Natural Remedies For Ear Infections

My Basset Hound has had a couple ear infecions caused by yeast and she has another one now. In the past she has used prescription Mometamax. Is there a natural remedy that will treat and cure the infection? I want to avoid taking her to the vet again if at all possible.
I dont need smart assed answers please, I know what my dog has, I know that Basset Hounds are susceptible to ear infections, I take care of her and Im a big believer in natural cures. If you cant answer my question with a logical, polite answer dont answer at all.
THANKS in advance for your help!

My bulldog Bulldozer used to get sore ears and they smelled like cheese. So my vet said to try vinegar and rubbing alcohol. Fifty percent of each or half and half.
The vinegar breaks down the gunk and the alcohol dries up water from say a bath. I used it after every bath and some times in between. Do not use it more than once a week. Too much drying can be painful. Also the smell of funky ears can draw flies that will bite and aggravate you puppy.

Best to do this outside and only if your dog really trusts you. I had someone else pour in the medicine I would hold him still and hold his ear open. Then we would filler up. Flop his ears closed and massage the sides of his head and then let him go. This is the gross part he would shake his head and any thing loosened up would come out. Every thing would fly out. So we did this outside and in not our best clothes. With a floppy eared dog you will need to wipe away the excess after he shakes his head. Towel drying his head if he goes out in the rain or sprinkler etc is also a good idea. They don’t sweat but their skin and ears produces oil like ours.

Do not use this solution if your dog has open sores the vinegar and the alcohol will sting.

You could get bit or he may never let you touch his / her head again.

Never never ever use hydrogen peroxide. The foaming action causes pressure and can damage their ears permanently.

2007-05-28 13:39:57 by Jaim Jaim

blockcenter.com - Treating ear infections (acute otitis media) with antibiotics may actually cause the ear infection to last longer and recur more ...

I think my little one is on the verge of getting an ear infection.... I'm doing everything I can to treat her fussiness. She has had a clear runny nose x 1 1/2 weeks. We took her to the MD last week who says she just has a cold. I saw some websites that are saying antibiotics should be the last resort for ear infections. What is a natural/homeopathic remedy for ear infections, as I've never heard of one. If we have another bad night (like last night) I will take her back to the MD in the morning. Thanks!

Hydrogen Peroxide
Garlic oil
Breast milk (in the ear)
Probiotics (systemically/orally)

There are homeopathics but I'm not familiar, I don't use them


http://www.home-remedies-for-you.com/ask question/11499/ear-infection-natural-rem edies-how-do-i-treat-an-e.html
If you have any kind of ear infection and feel pain, pressure or irritation in your ears, then garlic oil is the best cure. Garlic is a carminative, expectorant, stimulant and aphrodisiac. It possesses anticoagulant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antifungal properties. These properties make garlic one of the best cures for various health disorders including ear infection. Oil extracted from garlic is believed to be great antibacterial agents and works wonder in killing bacteria. Thus, you can definitely try this remedy to alleviate pain and irritation caused due to ear infection.

Apart form garlic oil; there are other natural cures for ear infection. The most effective among them are apple cider vinegar, Echinacea, teat tree oil, hydrogen peroxide, calendula, willow, mullein, vegetable oil, honeysuckle, golden seal, alcohol and gentian. Use these cures individually or in combination with one another to alleviate ear pain and get rid of the infection.

Do study the contents before combining these substances or else the combination may cause a harmful reaction and may worsen the condition. The best combinations are goldenseal-Echinacea, gentian-honeysuckle, garlic-mullein, garlic-calendula-willow, garlic-calendula-mullein and teat tree oil-vegetable oil. Pour few drops from the prepared combinations and get relieved from pain, irritation and itching caused due to ear infection.

Ear-OK Drops: http://www.enaturalremedies.com/ear-ok-e ar-infection-remedies.htm


http://www.natural-cure-remedy.com/ear-i nfection.html
Natural Cures and Remedies for Ear Infections

Colloidal Silver -- Colloidal silver is a natural antibiotic. It can be used both internally and externally. Put one drop of colloidal silver in the ear. You should notice improvement in just one hour. Put the drops in the ear twice a day, in the evening and in the morning. Follow the instructions on the bottle for taking internally. You can also buy it as a spray and spray it into the nostrils to clear up the nasal passages. This helps the ear infection as well.

Tea Tree Oil -- Put five to ten drops of warm tea tree oil into a tablespoon of olive oil and mix. Put 2-3 drops in the infected ear twice a day.

Grapefruit Seed Extract (GSE) -- Of course you will need this in the liquid form. Thoroughly mix 3-5 drops of GSE with 1 oz. of glycerin or alcohol or both. Put 1-2 drops in affected ear 1-2 times daily. Do not use GSE full strength in the ears. You can buy a product with similar ingredients called Ear Drops by NutriBiotic.

Echinacea -- Echinacea supports the immune system's response helping your child's ear infection heal quicker. Start using it as soon as symptoms occur and keep using it for a few more days after the infection is gone.

