Dog ear infection complications: ruptured tympanic membrane

Dog ear infections can be very severe if neglected or treated incorrectlly.  For this reason you should always take your dog to the vet to have his ear checked thoroughly.  In some severe dog ear infections the eardrum (tympanic membrane) can rupture, resulting in spread of the infection into the middle ear.  This sounds painful and messy: it is.

Here are some great photos of the difference between a normal and a ruptured ear drum from a case study by the University of Pennsylvania Vet School

Dog Ear Vet

Read more about canine otitis externa

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Walnut went for an ear flush guided by a video otoscope under general anesthesia 2 weeks later.  The picture below on the left is of her tympanic membrane, which was ruptured in both ears.  Compare it to a normal canine ear drum seen on the right.  Both ears were flushed, along with the tympanic bullae, and bilateral middle ear cultures were taken for culture and sensitivity testing.                                               Walnut’s left tympanic membrane, ruptured due to severe otitis                                                           Normal canine tympanic membrane                                    externa leading to otitis media                             Future Treatment Plan: Continue oral antibiotics for an additional 8 weeks (change if necessary based on culture and sensitivity from the middle ear) combined with topical treatment of both ears .  If sensitivity reveals no effective oral antibiotic, treat via topical therapy alone for one month past resolution of external canal inflammation and negative cytology.  Click on the button below to see results of Culture and Sensitivitiy from the middle ear.                                                                                                Walnut was treated with oral marbofloxacin 5mg/kg SID (based on culture & sensitivity testing)  for 8 weeks post video otoscopic ear flush.  Her topical regimen included:                     Epiotic (acidifying/drying cleanser) – clean both ears every other day.                     Silver Sulfadiazine (1%) – apply 1cc to both ears twice daily.  Walnut’s otitis required 4 total months of therapy for complete resolution.  At the end of treatment, Walnut’s tympanic membranes had regenerated. Intradermal Allergy Testing (IDAT) was planned to definitively diagnose Atopy as the underlying cause of Walnut’s dermatological problems. The test will be performed in October (end of pollen season) to maximize positive allergen reactions. Â

dog ear infection treatment advice

Dog ear infections require close cooperation with your vet to treat successfully.

Handouts like this one help you understand the problem and the steps needed to fix it.  If not diagnosed early and treated correctly, dog ear infections often recur.

Dog ear vet

Read more about dog ear infection treatment

When your dog has sore, itchy ears.

272 MARCH 2004 Veterinary Medicine

Your veterinarian has just informed you that

your dog has otitis, or inflammation of the ear.

There are three stages of otitis. In the beginning,

the external ear canal is affected, and you may

notice that your dog is shaking its head or pawing at

its ear. Your dog might also have an ear discharge,

with or without odor. In the next stage, the disease

spreads to the middle ear, which includes the

eardrum. In the final stage, otitis spreads to the inner

ear, which houses your dog’s balance system.

In the more severe stages, dogs are reluctant to

open their mouths or chew and have a pronounced

head tilt, balance problems, and drooping lips or eyelids.

Luckily, most cases of otitis are caught during the

first stage, and, at this stage, the chances for getting

your dog’s ears back in tip-top shape are good.

How did the otitis develop?

Many things cause dogs’ ears to become

inflamed, including ear mites, a bacterial

or yeast infection, a foreign object or mass

within the ear, allergies, or medical conditions

that allow infection to develop within the

ear. Some breeds are more likely to develop

problems because of their ear structure. It

can take time and a variety of diagnostic

tests for your veterinarian to determine the

underlying cause. But this cause must be

identified, or the problem can worsen

and spread farther into the ear,

causing your dog intense pain and,

possibly, necessitating surgery to drain the

infected material and remove the affected tissues.

Even if bacterial or yeast infections aren’t the primary

cause, they often develop in affected ears. Your veterinarian

will likely prescribe medication to treat these

infections and show you how to administer it. Keep in

mind that frequent follow-up visits will be necessary to

monitor response to therapy.

Cleaning your dog’s ears

An important part of treating your dog’s otitis involves

frequent ear cleanings, which you can do at home.

Make sure you clean your dog’s ears either outdoors

or in an area such as a tiled bathroom where nothing

can be stained by debris from the ear canal. Use a

two-stage cleaning technique. First, flood the ear

canal with cleaning solution prescribed by your veterinarian.

Make sure you fill the canal—don’t just use

a few drops. Allow the solution to remain in contact

with the canal for at least 60 seconds, and gently massage

the entire canal during this time. Dry the canal

with a cotton ball. Use only real cotton balls, which

are less irritating than synthetic ones are. Never clean

your dog’s ears with a cotton swab. The

swab pushes debris farther into the ear

canal and puts the eardrum under pressure,

possibly causing it to rupture. The

second stage is a repeat of the first.

Again allow the solution to contact

the canal for a full 60 seconds or

more and massage the ear. Then

step back and let your dog shake

its head.

