Fortunately, pharmacology applied to veterinary medicine has advanced to such an extent that we have multiple therapeutic tools to effectively treat many disorders, however, the wide use of these drugs also presents other not-so-positive aspects: tolerance to certain drugs, resistance to antibiotics, a variety of side effects and a decrease in the healing responses of our pet's organism.
We are increasingly aware of this problem and therefore we are looking for more natural and respectful alternatives to our dog's organism, which also also treat many conditions effectively.
If you choose to treat your dog naturally, in this Animal Expert article we show you the best home remedies for otitis in dogs.
About otitis in dogs
The term "otitis" refers to a ear swelling It can be acute or chronic and affect several structures such as the eardrum, the external or middle auditory canal and the auricular pavilion.
Otitis in cats is also possible, but this pathology affects dogs more frequently.
This condition It can occur in one or both ears and causes various symptoms as the following:
- Widespread discomfort
- Signs of pain, the dog remains with its head bowed
- Changes in behavior, including aggressiveness
- Intense and unpleasant smell
- Intensive scratching and lesions near the ears
- Large amount of pus and earwax
- Constant shaking
While otitis only refers to a state of inflammation, This inflammation can be caused by various causes:
- Pest infestation
- Fungal, virus or bacterial infection
- Allergies
- Foreign bodies in the auditory cavity
- Glandular or endocrine disorders
- Tumors
What to do if I suspect that my dog has otitis?
As we have observed before, otitis can have numerous causes and some of them very serious, therefore, before determining a treatment it is essential that go to the vet for him to establish what the underlying cause is.
He otitis diagnosis as well as its etiology, it will be carried out through the complete clinical history, including the animal's environment, its relationship with other pets, the time when otitis has appeared and its hygienic habits.
A complete physical exam will also be performed that includes an otoscopy (visual examination of the inside of the ear) and if necessary a cytology will also be performed (study of the cells present in the ear).
Veterinary advice will also be of great importance to monitor the natural treatment of otitis in dogs.
Prevent otitis in dogs
Preventing otitis is as important as treating it and for this we only have to take into account the following hygienic-dietary measures:
- Keep your dog's ear canal shaved, since the excess hair in this area allows a greater accumulation of dirt and predisposes the animal to suffer otitis.
- Dry your dog's ears well after bathing, avoiding any excess moisture.
- Do not let your dog spend long periods in the water.
- Perform periodically (approximately 2 times a month) a specific hygiene to clean your dog's ears.
- It also performs a general hygiene of the cat.
This article is purely informative, at ExpertAnimal.com we have no power to prescribe veterinary treatments or make any kind of diagnosis. We invite you to take your pet to the veterinarian in case he presents any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Home remedies for otitis in dogsWe recommend that you enter our section on Home Remedies.
First the First What is otitis?
Before knowing the home remedies for canine otitis, we must understand what this condition is about. Otitis or inflammation of the ear canal can be divided into two. Otitis externa is a chronic inflammation of the external ear canal of the dog. Otitis media, meanwhile, is an inflammation of the dog's middle ear. Both terms are used to describe clinical symptoms and are not themselves the same disease.
The otitis externa It often occurs when there is a change in the normal environment of the ear canal which causes the glands that line the canal to expand and produce excess wax. Gradually, the outer skin (epidermis) and the inner skin (dermis) produce excess fibrous tissue (fibrosis) and the canal narrows. It is usually a secondary symptom of another underlying disease, such as an infection. Otitis externa causes pain, itching and redness, and when the condition is chronic, it often results in a ruptured eardrum and otitis media.
The otitis media It normally occurs as an extension of otitis externa, causing a broken membrane (eardrum) that separates the outer ear and the middle ear. Otitis externa and otitis media affects dogs of any age and breed, but long-eared dogs, such as spaniels and retrievers and dogs with external hair channels, such as terriers and poodles, are more susceptible.
What are the symptoms of Canine Otitis?
The most common symptoms of otitis externa and otitis media are pain, shaking the head, scratches on the outer ear flaps, and a bad smell. In a physical examination performed by a veterinarian, a dog with the condition may have redness and inflammation of the external auditory canal, enlargement of the skin or obstruction of the external auditory canal. Signs such as head tilt, anorexia, lack of coordination, and occasional vomiting may indicate the development of otitis media or internal otitis, if the infection and inflammation spreads to the inner ear.
How can ear infections be prevented?
