Ear Infection Remedies for Pets

Olive Oil

Posted by Suseeq (Sydney Australia) on 12/04/2013
★★★★★

I have used olive oil many times for ear infection or mites in ear and has always cured it just a couple of drops then massage ear to work it down

Rubbing Alcohol, White Vinegar

Posted by Airpan (Houston, Tx) on 10/18/2011

I have also heard of grain alcohol (everclear) being used to dry out ear canals in pets and humans. I was on a dive team when I was a kid and I kept getting swimmer's ear. My grandmother purchased a bottle of it and with a capful would fill my ear, I would let it sit there for about 30 seconds and then tilt my head over a towel to drain. After that, never got another swimmer's ear infection again.

Witch Hazel, Boric Acid, Gentian Violet

Posted by Bunny (Boston, Ma) on 09/17/2011
★★★★★

Here's a recipe for ear infection (fungal, bacterial, etc. ) gotten from a vet many years ago. It worked for my dogs.

4 oz. witch hazel (or alcohol although alcohol stings)
1 T boric acid
4 drops gentian violet (pharmacy).

I mixed it up in a little brown bottle with dropper.

Apply to ears 2 x day for a week, then once a day until resolved. It stains so be careful where you apply.

Distilled White Vinegar

Posted by Theresa (Mpls., Mn) on 03/06/2015

Hey Kimdukeking!

Your reply posted to an entry from 2011 -everyone can see it if they search that particular thread OR if you just click on 'Recent pet posts' where most new posts appear.

For super painful ears I prefer to use Zymox Otic enzymatic solution I buy online; it has a bit of painkiller along with enzymes that digest the yeast. It works well but is spendy. I like this because you do not have to flush the ears clean, you just have to squirt it deep into the ear.

For painful ears where the dog is crying, my first plan would be to make sure there is no raw skin or open wounds in the ear due to scratching. If there are wounds I would start with garlic infused olive oil or garlic infused coconut oil as both a balm and an agent to soften the waxy gunk in the ears which will aid in flushing it out. Do the garlic infused oil twice a day until the ears are healed so when you use the vinegar it does not sting. I would use 1/3 each white vinegar, water and isopropyl alcohol. Do this twice a day - for as long as it takes. You might also consider Ted's anti-fungal/anti-staph remedy in the ears as well.

There is a bigger picture when it comes to chronic ear issues - diet, vertebral subluxation, systemic yeast and allergies come into play.

What are you feeding your dog? Take a look at the ingredient label and if you see grain or corn in the first 5 ingredients it is time to upgrade the groceries to a grain free diet as grains have been linked to chronic allergies and systemic yeast in dogs. Any treats or chews should be made in the USA and not treated with sugary coatings and red food dyes and nitrates. A chiropractic adjustment is another option to consider as a misalignment of the neck vertebra can result in chronic ear issues.

You might consider Ted's Borax protocol for dogs or alkalizing your dog's drinking water with baking soda as well.

Good luck and please report back!

Rubbing Alcohol, Violet Solution, Boric Acid

Posted by Melissa (Atoka, Ok) on 05/09/2010
★★★★★

It's a miracle !!

My 6 yr.old yorkie has suffered all her life from allergies, yeast infections in her ears, chewing on herself until she made sores. She has been treated with antibiotics,allergy medicines,Prednisone,medicated shampoos,& even ear surgery. Nothing worked for long. She was scratching and crying almost constantly. my daughter told me about Earth Clinic, so I started using some remedies I read about & they helped,but the one that worked a miracle for her ears was the one that you mix: 1- 16oz bottle of alcohol, 4 Tbsps.Boric Acid & 8 drops of Genetian Violet, mix together in the bottle of alcohol. Shake well before using. Clean the ears then apply drops to ears twice a day for one week, then once a day for a week. As soon as you see improvement,you can decrease how often you have to use it. I apply it once a week now and I can't beleive how much she has improved. I also give her the ACV & accidophilus in her food. I can't thank you enough !!!

Olive Oil and Milk

Posted by Marie (Auckland, New Zealand) on 02/27/2009
★★★★★

I tried the Vinegar solution but it only caused more redness in my dogs ears. But I have had great success with the Olive Oil and milk remedy. 2tbs oil to 1 tbsp of milk, warmed up. Soak a piece cotton wool in the mixture and rub on the inside of the ears making sure only a little goes into the ear cavity. It is really helping, the redness and smell is nearly gone. It will need to be kept up once a day a least to keep it at bay for now though.