The frequency of cleaning

varies based on how severely

your dog’s ears are affected, but,

in general, perform this cleaning

process twice a day for the first one

or two weeks, once a day for the

next one or two weeks, and then

once or twice a week thereafter.

Communicate with your veterinarian

Follow your veterinarian’s instructions for cleaning

your dog’s ears and administering medications. Be

sure to bring your dog in for each recheck appointment

your veterinarian schedules, even after the

inflammation has subsided. Otitis often recurs in dogs,

and the medication that cleared it up the first time

may not work the next time because a different type

of infection may have developed. So be sure to see

your veterinarian if signs do recur. â– 

dog ear infection | Modern Hound

Tag Archive | dog ear infection

December 24, 2011  

• in Dog Health, Uncategorized
  


• 3 Comments

Ear infection

Yesterday Ginny and I took a trip to see the vet at Pets Unlimited. In addition to identifying her skin problems as a chronic allergy that has probably plagued her all her life, she diagnosed an ear infection. Ear infections are commonly associated with allergies. Ginny’s scabby, speckled skin chronic allergies have probably given her ear infections since she was a puppy.

Ear infections look different. My cat Phoebe also has chronic ear infections which look like she has extra dark brown wax in her kitty ears. The visible part of a normal cat’s ear should be clean; no wax, just healthy and pink. Yesterday I noticed that a client of mine, Moma* (who also has severe chronic allergies), also has an ear infection; his ear was crusty and scabby with a pool of mucus-like wax at the entrance to his ear canal. Ginny’s infection appeared somewhat less severe than Moma’s with dark crusty wax and what looked like severely dry skin around the edges.

Ear infections are frustrating in and of themselves – they can be painful and itchy for your pet. But chronic ear infections also have a sinister secondary effect: they can lead to a ruptured ear drum, deafness or facial nerve paralysis. My theory is that Ginny’s deafness is the result of failure to treat her chronic ear infections because, at the age of 8, she seems too young to have lost her hearing due to old age.

Long-eared dogs and those with hair in the visible area inside their ears are more susceptible to ear infections than those with pointy ears that don’t fold over. Other than allergies, drug reactions, the build up of hair or dead skin, the development of bacteria or fungus or excessive moisture caused by swimming. Common symptoms include pain, head shaking, scratching at the ears and a bad smell. In more serious ear infections, the inflammation spreads to the inner ear and can cause your dog to tilt his head, become uncoordinated, vomit or even develop anorexia.

If you suspect your dog has an ear infection, it is important to have it diagnosed by a vet. For less severe infections that have not entered the middle ear, she will probably prescribe drops to be massaged in to the ear canal a couple of times a day; this is the treatment Ginny is now on. These infections typically clear up in three to four weeks. For more difficult infections, oral antibiotics and/or antifungals may be prescribed.

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Dog Ear Infection - Causes,Symptoms & Treatment

While some dog breeds are more likely to get ear infections than others, just about every dog has experienced an ear infection at one time or any other. In accordance with veterinarians, dog ear infections are among the most common ailments that affect dogs annually. In the following paragraphs, we’ll discuss this ordinary infection along with the factors behind it too. In the end you’ll have a better comprehension of dog ear infections.

Dog ear infection

There are two types of dog ear infections. The first is otitis media that is contamination from the middle ear and otis externa is surely an infection of the dog’s external ear canal. Although both types of dog ear infections can be treated with holistic and traditional treatments, it is always recommended that dog owners seek treatment as opposed to letting the problem run their course. It is because infections may cause serious damage to your puppy if not dealt with. As an example, an untreated ear infection may damage your dog’s eardrums or damage arteries.

Otis externa and Otis media

The main cause of otitis externa is accumulated wax, hair or debris within the ear canal, yeast and bacteria, or improper ear drainage the effect of a tumor or another medical problem.

Otis media is usually caused by debris, improper ear cleaning that ruptures the ear drum, foreign bacteria or yeast, or perhaps an infection that travels from the external towards the middle ear.

The signs of dog ear infections

There are many the signs of dog ear infections including odor emanating from your dog’s ears, black, red or yellowish drainage originating from your dog’s ear, rise in your dog’s scratching or tilting his head, etc. If you see any of these signs, you should take your puppy into have him checked with an ear infection, the problem with the dogs ears won’t just go away and it will need to be treated with antibiotic ear drops.

Vet visit to treat the ear infection

Once you’re in the vet, he’ll execute a routine examination and look your canine’s ears by having an otoscope, an instrument that enables him to determine inside his ear. If he finds a foreign matter inside your dog’s ear that is inducing the infection, he’ll eliminate it while your puppy is under sedation. He’ll also perform a cytology or swab of the within your dog’s ear. This will tell him the type of ear infection. In some instances, your veterinarian might also suggest additional tests or x-rays. You will need to keep in mind that some infections are not as easy to treat than others and could take 5-6 weeks to clear it up. Also, some dog breeds are prone to chronic and recurring ear infections which can be a particular nuisance for you and for the dogs ears too.

