Apple cider vinegar for dogs ears

Apple cider vinegar is increasing in trendiness by the day, available in various forms like gummies to potentially help with things like bloating and shampoos to reveal healthier hair. It’s no surprise that pets are getting in on the action, too.

Índice Show

Can apple cider vinegar be harmful to dogs?
How to use apple cider vinegar for dog ear infections
How to use apple cider vinegar for dog’s itchiness
Apple cider vinegar supplements for dogs
Burt's Bees for Dogs Hot Spot Spray for Dogs
Doggie Dailies Omega 3 for Dogs

But while ACV has been rumored to help with certain ailments, it’s important to always run it by your veterinarian before giving it to your dog, as ACV has not been medically proven to be beneficial for dogs, and could be dangerous in some instances, says Jamie Whittenburg, DVM, a veterinarian at Senior Tail Waggers, and director of Kingsgate Animal Hospital in Lubbock, Texas. Here’s what you need to know about giving apple cider vinegar to your furry family members.

According to Courtney Jackson, DVM, a veterinarian and owner of the Pets Digest blog, apple cider vinegar is safe for dogs to use on their skin and take internally if given in moderation and at recommended doses.

“When using apple cider vinegar internally, it should always be diluted in water and given at a dose of no more than 1 teaspoon per 50 pounds,” she says.

Can apple cider vinegar be harmful to dogs?

As with most things, your dog can definitely have too much of a good thing if they ingest too much ACV, as it can cause gastrointestinal upset and lead to vomiting and diarrhea. ACV also has the potential to cause throat burns as it is an acid, Dr. Jackson says.

If your dog has been diagnosed with diabetes and is on medication or is taking diuretics, ACV should be given under the close supervision of your vet with regular check-ups and blood work, as it has the potential to cause hypoglycemia if given with insulin and lower potassium to a dangerous level if taken with diuretics or "water pills," she says.

How to use apple cider vinegar for dog ear infections

This is one area where you’ll definitely want to skip ACV and opt for actual medical treatment, Dr. Whittenberg says.

According to Dr. Whittenberg, apple cider vinegar should never be used to treat an ear infection; rather you should always take them to the vet if you suspect they’re dealing with one. This is because ear infections are caused by bacteria or yeast, deep down in the ear canal, and dogs will often hide their pain and discomfort until the infection is severe. In fact, you should not put anything into the ear canal without the supervision and advice of your veterinarian, she says.

“Unlike human ear infections, dog ear infections occur in the external canal and it is somewhat common for the infection to cause a tear or hole in the dog’s ear drum, and an owner cannot visualize the ear drum, deep within the ear,” she explains. “If it is compromised, anything placed into the canal can enter the middle ear and may cause permanent deafness, among other complications.”

How to use apple cider vinegar for dog’s itchiness

According to Dr. Wittenberg, there are many reasons why a dog may be itchy, with the top causes usually being fleas, contact allergies, environmental allergies, food allergies, and skin infections. Other causes can include autoimmune disorders, thyroid dysfunction, skin conditions such as seborrhea, and scabies mites. Since ACV won’t treat any of these ailments, it’s important to first seek out a proper diagnosis before they worsen.

However, apple cider vinegar can work well on a dog’s skin when it comes to mild itchiness and irritation like hot spots because it has anti-inflammatory properties due to its acetic acid and alpha hydroxy acid, Dr. Jackson says.

“When used topically as a flea or tick deterrent, for allergy and itchy skin relief, or in ears it should be diluted as well,” she says. “A good dilution ratio is one part ACV to two parts distilled water.”

For use on the skin, you can place the solution into a spray bottle for ease of use, Dr. Jackson advises. Make sure to shake the solution well so the ACV is evenly distributed.

Apple cider vinegar supplements for dogs

Unsurprisingly, there are over-the-counter apple cider vinegar sprays and supplements for dogs available on the market. Dr. Jackson recommends the below options:

Burt's Bees for Dogs Hot Spot Spray for Dogs

Burt’s Bees products for humans have a reputation for having natural, soothing ingredients, so it’s no surprise that they have quality items for pets as well. This spray contains aloe in addition to ACV to restore pH balance and relieve irritation from hot spots.

Doggie Dailies Omega 3 for Dogs

Omega-3 supplements are often recommended to help dogs maintain healthy skin, coats, and joints. These have a bonus ingredient of ACV to help promote a healthy immune system, among the other aforementioned benefits.

Towel

Prepare a rinse for your dog’s ear infection which will kill yeast and bacteria when applied often. Mix apple cider vinegar and distilled water into a half and half solution.

If you have a solution bottle or syringe, you can put the solution directly into the ear canal by squirting it in. Avoid using cotton swabs in your dog’s ears. A solution or syringe bottle will have a long tip to get the solution into the ear.

If you do not have a syringe or long tip bottle, you can soak cotton balls into the solution and squeeze it into the ear canal.

Let the solution sit in your dog’s ears for several minutes. He will try to shake it out because liquid sitting in the ear isn’t very comfortable. But hold his head and talk to him or give him treats to pass the time. Try to keep the solution in the ears for several minutes.

A massage of the ears might help get the solution into the ear canal where it will do the most work. However, his ears might hurt quite a bit, so a massage early on might hurt. If he flinches, wait until the next time you use the solution to massage again.

Your dog will want to shake his ears at some point. You may want to have him outside when he shakes the solution out of his ears.

Use a clean cloth to wipe out any gunk from the ears. Do not dig deep into the ear, only wipe the portion of the inner ear you can see.

Repeat this each day as the infection heals. To maintain healthy ears, clean your pup’s ears every one to two weeks.

