate, reducing its toxic effects."
Probiotics
Posted by Elana (Tennessee) on 05/05/2017
★★★★★
Peroxide, water and vinegar mixed,, 1 teaspoon each has made my dogs ears smell good, plus a probiotic every day and a drop of vinegar on the food daily...
Dietary Changes
Posted by Becki (Pennsylvania) on 12/13/2016
★★★★★
I have an American Bulldog & he had ear infections since he was a puppy. It was so expensive & so sad to see him suffer. I changed his diet to grain free/ NOTHING with chicken meal in it. Merrick grain free with salmon worked for us, but you have to do grain free teats as well. No chicken meal at all. Stick to fish based food, treats with only veggies in them.