Tips

- Do what you may can to help keep water from the dog’s ears as it is often a host for bacteria.

- Make sure you trim the hairs within your dog’s ears.

- Make an effort to check on your canine’s ears once per week for signs of infection and become prepared to take appropriate steps swiftly in case there is infection.

In summary, dog ear infections can be harmful if left untreated. Therefore, if you think that the dog has an infection, you ought to seek the assistance of a qualified veterinarian to help him straight away. Using this method, you can get him the helpful veterinarian care he needs to improve.

Dog ear infection

For treating recurring or chronic ear infections in dogs, many people use a natural veterinary ear medicine to control and relieve ear symptoms like fluid ear, waxy buildup, discharge from the ears, foul odor in the ears and more. Dr Dogs Ear Oil helps fight common ear yeast infection and will also get rid of ear mites in dogs ears if present.

How to Tell if Your Dog Has an Ear Infection - PetLvr Blog for Pet Lovers

Ear infections are common in dogs, particularly those that eat a low-quality diet with too many sources of carbohydrates and too little digestible protein. Mild ear infections are easily treated with medicated ear drops, but if left untreated can worsen to the point of permanently damaging the dog’s hearing and sense of balance. If you suspect that your dog may have an ear infection, see a veterinarian. Your vet can diagnose an ear infection definitively and prescribe treatment. To help you determine whether or not your dog should be seen for a possible ear infection, check this list of common symptoms.

Headshaking

Frequent headshaking in dogs is one ear infection symptom. Headshaking may also be caused by a foreign body in the ear, so be very careful if you attempt to look into the ear canal. Never insert objects like tweezers into the ear, even if you can see something lodged in the ear canal. A veterinarian should remove any foreign objects from the ear.

Headshaking may also occur simply because the ears are dirty or improperly groomed. If your vet says your dog’s ears are not infected but are itchy because they’re unclean, consider paying a reputable groomer to teach you to properly clean your dog’s ears and remove ear hair.

Unusual Smell

Infected ears often smell foul and yeasty.  A waxy discharge may be visible in and around the ear. If you notice an unusual scent coming from your dog’s ears, an infection is likely. Clean the outside of the ear and the underside of the ear leather with a chemical-free baby wipe and schedule a vet’s appointment.

Balance Problems

Severe ear infections, particularly in puppies, may cause balance problems. If  your dog or young puppy wobbles or walks in circles, an ear infection should be suspected. Schedule a veterinary appointment immediately, as balance problems can also be  a symptom of very serious neurological problems that need rapid treatment.

Head Tilt

If your dog continually holds his head tilted to one side, he may have an ear infection. A persistent head tilt can also be a symptom of other serious health problems including certain tumors, so don’t assume it’s an ear infection–have a vet diagnose your dog.

Redness and Irritation

 Red, irritated ears are often infected. A healthy ear should be pale pink with no hair in the ear canal and a minimum of wax and/or dirt buildup. If your dog’s ears are red and seem tender to the touch, an infection is possible.

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Dog Ear Infection: How To Finally Stop It With Natural Remedies

Here’s an interesting article on treating your dog’s ear infection yourself, at home.  This article is written by a Canadian Veterinarian and gives simple to understand and effective treatment ideas.  I know that when my baby is scratching and shaking his head, I’m really miserable for him.  Now I know what to do for this and will be able to give him relief sooner rather than later.  If this fails, he’ll go to the vet as usual.

Please enjoy this article.  He has many more posted at his site, so stay a while and browse.  You might learn something you didn’t know there.
———————————————————————————————————–

By Dr Andrew | January 5, 2012

If your dog has been shaking his head and scratching at his ears, then he likely has an ear infection. Ear infections in dogs are very common but often very frustrating; they can quickly and often do re-occur leaving you wondering if you can ever get rid of them. This article will go over the most common causes of ear infections, and give you the most effective at home remedies to finally stop your dog’s ear infection.
Most pet owners can easily tell if their dog has an ear infection by looking into and their dog’s ear. A normal ear is light pink, not tender and easy to examine. In dog ear infections you will see a foul-smelling black, yellow or brown discharge. The ears may be very red and tender.
Most ear infections are caused by an underlying allergy. Some are caused by water in the ear after bathing or swimming. Dogs with large floppy ears, such as Basset Hounds, are prone to infections as their ear canals have poor air circulation, trapping moisture and allowing bacteria and yeast to grow.
Dogs with ear infections caused by yeast usually have a black discharge; this is commonly second to an allergy. Dogs with bacterial ear infections often have an organism called Staphylococcus; in rare cases a more serious infection is caused by a bacteria called Pseudomonas.
White vinegar (acetic acid) is very effective at removing debris from the ears and killing the yeast and bacteria responsible for ear infections. The vinegar is anti-fungal, so in many cases it alone can resolve your dog’s ear infection. If your dog has red, open wounds, do not use this as it will be painful. You need to use a soothing topical first (i.e. olive oil and Vitamin E). Dilute the vinegar with water 50:50, pick up a syringe from your local pharmacy and put 5 ml of the vinegar solution per 20 lbs of body weight into the affected ear. (Your cat would get 2.5 ml or 1/2 a tsp). Grab the ear where it attaches to the head (at the ear base), gently squeeze your thumb and forefinger together, rubbing the solution deep into the ear canals. Wipe the inside of the ear well with cotton balls to remove debris coming from the ear canal. Continue to do this daily for 5-7 days. For dogs with recurring infections, this can be done weekly.
Healing oils are especially helpful if your dog’s ears are inflamed and difficult to touch. You can use a mixture of 1 tablespoon of Olive Oil combined with 1 capsule of Vitamin E and crushed garlic. Insert that into your pets ear. Let it soak for 5 minutes, then rub the base of the ear well and wipe out excess debris with a cotton ball. The garlic is anti-fungal, so often helps with recurring ear infections.
For dogs that get recurring ear infections it is important to try a less allergenic diet. It should include a completely different protein with minimal added ingredients. One example commercial diet is made of fish and sweet potato…[read more]

