Yes, you can treat many dog ear infections at home if you catch them early.
The #1 remedy I recommend (and still use years later) is EcoEars, which cleared up Ginger’s chronic ear infections in just a few days.
Other natural options include a green tea and apple cider vinegar rinse, calendula drops, or herbal ear washes.
However, remember that recurring infections are often a sign of allergies or other underlying health issues, so prevention is just as important as treatment.
Does your dog shake their head constantly, scratch at their ears, or have that awful brown gunk and smell coming from inside?
I’ve been there. With Ginger, our allergy-prone pup, ear infections were a never-ending battle. I’ll never forget the piles of brown gunk I pulled out of her ears every single day. The redness, the scratching, the head shaking… it was miserable for her and heartbreaking for me.
That’s when I started my journey of trying every natural remedy I could find, desperate to help her without running to the vet for yet another prescription that only offered short-term relief. After a lot of trial and error, I finally found something that worked.
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Treating Your Dog’s Ear Infection at Home
First things first: if you’re ever unsure, call your vet. Severe infections, especially those deep in the middle or inner ear, often need professional care. But for the majority of common yeast or bacterial infections, you can safely start treatment at home.
Here are the remedies I’ve tried, trusted, and recommend:
1. EcoEars by Vet Organics (My #1 Recommendation)
I was on the verge of another expensive vet visit when I found EcoEars on Chewy, an over-the-counter ear infection treatment. Six-plus years later, it’s still my go-to.
- Works on yeast infections, bacterial infections, and even ear mites
- Relief is often available within 24 to 48 hours
- 93.7% reported success rate
- Costs a fraction of a vet visit
After just a couple of days using EcoEars on Ginger, the redness disappeared, the gunk lessened, and she finally had relief. Today, I still use it monthly as a maintenance treatment for all our dogs.
Ingredients: Denatured Grain Alcohol, Organic Mullein Leaf Extract, Witch Hazel Extract, Rosemary Extract, Ionic Silver Solution, Boric Acid, Vegetable Glycerin, Tea Tree Oil, Polysorbate 20 (Food Grade).
I wish I had better pictures, but this shows what Ginger’s ears looked like and the amount of brown gunk I cleaned out every day BEFORE using the EcoEars.
Here is what Ginger’s ears look like today, infection-free! And I owe it all to EcoEars.
2. Green Tea Natural Ear Cleaner
Green tea is naturally soothing, apple cider vinegar is rich in antioxidants, and calendula is anti-inflammatory.
- 2 cups brewed green tea
- 2 tablespoons of organic apple cider vinegar
- 5 drops of calendula
Mix, cool, and gently syringe 1–3 ml into the ear canal. Massage your dog, then let them shake it out.
3. Apple Cider Vinegar Solution (Use With Caution)
- 50% organic apple cider vinegar
- 50% water
Soak a cotton ball and gently wipe the inside of the ear. Do not use it if your ears are red or have sores, as it may cause irritation or burning. This never worked for Ginger, but many dog owners swear by it.
4. Herbal Ear Wash Options
These medicated cleansers come highly recommended by holistic veterinarians:
- Earth Animal Apothecary Clean Ears (chamomile, calendula, aloe, witch hazel, and more)
- Zymox Plus Advanced Formula (with hydrocortisone)
- EcoEars by Vet Organics (mullein leaf, witch hazel, rosemary, and more)
5. Essential Oils for Dog Ear Infections
Credit for this one goes to Dr. Katie with The Natural Pet Doctor.
- 10 oz. of distilled water or brewed green tea (cooled)
- 5 drops of lavender essential oil
- 5 drops of copaiba essential oil
- 5 drops of frankincense essential oil
- 1 tablespoon of colloidal silver
Spray 2–3 times daily until the infection clears.
You can find all of these ingredients and recommended products in my Amazon List: Natural Home Remedies for Dogs with Ear Infections.
DO NOT USE Hydrogen peroxide. It irritates and inflames the ear canal, making infections worse.
Why Ear Infections Keep Coming Back
This is what I learned with Ginger: ear infections are often a symptom of something bigger, usually allergies. Once we put her on an elimination diet, her chronic infections finally slowed down.
Food = medicine for dogs, too. I now feed my dogs raw/fresh food whenever possible, which helps keep them healthier in the long term.
Want safer, natural solutions for your dog? Grab my free Natural Remedies for Dogs Reference Guide — it’s packed with easy swaps and remedies I use daily. GET IT HERE > >
Symptoms of Dog Ear Infections
- Head shaking
- Redness
- Brown/black waxy gunk
- Foul odor
- Tilting head
- Swelling or pawing at the ears
Causes of Dog Ear Infections
- Allergies
- Bacteria or yeast overgrowth
- Ear mites
- Excess moisture
- Thyroid or endocrine disorders
- Excessive cleaning or injury
How I Clean My Dog’s Ears at Home (Step-by-Step)
- Soak a cotton ball or Q-tip with EcoEars, then gently remove the gunk.
