Many people are interested in using apple cider vinegar as a home remedy for a dog ear infection.
Apple cider vinegar is quite popular! There is a lot of information online about using vinegar as a household “miracle cleaner.”
Many people know using vinegar to mix up their own homemade cleaners and furniture polishes is quite popular.
However, did you know vinegar can also be a “miracle cleaner” for dog ear infections?
Watch this video of Dr. Smith teaching you how to use apple cider vinegar to fight off dog ear infections:
Vinegar’s Effects on Ear Infections
Sometimes, bacteria, viruses, and fungi invade and reproduce inside a dog’s ear canal, causing an infection.
Ear infections are most common in dogs with floppy, hanging ears.
The reason is because floppy, hanging ears create a damp, moist environment perfect for bacterial growth.
Yes, vinegar is an excellent home remedy for dog ear infections!
Vinegar treats dog ear infections in several ways:
- Antibiotic – Vinegar kills bacteria
- Antiviral – Vinegar kills viruses
- Antifungal – Vinegar kills fungi
- pH Restorative – Vinegar restores the ear canal’s proper pH balance.
However, vinegar is quite strong, and you must dilute it properly to use on your dog’s ears.
How to Treat Dog Ear Infections with Vinegar
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st and most importantly, you must make sure your dog’s eardrum is not perforated.
You should not put any liquids in your dog’s ears if the eardrum is perforated.
If the eardrum is perforated, inserting liquids can cause severe problems, including head tilt and deafness.
If you know your dog’s eardrum is intact, you can start the vinegar ear treatment:
- First, mix half vinegar and half water and place them in a squirt bottle. We recommend using a squirt bottle rather than a spray bottle.
- Next, completely fill your dog’s ear canal with the mixture. Be careful not to let the solution get into your dog’s eyes.
- Gently massage the base of our dog’s ear.
- After massaging, allow your dog to shake his head. The excess vinegar solution and any debris from inside the ear canal will come out.
Notes:
- If your dog acts like the vinegar solution stings your dog’s ears, dilute to 1/4 vinegar to 3/4 water. If your dog has open sores on or around the ears, the original recipe may sting the ears.
- After the vinegar ear treatment, your dog should only shake its head once or twice to remove the excess solution and debris. You don’t want your dog continually shaking its head because doing so can cause ear hematomas. You should contact your veterinarian if your dog is excessively shaking its head.
You don’t need to swab your dog’s ear, but you might want to wipe debris from the ear flap.
Apple cider vinegar is best. However, apple cider vinegar may stain white or light-colored fur. If your dog is white or light-colored, you may want to use distilled white vinegar instead.
Vinegar Ear Cleaning Schedule
Treat both ears (even if only one ear seems infected) twice daily for two weeks. For maintenance, dog ear infections are treated once or twice weekly.
If you don’t see an improvement in your dog’s ear infection within a few days, contact your veterinarian.
Want holistic options for your pet’s health issues? Contact us today!
People Also Ask:
- Can you clean a dog’s ears at home? you can use a diluted apple cider vinegar solution to clean your dog’s ears. Apple cider vinegar helps by acting as a cleanser and an anti-fungal and antibacterial agent.
- Is apple cider vinegar good for dogs? The acetic acid in vinegar helps remove dirt and debris from the ear, but more importantly, it kills yeast and bacteria. If your dog has red, sore ears, don’t use vinegar because it will sting and burn.
- What are the benefits of apple cider vinegar for dogs? Apple cider vinegar reduces itchy skin, cleans itchy ears, helps eliminate dandruff, reduces GI symptoms like gassiness and burping, and reduces the recurrence of urinary tract infections.