Related articles

• 
  Dog Ear Infections (vetdepot.com)


• 
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How To Cure A Dog"s Ear Infection - EcoEars Review

It’s been a while since I’ve posted a product review.  If you have a dog with an ear infection, or ear mites. Then you are going to want to know about this product.

Meet our dog, Pebbles.  Poor Pebbles has had gunky itchy ears for longer than I care to admit.  She constantly scratches and licks her paws.  Sometimes, she’ll even shake her head crazily.  She’s miserable and I was at a loss of what I could do for her. 
I took her to the vet.  He gave me some drops and instructed me to put this antibiotic in her ear twice a day for 10 days.  I did my best, but not always making the full 10 days.  Her ear would get slightly better but soon would be just as bad as before. 
Vet’s are not cheap, and so I just kept putting in the drops.  Even though it really wasn’t working.  I didn’t want to go back to the expensive vet, and my small bottle of expensive antibiotic was running out soon. 

What to do?
Well, I went searching online and found a product called EcoEars, a natural remedy.

For Dogs With Itchy, Smelly & Gunky Ears.  This sounded like Pebbles problem.  Maybe it would work? 

click picture for link

 

I ordered the product which was very reasonable and so much cheaper than the vet.  I couldn’t wait to receive it in the mail.  I was feeling so bad for my dog.

The product arrived within days. I found Pebbles and doused her ear good.  I loved the big bottle of EcoEars.  It was easy to use with it’s simple spout.  If some of the stuff missed the ear, no problem.  There was plenty.  Pebbles hated it, of course.

Imagine my surprise the next day when I checked Pebbles ear.  The black gunky stuff was clearing up already.  I could see pink again.  She wasn’t scratching or shaking her head anymore.  I gave her another dose.
You are supposed to do this for 10 days in a row.  By the third day Pebbles ear was perfect.  She is so happy, more relaxed.  I’m just thrilled with this product.

Click Picture For Link

If your dog has ear infections.  I can not recommend EcoEars enough.
It’s a great product, priced right, and it works.

Thank you EcoEars.

NATURAL, HERBAL, HOMEOPATHIC EAR INFECTION TREATMENTS, REMEDIES FOR DOGS AND CATS

Introduction

 

The most commonly administered treatment for ear infections is antibiotics. And while antibiotics can be very useful they are one of the most over-prescribed medications used today. When a dog / cat is frequently prescribed antibiotics – just like with humans, dogs / cats can become immune to the antibiotics. This can create a critical situation if a dog or cat requires antibiotics to save its life.

Antibiotics can also be counter-productive to solving the problem of ear infections. Antibiotics suppress the immune system. If an ear infection is a result of a yeast infection (Candida) or an otherwise suppressed immune system the administration of antibiotics can actually make the condition worse.

For these reasons it is important that antibiotics only be used when absolutely necessary.

Herb and fruit extracts offer a readily available, all-natural and affective alternative  to treating ear irritations and infections with antibiotics. While some herbs should never be taken internally when a dog or cat is on certain conventional medications, using herb as a topical application is safe.

Dogs with floppy ears may be particularly prone to ear infections as air circulation inside the ear is limited, fur on the inside surface of the ear can become overgrown and dirt and particulate can become trapped. It is important to check your dog’s and cat’s ears on a weekly basis to ensure ears are clean.

 

What Causes Ear Infections?

 

Well there are many conditions that can lead to ear infections; the following provides some examples…

One – Acute Ear Infections 

This type of infection may be caused by:

1. Bacteria;


2. A scratch or cut inside or near the ear canal.

Two – Chronic (ongoing) Ear Infections

This type of infection may be caused by:

1. 
   Allergies – caused by inappropriate food ingredients such as corn, soy and other grains,  chemical based preservatives and other artificial additives such as chemical-based food colouring, etc.


