Is your dog or cat tormented by ear infections? Do you spend time and money at the veterinarian's office trying to bring relief to your beloved pet, only to find that another infection appears over time? If so, you may want to try some more natural approaches to preventing and treating your pet's ear infections.
Dogs and cats have an incredible sense of hearing. To protect their hearing and prevent damage to the ear drum, their ear canals are L-shaped. The problem with this design is that it allows the ears to trap parasites, moisture, debris, and earwax, and any of these can lead to ear infections. Up to 80 percent of ear problems in dogs are linked to allergies, and earmites are often the cause of infection in cats.
The traditional treatment for ear infections is to give antibiotics, antifungal medications or other drugs. The problem with this approach is that drugs upset the normal chemistry inside the ear and can possibly turn a simple infection into a long-term problem. It makes more sense to deal with underlying allergies and strengthen the immune system so that it is able to fight bacteria and other germs BEFORE they cause infection. Also, there are many natural treatments for cleaning the ears and stopping infections without using drugs.
These are the Signs of an Ear Infection:
*Pet shakes head or holds it to one side.
*Pet scratches or rubs ears, or rubs head against furniture or carpet.
*There is a yellow, brown or black discharge in one or both ears.
*Ears smell bad or are tender or red.
The Solutions
*Clean the ears with vinegar - If your pet's ears are filled with brownish-pink wax, there is a good chance that allergies have caused a yeast infection. To clear up yeast infections, clean the ears thoroughly. Veterinarians often recommend using white vinegar, also called acetic acid, because it removes dirt and debris and helps restore a healthy chemical balance in the ears.
Diluted vinegar works well. When using vinegar, pour a small amount into the ear canal, massage the area, then gently wipe the inside of the ear with a cotton ball. Do this once a day until the ear is better.
*Stop infections with pau d'arco - The herb pau d'arco, which comes from the inner bark of a South American tree, is a natural antibiotic that quickly kills fungi and bacteria. At the first sign of infection, mix equal parts pau d'arco tincture and mineral oil and put several drops in your pet's ears. Give the drops two or three times a day for several days.
*Reduce inflammation with vitamin C - The adrenal glands produce a natural steroid that can help reduce inflammation when ears get infected. Giving pets vitamin C can help the adrenal glands work more efficiently. Pets weighing under 15 pounds can take between 100 and 250 milligrams of vitamin C a day. Cats and dogs 15 to 50 pounds can take 250 to 500 milligrams a day, and larger dogs can take 500 milligrams two or three times a day. Vitamin C can cause diarrhea, so you may have to cut back the dose until you find an amount that your pet will tolerate.
*Eliminate toxins with a healthy, all natural diet - Giving your pet a healthy, homemade diet or high quality commercial food that doesn't contain corn, additives or preservatives can greatly reduce the amount of wax that the ears produce, while also helping to boost the immune system.
*Air out the ears - Increasing air circulation inside the ears can control the growth of bacteria, yeast and fungi. Trim or pluck hair inside the ears periodically to allow more air to get inside.
*Strengthen the digestive tract - Supplements such as bromelain and quercetin (with bromelain) can help prevent an allergic response in the gastrointestinal tract, making food allergies less of a problem.
*Stop ear mites with oil - When an infection is caused by ear mites, putting a few drops of almond oil or olive oil in each ear will smother the mites and may allow the infection to heal. You usually need to continue the oil treatments for three to four weeks, putting three to seven drops of oil into the ear canals each day. To help the treatment work more efficiently, clean wax and other debris from the ears before using oil.
*Try an over-the-counter remedy - One of the best ways to stop ear mites is with over-the-counter products containing pyrethrins. Made from chrysanthemums, pyrethrins are natural insecticides that are very safe to use. Just follow the instructions on the label.
When to Call the Vet
Ear infections can look and smell awful, but they usually affect only the outer part of the ear and aren't too serious. If you're unable to get to the source of the problem (especially if your pet is still scratching a lot), you will want to see your veterinarian to find out what is causing the problem. Vigorous scratching can break blood vessels in the earflap, causing the entire ear to swell like a balloon. This condition is called hematoma and must be drained by a veterinarian to prevent permanent damage.
