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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,
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 - 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.
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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
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