Before entering the topic of what are home remedies for canine otitis, we must understand that prevention is the most important step when it comes to ear infections, especially in the case of otitis taking into account that this condition may have various causes In some cases the external auditory canal becomes moist during bathing. This moisture favors the growth of microorganisms in the ear canal. Prevention in these cases can be as simple as cleaning the ear to remove moisture and prevent infection.
However, in many cases the underlying cause may not be so easily identified. Dogs that suffer from allergies, whether environmental, such as pollens (grasses, trees and weeds), dust mites, molds or food (beef, chicken, fish, soy, etc.) are predisposed to infections of the ear. This is due to the microscopic inflammation that allergies cause on the skin, which allows the overgrowth of bacterial organisms that normally inhabit the skin.
Home remedies for canine otitis
At home we can find a series of products that we may not know that can help us fight the causes of canine otitis. Many of these home remedies are in our homes and perhaps we have struggled with a lot of veterinary remedies without having managed to eliminate the infection without knowing that we have something at hand that can be so useful.
We show you some home remedies for canine otitis:
When we notice that our dog is producing a type of pinkish or brownish discharge, it is most likely that a yeast infection is developing. Vinegar has many cleansing properties that are useful in the treatment of otitis.
What we will do:
We will take a container, preferably those that perform dripper functions or have a tip that allows the product to reach the ear. In that container, we will place equal parts of vinegar and water.
What we will do is place a few drops of the mixture in our pet's ear and gently massage. After this, we will take a piece of gauze and gently clean the area to remove the product and the wax.
When otitis occurs with open wounds, applying products such as vinegar can cause great pain and discomfort. In these cases, it is better to clean with oils of natural origin such as olive oil or almond oil. The idea is that the wax is released and it is much easier to remove it.
3.- Natural antibiotic
There is a plant called Pau d'Aroco known in America for its antibiotic properties. Being a natural product, we can use it as part of home remedies for canine otitis.
4.- Salt water
Salt has many disinfectant properties, so we can use it to eliminate several of the causes that can cause canine otitis in addition to other internal parasites. We should not use this if our pet has open wounds in any part of his body.
My dog's ear hurts, what do I do?
A canine otitis begins manifesting with pain and discomfort, so many that sometimes it can cause some blood in the ear and an infection. Do not pour hydrogen peroxide or any antibiotic in drops you have at home, as this will only worsen your situation. All you can and have to do is consult a veterinarian.
What an expert will do is diagnose the reason why your dog has contracted otitis and will give you a series of recommendations so that he will never catch it again. Remember that it is very important to pay attention to it or it will become chronic. He will also prescribe a suitable remedy for him to heal.
Symptoms that my dog has otitis or an ear infection
Your dog doesn't know how to scratch your leg and tell you that something hurts, so you have to know how to recognize his gestures. An otitis can be mild, moderate or severe, which you can intuit depending on how you behave. During the onset of the disease you will see how he tries to lick his ear, that he protests and sobs and even that he moves in circles or that he needs to rub it against your furniture.
If canine otitis progresses, your dog may even lose balance, stagger and even shiver. If this occurs, it will be scared and will be an indication that the matter is serious. In case this happens, visit a specialist urgently, also if you see blood in your ear.
The veterinarian, as we say, will prescribe an ideal medication for him analyzing the causes that have caused otitis and depending on his age, weight, race and possible allergies. This is all you can give him, but there are remedies that you can apply at home to prevent the onset of this canine infection, also to accelerate its healing.
My dog suppurates the ear, what can I do?
The first thing is that you worry about cleaning your ear frequently, but not only when you have otitis, also before. There is a routine that you have to get used to doing on a weekly basis, one that involves brushing your dead hair, cleaning your ears, feeling your belly to check that you have no pain, examining your skin to check that it is not tight and that, therefore , you are not dehydrated and get used to your body temperature, which will help you suspect if you have a fever when the time comes.
The way to cleaning your colleague's ears is very simple: You have to do it carefully and from the inside out. Use a gauze that is not wet and never use swabs. Cover your finger with it and insert it into the sky of your ear with care. So that your ears are neat and do not accumulate mites in it, use a specific soap and use it when you bathe it.
To avoid getting an otitis or to cure it before, you have to worry that whenever you shower it, keep your ears clean and dry, but not only them, but also your entire body. To achieve this we recommend that you use a dryer specially designed for dogs.
You also have to keep your house clean, especially the place where you sleep. In a dirty home, mites accumulate and they can reach your ear and cause an infection. In summary: if your dog shows signs of having an otitis, take it to the veterinarian, use the medication prescribed and learn to clean his hair and ears well. If you do, you will make sure that it will heal sooner. If you have any questions, Our online veterinarians are here to help you.
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