2. Candida (yeast infection);


3. Chronic Bacterial infection;


4. Hormonal unbalance;


5. Stress;


6. Suppressed immune system.

Three – An Infestation of Ear Mites

Ear mites are tiny spider-like insects that like to infest the ears of dogs, cats, rabbits and other small animals. Although they prefer the ear canals they can also live elsewhere on the animal’s body. The mites thrive in the moist warmth of the ear canal. They burrow into the ear, casing irritation and inflammation – the animal’s body responds to the attack by producing excess ear-wax. The ear mites feed on epidermal debris and ear wax.

 

Four – Other Foreign Material

Such as…particulate blowing about in the wind can impact and lodge into the ear canal (i.e. dogs that stick their heads out of vehicles);

Running through or rolling-in certain grasses that have hard seed-bearing seed heads. These seed heads have sharp points and microscopic barbs that can become lodged in a dog’s ears as they run through, play or roll-about in the grass. These barbs can easily work there way into flesh – the barbs then prevent the seed head from working its way back out. Hard seed bearing grasses are often referred to as ‘Fox Tails’. The following are typical examples of ‘fox tail’ grasses:

 

Cheat grass’ (Bromus tectorum);

Foxtail also called wild barley, squirreltail barley,
skunktail (Hordeum murinum), 

Red Brome (Bromus madritensis);

Rip-gut grass’ (Bromus diandrus).

 

Symptoms of an Ear Infection

 

Typical symptoms of an ear infection include:

• Build-up of ear wax; when you clean the wax it redevelops quickly, i.e. within the next day or two);


• Ear sensitivity/pain – your dog may turn its head away if you try to touch its ears or may cry in pain at your touch;


• Dizziness and/or vomiting;


• Holding of the head to one side;


• Scratching at the ear (repeatedly, excessively, persistently);


• Shaking of the head (repeatedly);


• Strong odour;


• Swelling, redness;

Persistent scratching and/or head-shaking can also lead to Aural Hemotoma - the constant irritation can break blood vessels resulting in an accumulation of blood between the layers of skin. This condition creates a large blister-like pocket that must be drained safely by a veterinarian. The best procedure to treat this condition is surgery in which the skin is cut and the blister completely drained. Less intrusive procedures such as draining the blister with a needle or small tube are less desirable measures as the blister will usually refill with blood in a matter of hours or days.

An Aural Hemotoma

 

Natural Options to Clean Ears, Reduce Irritation and Treat Ear Infections

 

Please note -when administering any of the below treatments:

• Make sure that the liquid solution being dropped into or applied to your dog’s / cat’s ear is at room temperature;




•  If the liquid is too cold you can cause additional discomfort, if the liquid is to hot you can cause discomfort and damage;




• If you need to warm the solution up to room temperature simply take the solution, place it in a vial, dropper, small glass or bowl (dropper with the open end up) and sit the vial, dropper, glass or bowl in a larger vessel (glass or bowl) that contains a little warm water -  this will warm the solution up quickly.




• If you want to dry your dog’s / cat’s ear once the application of the treatment has been completed use a cotton ball to gently pat the ear dry;

• Gently rub/massage the ear in a circular motion, then remove your hand and let your dog/cat shake its head. 

• You can use a cotton ball to gently wipe any excess oil off the inside of the ear flap;


• If you need to use a cotton swab to clean more precisely – never put the cotton swab past the portions of the ear that you can readily see…do not put the swab into the ear canal – you can very easily damage the ear drum either temporarily or permanently!

• Do not use any of these treatments if your animal’s ear drums are perforated/punctured.

The number of drops suggested for each flush is a typical dosage – however if your dog / cat is very small, i.e. 4 lbs, use less drops, if your dog is 150 – 200 lbs you will need to use more drops.

 

Some of the following Ear Flush Recipes call for tinctures. Tinctures are  readily available at most health food stores and on-line. If you wish you can also make the tinctures yourself. 

Organic Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) & Distilled Water Ear Flush – to keep ears clean, treat ear infections and reduce irritation

My personal favorite treatments – particularly for treating yeast infections (candida) of the ear is 1) Colloidal Sliver (see further below) or;
 2) ACV.  
I use the ACV undiluted – but you can also dilute it with water as indicated below.

Organic Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) has anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral properties (primarily from the acetic acid and malic acid in ACV).

This herbal flush is good for treating ear infections. Use it once or twice daily if the dog has a dirty, irritated or infected ear.

While you could choose to substitute the organic ACV for non-organic – I do not recommend going with non-organic, at least not in North America. Most of the non-organic ACV produced in North America is derived from apples imported from China, where the amount of toxic pesticides and herbicides used on apples is not only more voluminous than what is applied in NA, but also poorly if not completely unregulated in many regions.

1. Combine equal parts of ACV and distilled water, mix the solution;


2. With a syringe or dropper, gently drop about 10 drops of the liquid into your dog’s /cat’s ear – make sure that the syringe is located at the entrance to the ear canal – the syringe should never be placed inside of the ear canal.


3. Gently rub/massage the ear in a circular motion, then remove your hand and let your dog/cat shake its head.

If you would like to know more about the many beneficial uses of ACV for your dog you can read more here.

