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.
My dog has an ear infection when I came across this article so i am going to try this stuff. Thank you for your advice.
That’s great, I hope it works for your dog as well it does for ours.
i was reading about the product u use…and i really want to try it…unfortunately it does NOT ship to Canada!…is there any other product u could suggest Debi ? thank u !!
Hi Terri, I’m sorry I don’t have experience with another product I can recommend. Have you tried going direct to their website and see if they’ll ship to you?
Amazon.ca sells EcoEars, as well.
How to get loose hair out of your Chihuahuas ears?
Jean, I’m sorry but I am not really sure. Have you asked your vet for advice? How is loose hair getting into his ears?
Good advice
I have been using Zymox ear cleanser every other weeks. My dog hasn’t had another ear infection since she was a puppy. She is now 10 years old. It cleans and prevents. Wonderful products.
That’s awesome. So glad you found something that works for your dog!
You shouldn’t use q-tips for your ears. Your better off going to the vet to get better advice. Humans shouldn’t use q-tips either in the ears as you only remove a small amount of wax and push more of the wax into the ear therefore at risk of causing more damage
Hi Katt, Thanks for your comment. As I mention above, I use the q-tips to clean the outer part of my dogs ears. I have been to the vet and they have instructed us to clean her ears and then you pour the solution into her ears and massage it for a minute before allowing the dog to shake her head.
Just wanted to say we have a Pit mix with floppy ears & were having a problem with ear infections. Used an OTC product. I agree with you the most important thing is persistence. You must clean the infected ear/ears daily until infection is gone. It’s painful for your dog especially if there is pus; I found that I could kind of just touch the pus with the Qtip & slowly turn it while pulling the pus would come out so it was less painful. Now we clean them every 2-3 wks with a Qtip dipped in a 50/50 mixture of rubbing alcohol/ water.
You are correct, you must clean the infected ears at least once a day, if not twice a day until the infection is gone. I heard of using rubbing alcohol/water before, but also heard it can dry out the dogs ears. That’s why I like the Eco Ears so much. It’s safe and gentle enough to use daily without any of the side effects.
Please don’t ever use alcohol in your dog’s ears. It’s painful and dries the ear out. Also, if your dog has an ear infection, cleaning them daily is harmful. They need cleaned once them treated with an ear medication prescribed by your vet (because different meds treat different infections) for at least 14 days. Don’t stop before just because you think it looks better. Finish the treatment.
I am appreciate for you care, Thank you so much.
First off, good job by keeping the clean, that’s a great way to prevent ear infections as well. However, I noticed that you said to be careful sticking the q-tips down too far. I don’t know how much your vet previously told you but dogs ear canals are actually L shaped so if you are going straight down, then you can’t go too far, you won’t hit the canal. Not sure if any of that made sense but basically the ear canals of humans and dogs are different so you won’t hurt them by going too far straight down.
Thank you! I ordered this from your affiliate link and i can’t wait to get it! One of our dogs has any ongoing problem with his ears and I’m so excited to try this!
Awesome, check back in and let us know how it goes.