Other symptoms to watch out for include head tilting, clumsiness, walking in circles or drooping eyes. These are signs of an inner-ear infection, and must be treated by a vet. Your pet will probably need antibiotics to knock out the infection. In addition, your vet may need to drain pus and other fluids from inside the ear!
Deena Caruso, author, teacher, & distributor of natural pet products Helps pet owners create healthy, happy pets. To receive FREE "Pet Pointers" Newsletter, go to: http://www.healthyfoodforpets.com deecaruso@cox.net Ph: 760/758-7963, 877/877-0665
Newer doesn't always mean better.Adopting an older dog may be... Read More
You've probably had a day or two when you felt... Read More
Dog careAccepting responsibility of your new pet friend is truly... Read More
According to holistic veternarian Dr. Jane Bicks, the maximum life... Read More
Picture this. You're late for work one day. You look... Read More
I've been around many people who try to lead a... Read More
Grooming means taking care of the physical maintenance of the... Read More
All puppies are small dogs ? some, however, won't be... Read More
Dog crate training is one of the most effective ways... Read More
In horse training or natural horsemanship, Approach is nothing more... Read More
The numbers will make any pet lover blanch with disgust,... Read More
The most important thing to remember in analyzing the behavior... Read More
Mabeke is a young gorilla who was born in captivity... Read More
Westies dogs' owners delight in the companionship their dogs give... Read More
Dog arthritis is one of the most common diseases that... Read More
My love of horses began at the age of 11... Read More
The 6 Keys To Building A Life Long Partnership With... Read More
All breeds and sizes of dogs can be taught easily... Read More
HistoryThroughout the US and in many parts of the world,... Read More
They may seem to be bold explorers - sniffing at... Read More
Dog fashions are all the rage and have become quite... Read More
Occasionally, some of us get to do work that is... Read More
Are there so many great dog breeds out there that... Read More
Many people consider their dog to be part of their... Read More
Of all the aggressive behavior in dogs dog bites is... Read More
Animal welfare organizations and humane societies have been very successful... Read More
Can you comprehend a time when dog food, cat food,... Read More
If you are thinking of adding a dog to your... Read More
Dog food is very important for the health of dogs.... Read More
When it comes to the art of giving, a gift... Read More
Puppy crate training is one of the most effective ways... Read More
I have a business card burning a hole in my... Read More
Their scientific name is Cavia Tschuldi and their nickname in... Read More
Whether you're a new dog owner or have had dogs... Read More
Boy or Girl?How can you tell whether your Goldfish is... Read More
Dogs, especially young dogs are very playful by nature.Play provides... Read More
One of the biggest question asked of the discus breeder... Read More
Chihuahua Training is Easy! You may be wondering if Chihuahua... Read More
Do you own a horse? If so, then you have... Read More
A puppy wanting to chew makes you want to scream!... Read More
Now that my services have expanded into the "matchmaking" business,... Read More
Vitamins for Pets - How Essential Are They?A vitamin supplement... Read More
A dog, like a human baby, experiences the world through... Read More
Electric Dog FencesIs an electric dog fence something for you?... Read More
A well-train dog usually leads a happier and healthier life... Read More
Did you know that your goldfish can live for over... Read More
If your kids have been begging you to get a... Read More
Interacting with a pet bird outside of it's cage is... Read More
Does the idea of trimming your dog's nails send chills... Read More
You've picked out the perfect puppy. You spent hours on... Read More
Are cats and children a good mix?So, you had a... Read More
What Is ParvoParvo is a serious viral disease that can... Read More
Animal welfare organizations and humane societies have been very successful... Read More
Top five dog breeds for homes with children* Beagle *... Read More
A dog crate is a necessity for your dog, through... Read More
Some Dogs like Boxers unfortunately, are prone to several potential... Read More
Everybody loves a baby animal and Westie puppies are adorable,... Read More
Is there anything more cute and cuddly than tiny little... Read More
Dog bite injuries are alarmingly the most common condition that... Read More
Toys are fun both for our dogs and us. Lucky... Read More
The Discus fish has its habitat in the South American... Read More
It is Winter time again, a time of the year... Read More
Puppy training can and should begin the day you bring... Read More
It is important to choose a sugar glider breeder carefully.... Read More
According to the American Humane Society, just 15% of dogs... Read More
Even with the best care, cats can become ill. Sometimes... Read More
Pet |