Calendula Ear Flush – to keep ears clean and reduce irritation

Use this flush once or twice daily. Calendula has anti-fungal properties. It is also very effective in promoting the healing of wounds. Cut this recipe in half for smaller animals.

Combine the following in a glass:

1. 1 cup warm distilled or filtered water;


2. 1 teaspoon calendula tincture;


3. 1/2 teaspoon sea salt;

With a syringe or dropper, gently drop about 10 drops of the liquid into your dog’s /cat’s ear – make sure that the syringe is located at the entrance to the ear canal – the syringe should never be placed inside of the ear canal.

Gently rub/massage the ear in a circular motion, then remove your hand and let your dog/cat shake its head.

This ear flush may also be expanded to include a small amount of Meadow Anemone (Pulsatilla nigricans) tincture.

Colloidal Silver Water and Gel – reduce inflammation, treat infection

Silver is a natural and powerful broad spectrum antibiotic agent, it is also has excellent antiseptic, antifungal and disinfectant properties. Read this article to find out:

• The history of Colloidal Silver; 


• How Colloidal Silver:


• Kills virus, fungus and bacterium;


• Speeds healing;


• How to apply it;


• How to select a quality product..

Garlic Oil Ear Flush – keep ears clean, treat ear infections, ear mites

Garlic is a powerful, natural broad-spectrum antibiotic. The active antibiotic agent in garlic is allicin (a sulfur compound). Allicin is produced when garlic is chopped, chewed or bruised. Garlic is also an antioxidant, anti-allergen, and anti-carcinogen – garlic contains germanium, an anti-cancer agent.

Garlic oil can be used to:

• Keep ears clean;


• Treat bacterial of fungal infections of the ear;


• Treatment for ear mites;


• Treat inner ear fluid and inner ear swelling;

To prepare Garlic Oil you will need:

• A small, clean wide-mouth glass jar;


• Cheesecloth or other breathable clean cloth;


• Elastic band or string;


• Amber, brown or blue storage bottle;


• Garlic cloves;


•  Virgin, or extra virgin olive oil (cold-pressed olive oil).

Preparation:

• Remove the outer skin (also called ‘paper’) from the garlic cloves;


• Cut the garlic cloves into thin slices;


• Put the sliced garlic in the jar, leave a little space at the top of the jar empty;


• Pour the olive oil into the jar, making sure to add enough oil to completely cover the garlic – make sure that you leave some empty space at the top of the jar;




• Cover the top of the jar with a few layers of cheesecloth:


• Stretch the cheesecloth so it lays flat on top of the lid – if the cloth touches the oil it will absorb the oil and make a mess;


• Secure the cloth with string or an elastic band;




• Let the garlic/oil filled jar sit top cure, in a warm location for 10 to 14 days;


• Once the curing period is over, separate the garlic from the oil by straining the oil into an amber, brown or blue storage bottle;


• Store the Garlic Oil in the refrigerator.

Administering

• For infection and mites: twice daily, until the infection/infestation is resolved;


• For maintenance and cleaning: once a week to once a month as required to keep ears clean…

Make sure the oil is warmed up to room temperature. With a syringe or dropper, gently drop several drops of the oil into your dog’s /cat’s ear – make sure that the syringe is located at the entrance to the ear canal – the syringe should never be placed inside of the ear canal.

Gently rub/massage the ear in a circular motion, then remove your hand and let your dog/cat shake its head. You can use a cotton ball to gently swab any excess oil off the inside of the ear flap.

Garlic & Mullein Ear Flush – to keep ears clean, reduce irritation and treat ear infections

Mullein is anti-microbial and anti-viral properties. Garlic is a natural anti-biotic.This herbal flush is good for treating ear infections. Use it once or twice daily.

Combine the following in a glass:

1. Equal parts of mullein oil and garlic oil;


2. Combine the two oils;


3. Add 10 to 20 drops of olive oil or vitamin E for every one ounce of garlic/mullein oil mixture.

With a syringe or dropper, gently drop about 10 drops of the liquid into your dog’s /cat’s ear – make sure that the syringe is located at the entrance to the ear canal – the syringe should never be placed inside of the ear canal.

Gently rub/massage the ear in a circular motion, then remove your hand and let your dog/cat shake its head.

Green Tea Flush – to reduce irritation and keep ears clean

Add two tea bags (or two teaspoons of green tea) to 8 ounces of boiling water. Allow the tea to steep and cool. Apply ½ of a dropper (about 10 drops) twice daily to irritated ear. Make sure that the dropper or syringe is located at the entrance to the ear canal – the syringe should never be placed inside of the ear canal.  Gently rub/massage the ear in a circular motion, then remove your hand and let your dog/cat shake its head.

Oregon Grape Ear Flush – to keep ears clean, reduce irritation, treat ear infections and /or kill ear mites

 

Oregon Grape has strong antibiotic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and astringent properties. Apply 1 to 10 drops (depending on the size of your dog/cat) of Oregon Grape tincture to the ear twice daily until the infection is eradicated.

