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.
This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure for more information.
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.
Hmm . I never knew about the different types of infections dogs can suffer from that infect the ears. I never had an issue with my pets ears however this Eco Ears product sounds like a winner. So glad your dog found relief and you saved money! It’s a win win.
Fortunately, our dogs aren’t prone to ear infections, but they are miserable when they have them. One of my dogs gets them occasionally as part of her allergies.
Yup, that’s the same with our Ginger, I realized that the ear infections were caused by her food allergies.
This is interesting! I’ve had yeast infections in my ears and my vet said to treat it with drops of mixed water, white vinegar and athlete’s foot and it works, so even vets sometimes promote ‘home brew’ treatments!
Interesting, I never heard that home solution before. I’d be concerned about putting athlete’s foot medication in her ear though. That’s what I liked about the Eco Ears, it uses only natural ingredients.
Mr. N hasn’t had an ear infection despite having floppy ears *knocks on wood. He doesn’t like getting wet though so I’m sure that helps! I do clean his ears occasionally though.
It sounds like an amazing product. I am using an organic one at the moment to keep Layla’s ears clean but will check more into it when it will be needed, thanks for the post
Organic is good, glad it works for your Layla, that’s awesome!
Thanks for this great guide. I think you might have helped me figure out the diagnosis for my parent’s dog’s issues. While a head tilt is cute, it can definitely be signs of something more serious going on.
So glad it could help. The head tilt and pawing at the ears are cute until you realize why they are doing it. Not that all head tilting means an ear infection, but something to look into.
only once did little M get an ear infection and he was about 4 months at the time. Was yeast. Nothing since!!
Little M is lucky! I know most of our dogs never had issues with their ears. But since we adopted our Ginger a couple years ago, her allergies really keep us in check on with her ears and health.
I’ve been lucky enough that my dogs haven’t had ear infections. Wow that looks so painful! But this is an interesting product that I will research further for my canine clients.
Differentiating between the various kinds and causes of ear infections is very important, so thanks for outlining what they are and what to expect. I used to clean my dogs’ ears weekly with hydrogen peroxide, until the vet told me I was actually over-drying his ears, making him more itchy. Eco Ears sounds like a good alternative to other products I’ve tried in the past
I used hydrogen peroxide before too before learning that it’s actually bad for their ears. The Eco Ears has been a miracle for us.
Great info, ears have to be the most prone to dirt part of a dog. Fortunately, one of our girls, Cece, takes it upon herself to clean the rest of the dogs ears. It’s pretty gross, but it’s effective. I still make sure to clean them each once a month at least for preventative maintenance
umm, okay that is gross! But if it works 🙂
Dogs should not be licking another dog’s ears. Their mouth is full of bacteria and this is extremely unsanitary. Not healthy for either of your dogs.My golden retriever has an awful time with ear infections from multiple allergies.We feed no grain single protein diet and prescription apoquel for the itch.Another common allergy can be the dish they eat from….use stainless steel bowls. We will be giving this eco ear a try. Thanks!