This month at Instincto, we are focusing on disease education for pets! In this blog we will be giving education advice on potential treatment methods that are all natural and may help with prevention or healing! Everything from potential reasons why they occur, the reported symptoms you should look out for and most importantly the possible natural solutions you can implement to help. 

Concerned your dog may have an ear infection? Did you know that ear infections are one of the most common reasons people take their dogs to the vet?! Here’s how to spot the signs of canine ear infection – and prevent and treat them. Ears are a common cause of ill health for your pooch – they provide a warm, moist environment for bacteria and infections to grow, dirt to linger and pests to hide out in. And dogs with hairier or floppier ears, or those with narrowed ear canals can be even more prone to issues. 

The good news is, they can be easy to prevent, spot and treat. Rule one is to make checking their ears a daily habit. This will ensure you spot any signs or symptoms early, potentially preventing more serious infections that may require more intensive and prolonged treatment. 

Some symptoms may include:-

Tilting or shaking the head
– Brown or reddish discharge inside the ear
– Ear odor
– Redness or swelling in the ear
– Scabs or crusty areas in the ear

Some natural solutions: 

– Switch your dog to a balanced, varied, species-appropriate raw diet.
– Eliminate toxins, including antibiotics (they cause imbalances that can lead to more ear infections), steroids (which suppress the immune system), and over-the-counter flea and tick treatments (they’re poisons).
– Mix equal parts distilled water and apple cider vinegar. Using a cotton ball soaked in the solution, gently clean your dog’s ear flap. Take care not to push the cotton ball into the ear canal (and don’t use a Q-tip!). This can push dirt and bacteria deeper in the ear, and it can also rupture their eardrum. Note that if your dog’s ears are inflamed, avoid this remedy; the apple cider vinegar will be very painful for them.
– Get a pre-made calendula infusion, soak a cotton ball with it, and gently apply it to your dog’s ear flap.
– Simmer 2 tablespoons coconut oil in a saucepan on low heat. Add in two fresh garlic cloves. Once the oil becomes liquid, let it cool enough so it doesn’t burn your dog’s ears, then dip a cotton ball in the oil mixture and gently apply to your dog’s ear.
– Dilute your chosen essential oil with equal parts olive oil or fractionated coconut oil. Use a cotton ball to gently apply the solution to your dog’s ear. Good oils to try are Myrrh, Thyme, Wintergreen, Helichrysum, Mountain Savory, Basil, ImmuPower, Melrose, Thieves, Purification, and Exodus II. Note I only use Young Living oils for my dogs, myself, and my family.
– Be patient if you make these changes and your dog enters a healing response.

Contact a holistic veterinarian or a certified animal naturopath if you need additional help.  To find out more about our suggested natural remedies for dog diseases, make sure to check out our new disease dashboard feature on our website. You can also keep up-to-date with our natural remedies by liking our Facebook page!