Yellow Dock Tea Flush- to reduce irritation and keep ears clean

Add one tablespoon of dry yellow dock to ½ cup boiling water. Allow the tea to steep and cool. Once the tea is cool, strain it so that the fluid is clear and free of particulate. Apply ½ of a dropper (about 10 drops) twice daily to irritated ear. Make sure that the dropper or syringe is located at the entrance to the ear canal – the syringe should never be placed inside of the ear canal.  Gently rub/massage the ear in a circular motion, then remove your hand and let your dog/cat shake its head.

 

Eradicating Ear Mites

 

Garlic Oil Ear Flush – keep ears clean, treat ear infections, ear mites

Garlic is a powerful, natural broad-spectrum antibiotic. The active antibiotic agent in garlic is allicin (a sulfur compound). Allicin is produced when garlic is chopped, chewed or bruised. Garlic is also an antioxidant, anti-allergen, and anti-carcinogen – garlic contains germanium, an anti-cancer agent. See recipe and instructions above.

Yellow Dock Ear Flush

 

Yellow dock has many medicinal properties. It astringent, anti-inflammatory, and purification properties kill the ear mites while soothing inflammation and itchiness. If your dog/cat is prone to ear mites you can use this recipe to shampoo your pet’s head, ears and tail once a week.

Combine…

3 drops of yellow dock tincture;

1 tbs of distilled water.

Apply ½ of a dropper (about 10 drops) once daily to irritated ear. Make sure that the dropper or syringe is located at the entrance to the ear canal – the syringe should never be placed inside of the ear canal.  Gently rub/massage the ear in a circular motion, then remove your hand and let your dog/cat shake its head. Repeat the treatment once every three days for up to three weeks.

 

Options for Pro-Active Maintenance / Prevention

 

If your dog is prone to ear infections – you can also add an herb to your dog’s daily diet to help avoid infections and flush your dog’s ears occasionally.

 

Ear Flushes

Lemon Flush for Dogs Who Swim Frequently/Daily

You can use this flush once a week during swimming season or more often if your pet swims on a daily basis

Combine…

The fresh squeezed juice of ½ a lemon;

1 cup of warm distilled water;

Strain the resulting liquid to remove lemon pulp and seeds. Apply ½ of a dropper (about 10 drops) once daily to irritated ear. Make sure that the dropper or syringe is located at the entrance to the ear canal – the syringe should never be placed inside of the ear canal.  Gently rub/massage the ear in a circular motion, then remove your hand and let your dog/cat shake its head.

Lemon offers many other health benefits and uses – you can read more here.

 

Apple Cider Vinegar and Water Flush

The ACV/Water flush recipe provided above can be used once or twice a month to keep your dog’s ears clean and free of bugs.

Adding Oils and Herbs to Your dog’s Diet

 

Coconut Oil

Coconut Oil is an anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral. It also boosts the immune system and provides many additional health benefits. If you would like to learn more about the benefits of giving your dog or cat coconut oil and the recommended dosages you can read this article.

 

Echinacea (Purple Cone Flower)

Dogs that have frequent ear infections can benefit from taking Echinacea which has anti-biotic, anti-viral and immune system stimulating properties. Dry herb of Echinacea is available in health food stores

 

Mullein Weed

Dogs that have frequent ear infections can benefit from taking Mullein Weed which has anti-microbial and anti-viral properties. Dry herb of mullein is available in health food stores.

 

Dosages for Adding Herbs to Your Dog’s Diet

The table below provides a general guideline for herbs/spices based on your dog’s weight. The information provided in the table is an extract from Dr. Kidd’s Guide to Herbal Dogs Care.

Daily Amounts Based on Dog’s Weight.

 

Dog’s Weight	Sprinkles (on dog’s food once/day)	Teas	Capsules/Tablets	Tinctures
1-10 lbs	a small pinch	less than 1/4 cup, 1-3 times/day	1/2 capsule, 1-3 times/day	1-3 drops, 2-3 times/day
10-20 lbs	a bigger pinch about	1/4 cup, 1-3 times/day	1/2-1 capsule/tablet, 1-3 times/day	3-5 drops, 2-3 times/day
20-50 lbs	2 pinches-1 teaspoon	1/4-1/2 cup, 1-3 times/day	1-2 capsules/tablets, 2-3 times/day	5-10 drops, 2-3 times/day
50-100 lbs 10-	2 pinches-2 teaspoons	1/2-1 cup, 1-3 times/day	1-2 capsules/tablets, 3-4 times/day	20 drops, 2-3 times/day
Over 100 lbs,	up to 1 tablespoon	up to 1 cup 3 times/day	adult human dose	adult human dose

Please note certain herbs and spices do not create a hazard by themselves however they can interfere with conventional Western medicines. If you are using one of the topical flushes provided above to clean your dog’s/cat’s ear you do not need to be concerned about conflict. But if your dog is on any of the conventional medicines please make sure you consult your veterinarian before you introduce herbs to your dog’s diet. 

