Dogs have earaches and pain due to mites, infections and yeast. Symptoms can include scaly and dry skin on the ear, brown discharge, and signs of physical discomfort such as excessive itching and excessive head shaking. Treating infections and other earache causes helps to remove the problem as well as pain. A hot compress can be applied to the outside of a dog's ear for some pain relief.
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Home Remedies for Dog's Earache
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Cod liver oil, Vitamin E oil and regular olive oil are good home remedies that will condition your dog's ear and provide itching relief. Add two or three drops of beneficial oils into your dog's ear canal with a dropper. Massage the ear gently so oils get deeper into the ear canal. You do not have to rinse oils out and this remedy can be repeated every day.
Apple cider vinegar is a good home remedy for dog earaches as it helps to kill organisms that could be causing an infection, as well as dissolve ear wax and other debris inside the ear canal. Dilute equal parts of apple cider vinegar and lukewarm water, then apply the solution with a cotton ball. Apple cider vinegar has anti-fungal and antibacterial properties that can be beneficial in boosting your dog's immune system. Add a drop of apple cider vinegar to your dog's food every day as an immune booster to help fight off ear infections.
Garlic is a natural antibiotic and is a good home remedy to use on dogs. Macerate two garlic cloves in 20 drops of olive oil overnight. Strain the liquid and use a dropper to apply two drops in the dog's ear canal. You can also purchase garlic oil in supplement aisles and use that instead.
Tea tree oil can also be used to treat dog earaches. Tea tree oil is effective in treating fungal and bacterial causes of earaches but it is only safe to use on dogs (never use it on a cat).
Prevention
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Water can get inside of your dog's ears during bath time. Place cotton balls in your dog's ears to keep them dry. Use a dry washcloth to gently pat the inside of dog's ears dry after bathing. Keep up with ear cleaning once a week and examine your dog's ears frequently for any signs of an infection or inflammation. Feeding your dog a healthy diet and including Vitamin C supplements help to boost the immune system.
Precaution
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Speak to your dog's veterinarian about earaches and ear infections. Ear infections can sometimes occur from food allergies or other medical conditions. Have your dog examined by a veterinarian to see if there is a more serious health problem happening.
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