If your dog is shaking his head repeatedly or scratching a lot, he may have an ear infection. Unfortunately, many dog owners report their dogs having multiple ear infections throughout the year, which can be detrimental to their health and cause expensive vet bills. 

You may wonder how to treat your dog's ear infection without going to the vet. I will be answering that question and helping you prevent future ear infections.

Does your dog have ear mites or another type of ear infection?

You may be confused about the different types of ear infections. If you believe your dog may have ear mites, read my article on ear mites in dogs and how to treat them fast.

The three types of ear infections in dogs are:

1. Dog ear yeast infection. Fungi organisms usually live in small amounts on a dog's skin. Sometimes, they multiply and cause a visible infection in dogs' ears. It is one of the most common infections.
2. Dog ear bacteria. This infection can happen if your dog's immune system is compromised. I will cover this more later and discuss ways to boost your dog's immune system.
3. Dog ear mites. Ear mites are arachnid parasites that your dog usually catches while playing with another infected animal. They tend to affect puppies and young dogs more than adult dogs.

Causes of dog ear infection

As you saw above, the nature of the ear infection lets you know its primary cause. For instance, an ear mite infection is usually caused by another infected animal. 

Some dog breeds have a higher risk of developing ear infections due to their ear shape and their ears trapping moisture. However, humidity is the main reason a dog may develop an ear infection in general.

A little-known fact is that ear infections are sometimes caused by seasonal or food allergies and a weakened immune system. If this is the case with your dog, you can look at various home remedies to relieve your dog's allergies. 

I would also suggest looking into ways to boost your pet's immune system. A robust immune system can fight off allergies and infections before they have time to develop.

Here are a few ways to boost your dog's immune system:

1. Fish oil. We sell our own. I recommend getting a high-quality one that is Wild Caught in Alaska and tested for purity. Ours is, but you are welcome to do your research! 
2. Immune-boosting mushrooms. It is not as known as fish oil, but certain varieties of mushrooms are highly beneficial to the immune system. We also happen to sell our blend, but other products are available if you search on Google. Focus on finding a blend made for dogs and, if possible, USDA Certified Organic. 
3. Get rid of your dog's allergies. Another way to boost your dog's immune system is to get rid of the allergy source. Many allergies are caused by food ingredients, such as beef or chicken.

Dog ear infection symptoms

You may be wondering if your dog has an ear infection. Of course, I always recommend that you check with your vet. First, however, here is a list of common ear infection symptoms:

• Dog tilting his head left and right.
• Dog shaking his head.
• Dog scratching his ears.
• Dog rubbing his ears.
• Hot, smelly, waxy ears.
• Crusty, scabby, red, irritated ear skin.

If your dog has one or several of these symptoms, I recommend seeing your vet for a diagnosis. 

How to Treat Your Dog's Ear Infection Without Going to the Vet

Since ear infections are so common, it may be tempting to seek a home remedy or an over-the-counter dog ear infection medicine. However, vet visits can be costly and lead to the same treatments various times a year. Sometimes, vet-recommended therapies will not be effective on your dog. 

Here is what I recommend:

Step 1: if this is the first occurrence in a long time, see your vet.

It's best not to play with your dog's health when it comes to infections. Only a vet diagnosis can establish how severe the infection is and how to treat it. If this is a first-time occurrence or the first occurrence in a long time, I highly recommend seeing your vet.

Step 2: if this is not the first occurrence this year, try this.

Your dog may have recurring infections. It can be frustrating! Part of you knows that the vet visit will not help you as much as it should, and I understand that. If this is the case, I would recommend trying ear cleaners. You can go on Amazon or Google and search for ear cleaners. 

Some products have over 1,000 reviews and excellent ratings. I did a lot of research on Quora and Reddit, and it was a recommended solution by many pet owners.

Step 3: boost your pet's immune system.

Unless your dog has ear mites, their ear infection could be caused by a weakened immune system and allergens. If you believe this could be the case with your dog, you can inspect their food for potential allergens while also boosting their immune system with natural supplements:

1. Fish oil. We sell our own. I recommend getting a high-quality one that is Wild Caught in Alaska and tested for purity. Ours is, but you are welcome to do your research! 
2. Immune-boosting mushrooms. It is not as known as fish oil, but certain varieties of mushrooms are highly beneficial to the immune system. We also happen to sell our blend, but other products are available if you search on Google. Focus on finding a blend made for dogs and, if possible, USDA Certified Organic. 

How to clean a dog's ears

Regularly cleaning your dog's ears is the best way to prevent ear infections and resolve them in some instances. Follow these steps to clean your dog's ears:

1. Clear your dog's ears when they are in a calm state. When grooming your dog, you can always use treats or toys to distract them. 
2. Fill your dog's ear canal with a veterinarian-approved ear-cleaning solution and massage the base of the ear for 30 seconds. You should hear a squishing sound as you do this. It's because the product is acting and dislodging debris and buildup.
3. Let your dog shake his head. Use a towel or ear wipes to remove the excess liquid and clean your dog's ear. 
4. Use a cotton ball or gauze to wipe out the ear canal gently. Do not go deeper than one knuckle. 
5. If your dog seems in pain at any step of this process, stop visiting your veterinarian.