Cleaning your dogs ears is an essential part of canine care. It is very important to regularly check the condition of your dog’s ears.

Most dogs naturally have healthy ears and never need ear cleaning in their lifetime. On the other hand, some breeds of dogs with long hair are at high risk of ear infection and require regular ear cleaning to prevent ear infections. If you are uncertain if your dog needs their ears cleaned consult with your veterinarian to help you decide if your dog’s ears need to be cleaned.

If your dog regularly visits a professional groomer, make sure their ears are cleaned there. If you want to clean your dog’s ears at home, you should know the ear cleaning procedure and other important aspects. Read the article below and learn how you can clean your dog’s ears.

How to clean your dogs ears with vinegar?

So you want to save on buying sometimes expensive dog-specific ear cleaners? Vinegar can also be used to clean the dog’s ear. This is how you can use vinegar

Take half a cup of white vinegar or apple cider vinegar (ACV) and mix it with half a cup of water. If your dog’s ears are inflamed or injured, the concentration of vinegar in the water should decrease.
Give your dogs ears a wipe with a cotton ball along the heavy wax, being sure not to press too far down your dogs ears. Then fill the ears with the Vinegar and Water mix, only a small amount depending on the size of your pooch.
Massage the ears from the base of the canals all the way down to the head. You should be able to hear the liquid moving about in your dogs ear.
It might be a good idea to do this cleaning process outside as your dog will start shaking to get rid of the solution from the ears which is what we need them to do. So stand back. The wax and other gunk in the ear canals are going to be loosened by the vinegar.
If there is no mess first then consider applying another flush of the vinegar and water solution and remember to massage your dogs ears well.
Then lastly wipe the excess vinegar and other gunk out with a cotton ball. Making sure not to stick it down into the ear canal.

Some vets recommend a 10% ear cleaning solution because if it is too strong, it will sting, and the dog will start scratching his ear.

Do not save the solution for later use, as you make the solution, use it only on time

Vinegar has a lot of benefits. It can help to remove the extra wax to decrease ear infection. As the solution is acidic, it will kill a lot of harmful bacteria.

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How to clean your dog ears?

Cleaning your dogs ears is a challenging process, especially if they easily get stressed when you touch their ears. Make sure they are comfortable with the whole process. Of course, it will help you a lot if you start handling their ears from a young age.

Equipment needed

Certain equipment is needed before you start cleaning your dog’s ears, make sure you have the following before starting the procedure.

A clean towel
Cotton wool pads
A dog-specific Ear cleaner
A handler if your dog is not used to the procedure

Never use cotton buds in the ear cleaning process because they can go too far in the ear canal and cause a lot of damage.

Recommended procedure to clean a dog’s ears:

Put your dog in a comfortable position, lift the ear, and look well inside the ear.
Check your dog’s ear for discharge, redness, and a bad smell. A small amount of wax present in the dog’s ear is healthy. However, if the wax is present in large quantities and there is pus and odor, it is a sign of infection.
Now gently wipe the outside of the ear with the damp cotton wool to remove excess wax.
Use a dog-specific ear cleaner in the ear canal and be sure not to insert it too far.
Start by massaging the base of the ear. It will help the cleanser to pass into the ear canal.
Wipe the cleaner with damp cotton.
Repeat the same process on the other ear.
If you are giving your dog ear drops, it is best to use them immediately after cleaning them. This will ensure that the ear drops are effectively absorbed without getting stuck in excess wax.

How often should I clean my dog’s ears?

Ear cleaning depends on the breed of your dog. If you have droopy-eared dogs like Basset Hounds and Cocker Spaniels, they require a regular ear cleaning. The problem with long drooping ears is because of the less airflow that gets into the ear, and there is a higher chance of infection.

Similarly, dogs that like to swim more often need regular ear cleaning because additional moisture can cause an ear infection. Also, if your dog suffers from ear mites, he will need more regular cleaning.

What is the brown stuff in my dog’s ears?

Usually, the inner portion of the dog’s ear is pink, clean, and healthy. If you noticed a brownish discharge in your dog’s ear, it is an alarming sign because this discharge is a clear sign of ear infection. Dogs are generally known to get dirty, but the inside of the ear should always be clean and dry.

Can I use water to clean my dog’s ears?

There are many ear cleaning products available on the market, but if you want to use water to clean your dog’s ear, you can get the job done. Always use warm water and cotton balls to clean the ear. Dip the cotton wool in warm water and clean the ear from the outside of the ear to inward.

How to flush your Dog ear?

There are several techniques used to flush your dog’s ear, the most commonly used method is shown below.

Procedure

First, examine the ear canal and determine the nature of the disease and the amount of debris in the canal. Your initial approach is to remove excess debris from the ear canal.
If you find that debris in the ear canal is waxy, soak the canal for 5 to 10 minutes with the help of a ceruminolytic ear cleaner.
Now flush their ear with warm isotonic saline. You can also use a video otoscope for this procedure because it has all the flushing equipment and higher magnification. However, an 8-French polypropylene urinary catheter or a bulb syringe with a 12 ml syringe can also be used.
If the debris is present in large quantities, you can use ear curettes or alligator clips to remove them.
Once the procedure is complete, evaluate the ear’s tympanic membrane.

You must be aware of the owner of the possible complications that can occur during the ear flushing. Typically, a normal ear heals after 20-30 days of flushing. Some veterinarians also recommend the use of non-toxic steroids and antibiotics after ear flushing.

Conclusion

The ear is an integral part of the dog’s body, and its regular cleaning and care are necessary. Always keep your dog on the lookout for infection and excess wax. You can use warm water and apple cider vinegar at home to clean their ear.