Vitamin C -- Another way to boost your child's immune system is to give them vitamin C. You will need to give them more than the typical daily dosage. They will need at least 1,000 mg given throughout the day. You don't need to give it to them all at once.

Astragalus -- Astragalus is an herbal that is recommended if your child has recurrent ear infections.


http://www.drgreene.com/21_1775.html
The consensus, evidence-based 2004 guidelines recommend that children under 6 months of age with red hot ear infections should be treated with antibiotics for 10 days and pain relief for at least the first 24 hours, whether or not the diagnosis is certain. Remember, antibiotics do not help pain during the most painful first 24 hours, and help pain only minimally after that. Kids 6 months to 2 years should receive 10 days of antibiotics and at least 24 hours of pain relief for a red hot ear if the diagnosis of an acute ear infection is certain (it must be an abrupt onset, with physical certainty of fluid in the ears, and clear evidence of an inflamed eardrum – all 3). If the diagnosis of an acute infection is uncertain in these kids, they can be treated with pain relief and observed without antibiotics, (we’ll talk about what this means soon), unless they’ve had a fever of 102.2 or higher in the last 24 hours, or severe symptoms. Once children have reached their second birthdays, pain relief and antibiotics are recommended if both the diagnosis of an acute infection is certain and the illness is severe with a fever of at least 102.2 or symptoms of severe illness. Otherwise, observation and pain relief can be the better course of action. Most kids without a high fever don’t need antibiotics for ear infections.


http://www.drgreene.com/21_1770.html
Topical drops specifically for earache relief are also now available over-the-counter in the eye/ear care section at most drugstores, grocery stores, and discount superstores throughout the U.S. These drops have a long history of use in other countries where antibiotic usage is not as prevalent.

2009-05-05 09:07:09 by Mom of Ethan and Sophie

Price: $2.99

My 3 year old son has his second ear infection, we went to the gp and he took amoxycillin. It seemed to clear up, only to return again but much worse this time. His ear is oozing and is a little red. He has no temperature now and seems to be recovering but the ear is still bad.

This may sound strange to some, but if you have access to breast milk, it is one of the best remedies for ear aches and infections. I have used it many times on many different people and it works quickly and very well. I know a little boy who was on antibiotics, had a similar experience as you describe. His mom put breastmilk in his a ear, and after a few times, it was completely fine.
It also works for conjunctivitis, and skin infections.
If you don't have access to any, you could research an herb called Spilanthes. It is a super immune booster, an anti-viral, anti-fungal, and good for reoccuring ear infections.
Also, I use garlic mullein oil, warmed, with a few drops in the ear. I am an herbalist and make my own, but one can buy it in most natural food stores.
Also, you may want to give your son pro-biotics since he has been taking anti-biotics. This will promote healthy growth of intestinal flora, and prevent digestive and other health problems associated with anti-biotic use.

2008-02-22 04:03:29 by Lisa-lou

Support healthy immune system functioning
Maintain normal levels of bacteria in the ear
Support balance in the outer, middle and inner ear

8 month old has an ear infection and a cough. Any good home remedies??
It's actually my younger sister, and she hasn't started eating solid foods.

MULLEIN OIL its a Homeopathic remedy and you can buy it at most Health and Herb Stores in USA and EU. effective in most ailments of the ear including earaches and ear infections and works very fast, without any side effects or complications of any kind.

Take care and God Bless.

2008-01-04 14:42:27 by ♫Shay♫

If you are talking about an inner ear infection- which I am guessing from the previous post- then there are no natural remedies. If the middle ear is full from an eustachan tube blockage, as happens with colds or sinus infections, then treating the cause of that will resolve the middle ear fluids. Antibiotics are necessary to control a bacterial infection, and to prevent an opportunistic infection from moving in while the body fights of a viral infection. Of course, you can opt not to take any antibiotics, and simply wait for the body's immune system to fight it off if it is able. However, infections in the ear and sinus cavities are only a thin membrane away from your brain. You can develop an overwhelming infection and run a fever high enough to cause seizures. You can also cause permanent damage to the structures of the middle ear, perforate the ear drum, and end up losing hearing in that ear. While you may not like the idea of taking medication, sometimes it is the best choice to avoid complications you really don't want. Most doctors don't prescribe antibiotics unless they are really called for, but when they are needed, they are really the best choice.
If you have an outer ear canal infection, usually called swimmers ear, you can either use a drop of alchol to dry the canal. Then a drop of sweet almond or olive oil, slightly warmed in a teaspoon in the hand, will help that. Or you can buy drops at a pharmacy to treat your outer ear. A warm heating pad applied to the side of the face also helps with comfort, and a cotton ball in the outer ear to keep out drafts also helps. If these things don't help, then you would need the antifungal drops from a prescription to kill the bacteria before more damage is done to the ear.
I know you asked for natural remedies, but honestly, sometimes there just aren't any good ones. In the case of the ears, it's better to take the medicine than suffer the consequences. You really don't want to chance your hearing. There are too many wonderful things in the world to hear.

2007-02-08 23:17:15 by villaruthy@sbcglobal.net