Dog ear yeast infection can be extremely painful for your pet and lead to symptoms like snuffling or head shaking. In severe cases it could even result in hearing loss – however with natural remedies and preventive care measures you can keep your pup happy and comfortable!
At-home treatment involves regular cleaning with dry agents – including baths and swimming.
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Home remedies
Yeast infections in dogs can be an indicator of deeper health issues. Natural treatments, including apple cider vinegar, tea tree oil and garlic may help treat an overgrowth. Other holistic solutions may include providing your pup with whole foods rather than processed kibble, and avoiding antibiotics or anti-allergy medication as these destroy good bacteria that keep his microbiome healthy; heavy metals damage this balance further making your canine susceptible to yeast overgrowth.
Maintaining clean and dry ears in your dog is one of the best ways to avoid yeast infections, and coconut oil ear drops that contain antifungal properties can also help. Apply an ear cleaner with drying properties after baths or swims and use cotton balls or cloth to wipe the ears regularly to remove moisture build-up. For added peace of mind, yeast infections may lead to itchy ears with head shaking symptoms if left untreated; in this instance it would be wise to consult with a veterinarian immediately for assistance.
Over-the-counter medications
An itching and smell associated with yeast infection in dogs can be quite uncomfortable. Long and floppy ears in particular are more prone to these infections, making their ears an easy target.
yeasty ears in dogs is most often caused by trapped moisture from over-bathing, swimming or letting water accumulate in their ears. Allergens such as cigarettes smoke, mold spores, dust mites, feathers cleaning products or food can also contribute to this condition.
Monistat is an over-the-counter treatment for women that can also be used to treat ear yeast infections in dogs. The active ingredient used is miconazole, an effective antifungal.
Vets sometimes recommend a cleanser designed specifically for the ears of dogs. This solution contains 0.2% chlorhexidine as a disinfectant to reduce bacteria counts, plus lactic acid to decrease moisture and 1% hydrocortisone to relieve itching. Another great product for combatting yeast infections in your pet’s ears is Banixx: this antifungal ear drop contains 0.2% nitric oxide to relax their ear canal and has no scent whatsoever, helping reduce stress in their environment.
Vet assistance
If your dog has a yeast infection, it’s essential that a veterinarian diagnose it quickly. You need to know whether your pup has contracted bacteria or fungal organisms; also how severe is their illness is.
Yeast infections tend to be more prevalent during warm and wet weather conditions, when yeast can thrive. Certain breeds of dogs with floppy ears are especially prone to this problem due to excess hair growth in their ears preventing airflow and keeping the ears too moist for normal breathing.
Regularly cleaning your pup’s ears with a medicated cleanser such as Banixx can be an excellent preventive measure against yeast infections in their ears, helping reduce itching which is another telltale sign of yeast infections.
Prevention
An ear yeast infection in dogs is treatable using home remedies such as white vinegar, tea tree oil and probiotics. Consult your veterinarian and consider pet insurance policies specifically tailored for dogs for optimal health and wellness.
Yeast thrives in moist environments, so keeping your dog’s ears clean and dry is vital in order to prevent yeast overgrowth. A drying agent-containing ear cleaner should be applied post bath or swimming session in order to minimize water retention that leads to yeast growth.
Avoid over-the-counter medications like antibiotics and anti-allergy drugs which destroy both good and bad bacteria, enabling yeast infections to take over. As prevention, try proper food and nutrition, regular cleaning of ears, flea/tick prevention measures as well as flea/tick control products. A yeast infection in dog ears often shows itself by head shaking/tilting/licking/licking and redness with warmth resulting.
