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can you treat a dog ear infection without a vet?
Home remedies can irritate and damage dog ears and may even make infections worse.
Unfortunately, many internet cures and natural remedies don’t work and can lead to other health issues.
Not a good idea in pet ears!
- Water
- Vinegars
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Rubbing alcohol
- Cotton swabs
Why dog ear infection treatment needs the vet
Is your dog shaking their head like a maraca? Does it seem like they’re constantly clawing their ears? If your first instinct is to search online for a home remedy, think twice.
Home and natural remedies can irritate ears and invite more infection
Home remedies often just don’t work. Ear distress can be caused by everything from ear mites to allergies to ear infections, each of which needs a different kind of treatment.
"Treating" your doggo with a home remedy for the wrong thing won’t help and can even lead to other problems. If your pet has a ruptured ear drum, there’s a very real risk of causing pain, balance problems, and hearing loss.
Never put anything in your dog’s ear without veterinary instruction. That includes internet cures for dog ear infections like vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, or rubbing alcohol, which can cause additional ear issues.
- Vinegar
Sure, the acid in vinegar might kill yeast, but vinegar is mostly water (without the other ingredients that make veterinary ear cleaners safe for pets). That water will leave your dog’s ear canal moist and create the perfect environment for an ear infection.
- Hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is also mostly water (and again, without the special stuff in safe ear cleaners for pets). Once the initial bubbling stops — and we’re pretty sure your pet will hate that anyway — what’s left in the ear is… water.
- Rubbing alcohol
Rubbing alcohol will cause nearly unbearable irritation — even pain — in your dog’s ears, which will be awful to watch and make it even harder for you or your vet to get anywhere near your pet’s ears for treatment.
Ear mites and ear infections share many symptoms
Ears are complex! Many ear issues have similar symptoms — including scratching and discharge — which is why self-diagnosing your pet’s ear issue runs the real risk of not helping your pet.
Pups can have at least two different kinds of ear infections with dozens of different causes in up to three parts of each ear. They can also have ear infections, ear mites, and ear infections plus ear mites all at the same time.
Your veterinary team has the skills to take a deeper look and make an informed diagnosis. We’re here to help!
Mentioned in this article
Ear yeast infections in dogs
Yeast in dog ears can cause a big problem.
Does your dog have an ear infection?
Symptoms of ear infections in dogs.
How to treat a dog ear infection
What works to treat ears, plus what can hurt your pet.
Does your dog have ear mites?
What "coffee grounds" in ears might mean.
Worried about your pet? Ping Pet Chat™!
Whether it's 3 a.m. or 3 p.m., connect with a real veterinary professional for immediate petcare advice. It's included in all Optimum Wellness Plans®!
Log in to start chattingHow Banfield can help with ear care for cats and dogs
We take happy, healthy pet ears seriously! Our vets can help you find out what’s causing your pet’s ear issues, work with you on a treatment plan, and prescribe safe and effective medications to help treat your pet. We can even work with you to help prevent future problems.
We can work with you to help manage chronic ear infections. If you notice your pet is getting ear infection after ear infection, let’s discuss underlying causes, solutions, and possible prevention for your pet’s issues.
We can provide guidance for cleaning and medicating dog and cat ears. Infected ears can be tender, which may make it rough to treat them at home. Let us know if your pet absolutely refuses to cooperate — we’re here to help!
We can help identify and manage food or environmental allergies that can cause ear infections and skin itchiness and irritation. If you suspect an allergy is causing your pet to sneeze, wheeze, itch, or scratch, we’re here with professional guidance to help your pet.
Any other health concerns?
Just let us know. We’re here to help with loving veterinary care, including your pet’s adorable ears.
