Dog Ear Infection Symptoms
New pet owners may be surprised to learn that dogs are susceptible to ear infection just like humans. In fact dogs, particularly those with floppy ears, can average one ear infection every year! The two most common causes for dog ear infection symptoms are yeast and bacteria, although occasionally built up debris in the dog’s ear is the reason. While dog ear infections are easily treated, major damage can occur if not treated quickly or properly.
Your vet can prescribe an antibiotic for your dog’s ear infection symptoms but often treatment can lead to harmful and annoying side effects. These side effects include loss of balance, repeated and vigorous shaking of the head, and nausea. The purpose of this article is to discuss the various safe, natural ways to prevent dog ear infections in the comfort of your own home so that antibiotics and other medicines are not needed. There are three things you can do to prevent dog ear infections; maintain a healthy diet for your dog, give daily doses of Vitamin C, and keep the inside of the ears well-cleaned and dry.
Healthy Diet
Giving your dog a diet that doesn’t contain harmful toxins, as most of the ones on the market do, is important to maintaining the health of your dog including resisting infections. A homemade diet of meat and protein sources that don’t include corn or additives is the best thing you can feed your canine. A quick and easy recipe is one cup of hamburg mixed with two boiled eggs and a variety of soft-cooked vegetables such as carrots and green beans. To find more recipes you can search online for a variety of ideas. A more convenient alternative is some of the higher quality dog foods that are on the market although you will have to shop at a pet store for these and carefully read over the ingredients to ensure the best possible mix for your pet.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C has been shown to boost the immune response in canines and help them fight off infections. Consult with your doctor about before giving your dog vitamin C, as it isn’t the best option for all dogs. The most important thing to remember when giving Vitamin C to your dog is to start with a very small dose as it sometimes causes diarrhea. Vitamin C has also been found to reduce swelling in dogs who are already suffering from an ear infection.
Proper Cleaning And Drying
By far the best defense against dog ear infection symptoms is to keep your dog’s ear clean and dry. Vets recommend using vinegar because its acidic makeup effectively cleans out wax and debris that can cause ear infection symptoms. Once the ear is clean, it is important to make certain that it is dried completely. Any moisture in the ear can promote the growth of bacteria or yeast. In between weekly cleanings it is a good idea to allow air to circulate in the ear. For dogs with long ears you may need to lift the ears upright for a few minutes each day.