Many dog ear infections and cat ear infections are caused by allergies. What are the symptoms of an ear infection? Look for head shaking, scratching or rubbing ears, discharge from ears, bad smelling or tender, red ears. Though conventional medicine is available for ear infections there are many natural remedies you can try. Here are a few home remedies you can try which have been recommended by holistic or natural care veterinarians.

Try vinegar to clean your pet's ears - If you see a lot of brownish-pink wax inside your pets ear, it could be your pets' allergies have triggered a yeast infection. Cleaning the ears with white vinegar will cure a yeast infection. Pet doctors advise using white vinegar because it eliminates dirt and debris and also will bring back the healthy chemical balance in the ears. Pour a small amount of white vinegar into the ear canal. To make sure you don't pour too much use an eye dropper to drop the vinegar in. Massage the area and gently wipe the inside of the ear with a cotton ball. Follow this routine every day until the ear is clear.

Use Vitamin C to reduce inflammation - Your pet's body produces a natural steroid which comes from the adrenal gland that actually soothes the inflammation in their ears. Adding vitamin C supplements to your pet's diet can help that adrenal gland manufacturer more of the natural steroid. Pets who weigh under 15 pounds should be give a dosage between 100 and 250 milligrams a day. If your pet is over 15 pounds they can take 250 to 500 milligrams two or three times a day. Diarrhea can be a problem for some pets when Vitamin C is introduced into their diet. Holistic vets say try adjusting the dosage downward until your pet can tolerate it.

Get rid of toxins by modifying diet - Commercial pet foods can have additives or preservatives that may cause your pet's ears produce too much wax. A high quality pet food or homemade diet can really help decrease the amount of wax in your pet's ears, while also strengthening the immune system.

Get air circulating in the ears - Better air circulation inside the ears can reduce the growth of bacteria, yeast, and fungi. Check your pet's ears on a regular basis. Trim or pluck the hair inside the ears to make it easier for air to come in.

You can help your pet's ears stay clear of ear infections by using natural products which help build up your pet's immune system. If your are worried about the side effects of conventional medicine on your pet, you can find alternative products that have natural ingredients. Natural remedies for ear infections will not only help soothe and and condition the ear passages but they will keep a normal balance of flora in the ear canal. A normal balance of flora makes the ear less susceptible to infection.

If your cat or dog has itchy ears they may have ear mites. Though you can use conventional medication, there are more gentle, natural ways to get rid of them and keep them from coming back. See our post on Natural Treatment for Ear Mites in Cats and Dogs at NaturesWay4Pets NaturesWay4Pets was developed to help pet owners find natural health care options for their pets.

categories: dog ear infection,dog ear infections,dog ear yeast infection,ear infection remedy for dogs,ear mites dog natural,ear mites in dogs,dog has itchy ears,Pet Health,Pet Care,Dogs and Cats,Family,Animals

Written by Madelaine Weskoff using tags: dog ear infections, dog-itchy-ear-fungus-mite-naturally-cure, dog-itchy-ear-remedy, dog-itchy-ears-home-remedies, dog-itchy-ears-natural-remedy, dogs-ears-itching-home-remedies, help-for-dogs-itchy-ears, holistic-remedy-for-dog-ear-itching, how-to-cure-dog-itchy-ears-naturally, itchy-dog-ears-natural-remedies, medicine-for-dogs-itchy-ear, natural-help-for-itchy-dog-ears, natural-remedies-for-dogs-ear-itching, natural-remedies-for-dogs-with-itchy-ears, natural-remedy-for-itchy-dog-ears, natural-treatment-for-dog-itchy-ears, pet-itchy-ears-natural-remedy, pet-remedy-itchy-ears, remedies-for-dogs-itchy-ears, shih-poo-itchy-ears

Dog ear infections should not be ignored. If left untreated, they can cause permanent damage to a dog's hearing. A dog's ear can be divided into three sections: the inner, middle, and outer parts.

Most infections occur in the outer part of the ear, and set in when moisture becomes trapped in the ear canal. This tunnel-like feature starts out horizontally before dipping vertically, creating a place for water to pool. Thus, the internal structure of a dog's ear allows infections to become a common occurrence.

You should check your dog's ears frequently for signs of redness and swelling. You will know your pet has an infection if you see excessive fluid in the ear, smell a foul odor or if your dog scratches the ear or shakes its head frequently. You should treat an infection immediately.

Visit your veterinarian for a consultation. They will most likely prescribe a liquid medication to be administered into the ear daily. Make sure the ear canal is clean before doing this, or the medication will not work effectively.