Hydrogen Peroxide, Vinegar, Rubbing Alcohol

Posted by Leann (Machesney Park, Il) on 12/14/2014
★★★★★

I want to thank you for that remedy for the ears!!! Worked very well!!!! Saved me $150+ for not taking him to ER VET BECAUSE it was a weekend.

Hydrogen Peroxide

Posted by Jackie (Grand Rapids, Minn) on 01/28/2008
★★★★★

My cousin's lab puppy's ear was red and hot. there was dried blood and dirt in it too. i have a book of home remedies for dogs and cats. cleaned ear with acv plus water then mixed 1 tbsp pure aloe vera gel and 1/2 tsp hydrogen peroxide. she's getting over it nicely' at first i used 2 eyedroppersful but got better results with 3 she had a small growth under an eye on the same side as the affected ear and it has disappeared. could it have been a mite? just want to mention,i mixed up the mixture to put in her ear fresh everyday.

Rubbing Alcohol, Violet Solution, Boric Acid

Posted by Cathy (Deltona, FL) on 09/18/2008
★★★★★

The recipe for the Blue Power Solution is incorrect. I am using this on my dog and it is awesome! The true receipe, from the book, It's all about the Animals, is:

16 oz. Isopropyl Alcohol
16 drops of Gentian Violet Solution (available at pharmacy)
4 tbsps Borac Acid Powder
(available at pharmacy)
1 new hair dye bottle to serve as the applicator

The Gentian Violet stains, so be careful. Best to do this outside.

Mix everything in the alcohol bottle and shake well. Put in the dye bottle and gently flood the ear canal. Massage for 60 seconds and wipe with cotton ball. Do this 2x per day for 2 weeks. Always shake the bottle before each treatment to disperse the borac acid powder.

Hydrogen Peroxide

Posted by Rita (Hammond, USA) on 07/22/2007
★★★★★

Thank you for the remedy about using the peroxide in the cats water. I believe it cured his ear infection and saved his life. My cat was running diarrhea,vomitting and would not eat for two days. I used an ear dropper with the water peroxide solution, gave him Pedialyte so he would not dehydrate. I also, rubbed apple cider vinegar on him until I could get him to the vet. He started drinking on his on even before I got him to the vet. He is back to his old self. Also for now, I'm not gaving him water from the sink. I'm also letting him eat a little raw chicken, which he loves. I freeze it first. He's doing great.

Salt Water

Posted by Amanda (Seaton, Devon UK) on 05/25/2025
★★★★★

I have an Italian Spinone - known for ear issues. he has always produced excessive ear wax which after a while begins to smell. I have tried many options and he has even had antibiotics but the problem persists and every so often I have to tweeze a large glob of hair stuck together by this ear wax to clear the earway. Obviously a horrid solution for the dog.

I then remembered my GBGV who had lesser issues, but having gone into the sea and got thoroughly wet, emerged with brilliantly clear clean ears. Salt water! Worth a try. I looked it up on the internet and came across several articles including this remedy. A teaspoon of non idodised salt in a cup of water. I put a drop of this in his ears and bathed the gunk from the outside of his ear and the earflap. it takes seconds, doesn't traumatise him and it works. It seems that after 15 mins the salt breaks down the wax allowing it to make its way out of the ear. It certainly cleans the outside of the ear in seconds.

Garlic

Posted by Jean (Eureka Springs) on 07/18/2022

I was following advise about ear mite/ear infection(since I don't know which one it is) remedies and opened a garlic oil softgel to put in his ear. (They are 1000 gm extract that you get from the dollar general store.) When I opened the softgel, HE WENT WILD for the smell, even though they are mostly odorless. He loved the smell of it so much that he wanted to lick it off my fingers, and I couldn't get it in his ears, he wanted to lick the oil so bad! (He lets me stick my fingers in his ears, so that's not a problem.) He did lick the oil off my fingers and himself, then ran through the house like a nutty kitten. This can't be normal for a cat to love garlic. I then let him lick avacado oil off my fingers, to see if it is garlic oil in particular he wants, or is he short on fats in general, which he also licked off.

QUESTION: how much is too much garlic OIL for a 10 lb cat who LOVES it better than cat treats? He gets supplements(like I do, ) cracked chlorella/ life extension's cat mix/ collagen/hyaluronic acid.

