My dog has an ear infection. How can I help and treat it at home?

Related Answers from Veterinarians

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  Answered By Dr. Paula Simons

  Veterinarian

  Published on

  Many ear infections require a prescription medication from a veterinarian. Ear infections are usually classified as bacterial, fungal, or parasitic. Your vet will swab Chance's ear and look at the discharge under a microscope. They will then prescribe medication depending on the type of infection found. There is not a whole lot you can do at home aside from buying some ear cleaning solution and trying to clean Chance's ears yourself to try to reduce build up of discharge. His ears would need to be dried thoroughly afterward.

  

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  Answered By Jessica Desrosiers

  Veterinary Technician

  Published on April 13th, 2023

  If the cause behind the irritation is allergies, there are OTC medications such as Benadryl and Claritin that can help reduce allergy symptoms, however, if it's best to get the OK from your veterinarian first to make sure there aren't any medication interactions or health concerns. If the ear is actively infected, then it should be seen by your vet in person for antibiotics if there is a secondary bacterial or yeast infection that also needs to be treated while the allergies are brought under control. Using an Elizabethan (cone) collar and keeping the ear clean can also help reduce further irritation or rubbing of the ear.

  

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  Answered By Dr. Massimo Orioles, DVM, Cert AVP, MRCVS

  Veterinarian

  Published on November 10th, 2016

  Unfortunately effective ear drops are on prescription, but your vet could do more than one prescription so you can buy them online. The combination of Canaural (with medication) and Sancerum (it is not on prescription and used only for ear cleaning) would be a good first line treatment. Aurizon or Otomax (instead of the Canaural) are more specific products, more indicated for resistant and more difficult cases. Aurizon, Otomax and Canaural can be used for a week each time. Sancerum can be used for routine ears cleaning.

  

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  Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

  Veterinarian

  Published on May 9th, 2017

  Oh no, poor Oscar! Unfortunately ear infections can be very hard to treat, and I would recommend having a culture done on his ear. That will tell the vet what bacteria are present in his ear causing the infection, and then can pick an antibiotic to treat. Some dogs are prone to chronic ear infections, and if this continues to be a problem, there is a solution to keep Oscar from ever getting another ear infection. It's a surgery called a total ear canal ablation and bulla osteotomy (TECALBO). While it will cure ear infection forever, it will leave him deaf in that ear. It would be a last resort surgery, but it is something to consider if you keep having problems with ear infections.

  

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