- Pour the solution (I use the cap as a scoop), massage it, and let the dog shake.
- Repeat twice daily for 10 days.
- Monthly maintenance with a cotton ball wipe.
When to Go to the Vet
If your dog has:
- Severe swelling or pain
- Recurring infections that don’t improve in a few days
- Signs of middle or inner ear infection (loss of balance, walking in circles)
…please call your vet. Sometimes home remedies aren’t enough.
FAQs About Dog Ear Infections
Can I treat my dog’s ear infection without a vet?
Yes! Many mild outer ear infections respond well to natural treatments, such as EcoEars or herbal rinses. However, if symptoms worsen, please call your veterinarian.
Are home remedies safe?
Yes, if used correctly. Never use vinegar on raw/red ears, and avoid hydrogen peroxide altogether.
How do I prevent ear infections?
Regular cleaning, keeping ears dry, and addressing allergies/diet are key.
Can allergies cause ear infections?
Absolutely. Food and environmental allergies are a leading cause of recurring infections.
Final Thoughts
Watching Ginger suffer through chronic ear infections taught me two things:
- EcoEars is the fastest, most effective home treatment I’ve ever used.
- Long-term health (diet, allergies, and natural prevention) is just as important as short-term fixes.
If your dog is struggling, start with a safe home remedy and grab my free Natural Remedies for Dogs Guide so you have holistic tools ready for the next time.
It worked! My older sweet Dog is so much better. I was getting so worried, and I hate Vet bills!!!
YEAH! I am thrilled to hear the good news!
most dogs will suffer from this in their lives. i battled this with a Great Pyrenees yrs ago.
i would just clean out as much gunk as i could used Tinactin athlete's foot powder. it helped to dry the ears out & combat the yeast problems. Since then any rescue dog that i have adopted, has been ear problem free. it might take 2 weeks+ but if you keep the ears clean & dry, they will take care of themselves. BTW human ears are pointed upwards so that any water will drain out. dogs ears are pointed down so water does not drain out = hope this helps
Thank you for sharing and I’m happy you found something that works for you. But I’d be very cautious and do NOT recommend putting Tinactin athlete’s foot powder in a dog’s ears.
What is a good Dog food to us
That depends on your dog. Does your dog have allergies? If so, so you know what they are allergic to? If you can feed fresh or raw, that is the best.
I’ve been doctoring my Pom over a year and over 1,000dollars and using two different vets. . They do the same treatment. Now ear is black inside ulcerated barely any ear canal left. Last visit they told me nothing left to do. Ear is pussie, runny. I noticed every bath he would flare up. Pom itches his ear and then licks his paw, telling me infection is inside of of him now. I can’t get the vets to prescribe oral antibiotic which I think is needed. How do I help my poor baby
Oh my goodness, I am so sorry you are fighting this terrible ear infection with your Pom. I hate to say it but find a different vet. Maybe a holistic vet would be a better route. Download my natural remedy guide. I’ve got a handful of holistic vets listed in there.
Cleaning a dogs ears is one thing, but dealing with a bacterial infection will not respond to simple home remedies. Homeopathic does not work for humans and will not work for any serious infection in dogs either. This is just setting your dog up for serious complications.
what do you feed your dog that has allergies?
I was feeding her Zignature for a long time. But more and more dog food companies are coming out with limited ingredient foods. So I recently switched her to Merrick Limited Ingredient and she’s doing great. Here is a great article to learn more about allergies: https://www.rescuedogs101.com/ultimate-guide-home-remedies-dog-allergies/
Thanks for the helpful info on how do help Shandy's ear problems.
I have a nearly 4 year old Standard Poodle. She is beautiful and an incredible athlete, but developed a chronic auto-immune disease directly from the puppy vaccines her breeder unknowingly gave her and all her siblings. All of the adults from her litter have these chronic ear infections. Like you I have tried everything: meds, diet, numerous vets./vet visits, lab analysis of the black, smelly paste in her ears. I have tried numerous washes and medical prescribed ear washes. Back in 1997 Purdue Vet School did a study on vaccine dangers on cats/dogs. They recommended NOT using them because of the serious side effects that range from simple auto-immune diseases like ear infections to a variety of cancers. Although I love the Standard Poodle breed, it is virtually impossible to find any breeders with the knowledge and intelligence to STOP vaccinating their puppies to eliminate these health risks. After years of practicing natural medicine, and after millions have died from the Covid shot, many of us realize that viruses have never been scientifically proven to exist, simply another scam designed to make billions for evil drug companies. I wonder if you are aware of this.
Our Cavapoo was already vaccinated when we got her. We’ve had her for a month and now she has a crusty, sore ear. My question is how do you find a groomer who doesn’t require proof of vaccines?
I’m surprised the rescue didn’t give you a copy of her medical records. You can try to explain to the groomer the situation.
My vet said olive oil vinegar and alcohol not peroxide
Work well for cat and dogs