Garlic

Posted by Leslie (Florence, AL) on 11/14/2024

You should be aware that garlic is extremely toxic to cats.

Garlic

Posted by Vera (Colorado) on 11/14/2024

Art, when I ask if there is real evidence that garlic harms pets, I am asking for actual cases of damage. I have a bad experience with "official sources." Sad, I know. But there it is. Has a cat ever died from eating garlic? Or from being fed garlic as a dewormer? (I have been intending to deworm the stray that recently adopted me.)

They say that thiosulfate harms red blood cells. Why would this damage only cat (or dog) red blood cells and not anyone else's? Baffled.

Keep Ears Dry

Posted by Colleen (Greenwich, Ny, Us) on 10/25/2012
★★★★★

After a year of trying to figure out the perfect solution to clean my dogs ears to cure and then prevent her ear infections I learned that the only way to keep her infection free is to put NOTHING liquid in her ears! I took her to the vet with a raging ear infection in both ears which they suggested removing her ear canal for a long term prevention treatment! Of course that was a big fat NO!

After clearing up her infection with Mometamax and Baytril Otic, I maintained her condition by wiping her ears out with a tissue every day!!!

I put NOTHING in her ears! Now I am able to wipe out her ears maybe 1x a week. I've also started putting a drop of Zymox Otic Enzymatic solution in her ears, wiping that out with the tissue then following it up with a little powder. She has been infection free for MONTHS!!! AFter 10 years of fighting for a solution for her problems i've figured it out! She smells great and doesn't hate her ear cleanings anymore! I hope this helps anybody who is struggling with this same problem. One last thought, I literally put a drop of the enzymatic solution in her ears, no more. Also, I always have the meds on hand in case I smell the beginning of an infection. Fortunately I have not had to use them!!!

Cheers!! Colleen

Rubbing Alcohol, White Vinegar

Posted by Jim (Perry, Mi) on 05/12/2012
★★★★★

My dog's ear was stinking real bad and she was itching. I used 2 cups vinegar 1 cup water 1 tsp rubbing alcohol mixed it all up put it in spray and treated her ears. She didnt like the smell but I noticed she wasnt scratching and the smell of her ears is going down. She is also a big swimmer will continue to treat her ears for a few weeks.

Hydrogen Peroxide

Posted by Liz W. (Durban, South Africa) on 03/12/2018

I try to use the most natural things for my baby puppy too.

HP is just liquid oxygen. The vets are the same all over.. I have been fortunate though. The veta at SPCA Durban and Brighton Beach have been exceptional to my girl.

COCO POP has an ear infection... going to be trying the HP today.

Witch Hazel, Boric Acid, Gentian Violet

Posted by Diane (Or) on 08/07/2016
★★★★★

This homemade treatment really works. Used it a few years back on poodle that had ear infection that just wouldn't clear up.

Honey

Posted by Jan (Downers Grove, Il) on 04/15/2011
★★★★★

My shizh-tzu had ear pain so bad he yelped at the slightest touch. He would scratch at it and whine in pain and then shake his head. I always treat his ears after his bath with tea tree oil/water, and tried just plain tea tree oil a few times, to no avail.

Then remembered the Manuka Wound Honey I had just purchased, so I squirted a glob in his ear. Of course, it didn't go inside to well, so I followed it with 2 good sprays of apple cider vinegar, which washed it down into the ear canal. I massaged his ear for about a minute to work in well, then used a damp paper towel to remove most of the sticky residue around the outside of his ear. He shook his head once or twice, some brown crud came out, which I wiped away, and he has been fine ever since!

It has been 3 days, and no more scratching, shaking or pain! That is way faster than any antibiotic, which requires 2-3 applications a day for several weeks. I'm so thrilled to find something so healthy that works so perfectly, and for almost no expense at all! Win-win! ;D!

EC: APPLE CIDER VINEGAR -- AND WATER. One part ACV to two parts water seems about right.

Rubbing Alcohol, Violet Solution, Boric Acid

Posted by Theresa (Mpls., Mn) on 08/11/2015

Hey Karina!

I agree that the vinegar and alcohol will sting and hurt a dog with such a severe ear infection.

If this were my dog I would go online and try Zymox Otic hcl 1%. This is a liquid and will need to be worked deep into the ear several times per day.

