How to Treat Dog Ear Infection Without Vet

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Sometimes, dog owners cannot take their dogs to the vet for a checkup, and if your dog has an ear infection, you should probably know how to help them deal with it. However, we would strongly advise you never treat your dog yourself if you are not a veterinary professional. Mistreating or treating with wrong medicine can cause further health problems, and your dog can be worse than when you started.

Types of ear infections

Treating a dog ear infection without the vet can be tricky because there are different types of ear infections. They can be caused by viruses, bacteria, or fungi. Without knowing the exact cause, it can be very difficult to determine which steps you should take or which medications to use.

How to know if your dog has an ear infection?

If you are not sure how to notice an ear infection and whether or not something is actually bugging your dog, you really shouldn’t try to treat the problem. As we said, the key to successful treatment is knowing what is wrong with your dog, and if you don’t know that, there is no way of effectively treating the issue. However, there are some tell-tell signs your dog has ear problems. The most common ear infection symptoms are;

• Head tilted towards the infected side
• Constant head shaking
• Bad ear odor
• Pawing or scratching the infected ear
• Warm ear
• Redness
• Swelling

Ear infection prevention

The best way to deal with ear infections is to prevent them. You should regularly check your dog’s ears and make sure they are always in peachy condition. There are many ear cleaners you can use to clean your dog’s ears. However, keep in mind that ear cleaners are not medications. They will not solve infections, especially bacterial or viral. Ear cleaners can be effective against yeast infections, but bacterial will need antibiotics.

How to treat ear infections without a vet?

The only ear infection that can be treated without a vet is ear mites. However, if you don’t know how to properly deal with them, you shouldn’t even try that. There are over-the-counter medications that can get rid of them. The only thing you should do is follow instructions and apply the medicine daily. Another important step to take is to clean your home. Make sure you disinfect all the areas your dog is often spending time in. Clean their bed, clothes, leashes, couch, or bed. You can easily do that by getting an antiparasitic disinfectant.

How to spot ear mites?

Before you start the treatment, you should know how to spot these tiny parasites. They will usually live inside the dog’s ear canal, but you can easily spot them if you know what to look for. There will be a nasty discharge from your dog’s ear, and it will be brownish and crumbly. Your dog will be very itchy, and if you examine the ear, you can smell a nasty odor. You can read all about these parasites here - Ear mites in dogs. 

Dangers of treating an ear infection without a vet

Once again, we would advise you against treating your dog’s ear infections without a vet. You can easily administer the wrong medication and let the infection spread and worsen. Untreated infections can affect the dog’s inner ear and cause permanent damage to their hearing, balance, and overall wellbeing. If you cannot visit a vet, it would be best to at least call and ask for advice. Make sure you describe the situation and tell your vet everything you notice about your dog’s situation and problem.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: It would be best to call your vet as soon as you notice your dog has some health issues. You can never be sure how urgent a situation is, and early detection is often the key to successful treatment.

World Dog Finder team