Anti-inflammatory (i.e. Rimadyl)

Aspirin

Antibiotics

Cardiac drugs

Central Nervous System drugs

Chemotherapy drugs

Diabetic / Hypoglycemic drugs (i.e. Insulin)

Diuretics (i.e. Furosemide, Diazide)

Hormones (i.e. Thyroxine)

Steroids

❀ᵔᴥᵔ❀

Related Articles

For related and additional articles on dog and cat, care, health, training, nutrition and animal advocacy go to thispage.

Feel free to leave a comment below – if your comment is polite, informative etc. I will publish it. If your comment is a quick question, I will answer it if time permits…

If you require additional assistancewith your dogs you can engage me to…

1.0) Do an in-person session(see details below)

2.0)  Do a phone/email consultation (see details below)

1.0) In-Person Sessions are available to you if you live in the region of Ottawa-Gatineau, the Ottawa Valley and Region.

(i.e. Ottawa, Hull, Alymer, Orleans, Bells Corners, Manotick, Vars, Kanata, Stittsville, Smith Falls, Fitzroy, Carp, Arnprior, Renfrew, etc.) 

  and surrounding areas 

(i.e. Brockville, Smith Falls, Perth, Kingston, L’Original, Val-des-Monte, St-Pierre-de-Wakefield, etc.)

or if you will be visiting the area from out-of-town.

Methods of Payment (for In-Person Sessions):

Cash, Email Money Transfer and Credit Card via PayPal

2.0) If you reside elsewhere you can engage my world wide consultation service, details of which are provided just below…

My Hourly Fee

$ 100.00/hour in Canadian funds.

Purchasing Consultation Time:

Client’s often start out by purchasing an hour of my time and then augment that if required to suit the situation;

Or you can – if your situation requires it, purchase whatever block of time you want (i.e. multiple hours).

Methods of Payment:

Email Money Transfer and Credit Card via PayPal

1.0 Email Money Transfer:

1 hour = $ 100.00 in Canadian Funds;

For payment via email money transfer I provide you with a password (security information).

2.0 Credit Card via PayPal

1 hour = $ 100.00 + $ 5.00 PayPal Transaction fee = $ 105.00 Canadian Funds;

For payment via PayPal I send you a PayPal invoice to enable payment.

Method of Consultation – Canada, USA and Abroad (i.e. UK, Asia, etc.)

If You Are Located In:

1.0 Canada:

I can work with you via:

Phone with follow-up by email, or;

Via email only;

The choice is yours;

If you want to work via phone you provide me with your phone number and I will call you at the mutually agreed upon Consultation time.

2.0 USA:

I can work with you via:

Phone with follow-up by email, or;

Via email only;

The choice is yours;

If you want to work via phone:

You call me at the following number 613-622-7958, at the mutually agreed upon consultation time.

3.0 ALL OTHER GLOBAL LOCATIONS (i.e. UK. Asia, etc.):

I can work with you via:

Via email only, or;

Phone with follow-up by email…

The choice is yours;

If you want to work via phone:

You call me at the following number 613-622-7958, at the mutually agreed upon consultation time.

To Set-up a Consultation

Step 1 – Identify how you would prefer to pay for the consultation;

  Payment options as noted above are:

o    email money transfer, or;

o    Credit card via Paypal.

Step 2 – Identification of a consultation time that works for both our schedules;

Step 3 – You then pay the fee for the amount of consultation time you want to purchase;

Step 4 – Consultation takes place on the agreed upon time.

Contact me at

 email mailto:ottawavalleydogwhisperer@gmail.com

Office 613-622-7958
Cell 613-293-3707

Ottawa Valley Dog Whisperer Services

Training;

Behaviour Modification;

Rehabilitation;

Nutrition;

Health

Whether you are experiencing dog behavior problems and would like assistance, or just want to bring your dog up to be a well-balanced canine -  I offer both a local and international service for people with one or multiple dogs. 

I work with all breeds – from small (i.e. Yorkie, Pomeranian, Chihuahua, etc.), medium breeds size (including Pit Bulls) and large breed dogs…

In-person SessionsDog Training, Puppy Training, Behaviour Modification, Rehabilitation, Diet, Nutrition and Care – Ottawa, Ottawa Area, Outaouais, Ottawa Valley

International e-Consultation 

Sessions, Advice via email for National and International Clients – Dog Training, Puppy Training, Behaviour Modification, Nutrition, Health 

Contact me at

 email mailto:ottawavalleydogwhisperer@gmail.com

Office 613-622-7958
Cell 613-293-3707

ur Modification, Rehabilitation – Ottawa, Ottawa Area, Outaouais, Ottawa Valley

International e-Consultation 

Sessions,Advice via email for National and International Clients – Dog Training, Puppy Training, Behaviour Modification, Nutrition, Health 

Contact me at

 email ottawavalleydogwhisperer@gmail.com

Office 613-622-7958
Cell 613-293-3707