My dog's ears are bleeding from flies. What OTC remedies can I use?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed | Female | spayed
My poor dog's ears are getting eaten by flies really bad. She's bleeding and I'm not sure what to buy or how to help her. I can't bring her inside but I don't want to put something on it based on a Google search and it makes her worse. Can you give me some advice on anything over the counter?
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on June 18th, 2018
Poor Coco! I would have her seen by a vet, as that ear looks bad and possibly infected. I think it needs veterinary treatment to heal correctly. I'd make an appointment for her in the morning. After her eat is treated by a vet, there are a few things you can try to help keep the flies off her ears. You can use some petroleum jelly on the outside of the ear (do not get any down the ear canal) to keep them from biting. You can use a spray with the active botanical ingredient Pyrethrum, you may find one at a pet store. Keep your yard cleaned, pick up all the dog feces daily, make sure her food and water bowls are kept clean, and don't let your garbage overflow to cut down on the number of flies in your yard. Best of luck, I hope this helps!
2Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on July 25th, 2018
Poor thing. That's going to be very difficult to deal with on your own at home. This might have started as a small wound, a bug bit, or poor circulation to the ear tips (not common, but not all that rare either). At this point, it's a very angry wound that is being made worse by flies. I'd recommend keeping it clean with twice daily mild-soapy water bathes and an epsom salt soak (get a cloth soaked with epsom salt water and hold it on the ear for 5 minutes) and in between bathes keep it protected from flies and further damage by bandaging it to his head with something like this: https://www.noflapearwrap.com/ If it's both ears, I'm more worried about a poor circulation problem, in which case it's not going to heal without several vet visits and daily medication. Hopefully it will turn the corner soon and start getting better.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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