Pet Ear Infections
by Dee Caruso
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 ear mites
are often the cause of infection in cats.
The traditional treatment for ear infections is to give antibiotics, anti-fungal 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 - If your pet's ears are filled with brownish-pink wax and/or there is a foul odor,
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. For sensitive ears, Dr. Gold's Ear Therapy will get rid of ear mites without
irritating or harming delicate ear tissues.
*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 - Supplement with probiotics and digestive enzymes to help
prevent an allergic response in the gastrointestinal tract. This makes 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 kill ear mites is with Dr. Gold's Ear
Therapy. It naturally kills mites and cures yeast infections, getting rid of the foul smell that
yeast infections produce. Since it contains no alcohol or vinegar, it does not sting and will not
harm delicate ear tissues.
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!
Healthy Food for Pets offers an all natural herbal ear cleaner that gently and effectively cleans
and soothes pets' ears. Click here for more information.
Important Disclaimer: The stories and information on this site are not meant to diagnose or
prescribe for you. If you or your pet has a medical problem, you should consult your medical
doctor or veterinarian. The ideas and information on this site have not been endorsed or
approved by the FDA. In no event shall the owners of this website be liable for any damages
whatsoever resulting from any action arising in connection with use of this information or its
publication, including any action for infringement of copyright or defamation. The decision to
use, or not to use, any information is the sole responsibility of the reader. Opinions expressed
here are those of individual contributors. This web site does not verify or endorse the claims of
contributing writers.
|
|