If you do the vet they likely will try to prescribe 'Oti-pack E'; please be aware this product has resulted in permanent deafness in some dogs.

If I had zero money and could not afford the Zymox or another vet visit, I would crush a couple of cloves of raw garlic into 1 cup of olive oil [Neem oil would be my first choice] and let steep over night and then warm that up and get that into the ear; raw garlic has strong antibacterial properties and the oil should be soothing. My next choice would be to spend the $20.00 or so to make up Wendy's recommended healthy ear formula, but my concern is that it is too thick and will not properly penetrate deep into the ear canal.

Hydrogen Peroxide

Posted by Bonnie (Southwest Harbor, Me Usa) on 10/14/2009
★★★★★

I read a post about treating dog ear infection with home remedies. I used 1 Tbsp. Balsamic vinegar, 2 Tbsp. hydrogen peroxide and 3 Tbsp. water and swabbed ears with this. Two treatments and the irritation and redness was gone. Cleaned ears for three day and she was cured. No doctors visits. This works!!!

Garlic

Posted by Susan (Kaneohe, HI) on 07/25/2009
★★★★★

the yeast infection in the ear is candida...the best natural way to completely eliminate it is with garlic. My son who is now 17, when he was a baby he had food allergies & constantly sick with ear infections. I went through the normal course of the pediatrician & ended up having him on different antibiotics for over a year. He developed a severe case of candida. I took him to an homeopathic doctor who tested him for the food allergies. I had read about candida & learned about the garlic which I gave to him everday in a pill form crushed up. Because of the severity it took nearly 6 months before it was completely gone. He has never had it again. This also works for your pets. I buy the already peeled whole garlic from Costco's & using a chopper add it to the dry Costco brand dog food along with olive oil for their coats & joints. It helps eliminate the fleas, they have no worms or intestinal parasites.

Thyroid Medication

Posted by Amelia (Malibu, California) on 06/13/2009
★★★★★

My Lhasa Apso had chronic ear infections. After trying several different medications, the vet tested the smelly, runny discharge from her crusty ears. She had multiple colonies of bacteria including staff and strep etc. We did the best we could for quite a while and then I changed veterinarians. The new vet prescribed quite a bit of thyroid and her ears cleared up immediately and stayed clear as long as she was on the thyroid. Thyroid medication cured the ear infections.

Hydrogen Peroxide, Vinegar, Rubbing Alcohol

Posted by Jessica (Canada) on 03/20/2018

Did you use regular vinegar or apple cider vinegar?

Hydrogen Peroxide, Vinegar, Rubbing Alcohol

Posted by Theresa (Mpls., Mn) on 05/03/2018

Hey Kathy,

You might try the Arcane ear remedy for an active infection:

https://www.earthclinic.com/arcane-solution-ear-infection-dogs.html

If this is a recurring issue with your dog you might also consider diet. Take a peek at the ingredient label and if you see corn or grains it could be your culprit as grains have been linked to skin and ear infections in dogs. Yo might also consider alkalizing your dog's drinking water with baking soda, and also Ted's Borax remedy for dogs.

Rubbing Alcohol, Violet Solution, Boric Acid

Posted by Carol (Sacramento, CA) on 10/27/2007
★★★★★

I have used this on my dog (a cocker spaniel) for more than 10 years. No more ear infections!

Dog Ear Cleaner

16 oz. rubbing alcohol
10 drops violet solution
2 tabs. boric acid powder

You can purchase violet solution and boric acid powder at the drug store. Pour a little of the rubbing alcohol out of a 16 oz. bottle. Add the violet solution (be careful! - it stains) and the boric acid powder. Shake well. Put 5-8 drops in each ear several times per week. Shake each time you use it. You will save loads of money on vet bills - no more ear infections in your dog!

Rubbing Alcohol, Violet Solution, Boric Acid

Posted by Elba Martinez (Columbus, OH) on 11/24/2008
★★★★★

My Golden Retrieves has been getting ear infections every couple of months for the last year. The bill is over $200 every time I take him. I got the gentian violet and the boric acid at the pharmacy (special order because they do not carry it any longer) and started using it. I saw my dog's ear getting better within two day. I am still using it twice a day as recommended. Bingo's ear is like new and I only spent $21 and have solution for several month. I am even sharing it with a friend who also has a Golden Retriever and has spent over $1200 in vet bill. I am sure this is going to work. Thank You!! Does anybody know how often to use it after the infection is gone?