To clean the ear, you will need an ear wash solution. Squeeze a few drops of the ear wash in the ear, flip the ear flap back down and then massage the base of the ear. The dog will want to shake its head so be prepared. The solution will loosen the discharge.

Now that the foreign matter has been broken up sufficiently, you can remove it properly. To do it, use a cloth, cotton swabs or Q-tips. Your dog will be rather sensitive at this time, so do it carefully and gently. You might want to have another person on hand to help you hold your furry friend in place.

The next step is to insert the medication. Pay close attention to the dosage recommended by the veterinarian and only administer that amount. Your veterinarian will have determined what type of medication is necessary based on what type of infection your dog is suffering.

There are two main types of ear infections from which your dog could suffer. These are yeast infections or bacterial infections. Yeast infections require an antifungal treatment while bacterial ones obviously require an antibacterial agent or antibiotic. Both medications generally come in a liquid form that is inserted directly into the ear, unless it's a more serious infection. IN said case, your dog may need to swallow a regimen of pills for a time until the infection clears up. In any event, the best thing you can do for your dog is not to panic. Get treatment for your dog promptly, follow the prescribed steps to the letter, and you'll soon notice that your dog is well on the road to recovery in a matter of days.

If you want to find out more about dogs, make sure to check out Obedience For Dogs. Grab a totally unique version of this article from the Uber Article Directory

categories: dogs,dog training,pets,animals,home

Written by Eli Terry using tags: dog ear infections

The Anatomy of the Canine Ear

Dogs, just like humans have ears that function to hear sounds in the environment. The difference is that while the outside of a human ear is straight, a dogs ear can be floppy or straight. This area is referred to as the Pinna. Its main function is to funnel sound into the ear canal. A dogs ear canal is "L" shaped while a humans is straight. A dogs ear canal is made up of the descending canal or vertical canal and the horizontal canal which ends at the eardrum or tympanic membrane. A canine eardrum is clear and separates the external, middle and inner ear.

Common Causes of Dog Ear Infections

The most common is an infection of the outside of the ear including the horizontal and vertical canals. This infection is referred to as Otitis Externa and is caused by three main reasons; ear mites, bacteria and yeast.

Ear mite infections are caused by the mite Otodectes cynotis. Ear mite infections are seen more in puppies than adult dogs, but any dog can get ear mites. A dog gets ear mites from other infected dogs. Ear mites can live in the ear and on the head and neck.

The bacterium most commonly involved in ear infections is Staphylococcus and the yeast most commonly seen is Malassezia. Bacterial and yeast infections are more common in dogs than ear mite infections. Even though there are only a few causes of ear infections, many things predispose a dog to getting an ear infection. Some of the most common predisposing factors are:

Malformed Ear Canal - When a dogs ear canal is too long or too small, this provides ample opportunity for moisture and debris to become trapped leading to an infection.

Excessive Ear Canal Hair - When there is too much hair in the ear canal, it tends to trap debris and retain water which leads to ear infections.

Swimming and Humid Areas - If a dog loves to swim, he/she can have water trapped in the horizontal and vertical canals which leads to infection. In addition, if a dog resides in a humid climate, the ear can retain moisture from the air, thus resulting in an infection.

Floppy or Folded Over Ears - Pinnae that cover the vertical canal can trap debris and retain water which results in ear infection.

Food allergies - An allergic response to a particular food ingredient can change the environment of the ear canal leading to moisture build-up and an ear infection. Dogs with food allergies may have other skin problems, too.

Seasonal or Inhalant allergies (atopy) - An allergic response to grass, trees, mold, dust, etc. can change the environment of the ear canal leading to moisture build-up and an ear infection. Dogs with seasonal allergies will usually have other skin problems, too.

Systemic Disease - Hypothyroidism or other diseases that affect the endocrine system hamper the immune systems ability to fight infection. When both of these afflictions occur, an ear infection is inevitable.

A growth or foreign object in the ear - A growth or foreign object in the ear can trap water and debris in the ear canal leading to an infection.

Over Ear leaning - If a dog's ears are cleaned too often, excess water and cleanser can be left behind. These two things can trap debris and eventually lead to an ear infection.

Heather Fox is an experience veterinarian who loves to write and share about her experience and knowledge about job. She started an online classroom at Clivir.com where she provide more information about Dog Flea Allergy Dermatitis Treatment and Dog Urinary Tract Infections Symptoms.

Written by Heather Fox using tags: dog ear infections