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.
>Ginger had a bacterial ear infection, which I believe was caused by her food allergies. Once I was able to control her allergies, the ear infections never returned.
See, I’m glad you mentioned this, because I don’t think it’s normal to have to clean your dogs ears regularly to have them not get ear infections, so if they’re getting ear infections frequently it must be a sign of something bigger. But maybe I’m mistaken.
I agree, if a dog is having reoccurring ear infections, then there is definitely an underlying reason. Ours was the allergies, but there are many other health conditions to consider.
This is exactly what I believe as well Susan. And I think it’s true for more than just dogs with ear problems. For instance, people who have skin problems – instead of trying to treat the skin problem directly, they should try to figure out the underlying issue causing the skin problem in the first place.
I was just wondering what do you do for your dogs allergies?
A lot of little things actually — I need to write a post about it 🙂 Ginger has seasonal and food allergies. So I went through an elimination diet to find the foods she is allergic to, so she is on a very restricted diet. She gets Probonix probiotic additive, coconut oil and honey as occasional treats. I also give her baths with an anti-itch shampoo when she gets really itchy.
Is there a product for cats?
EcoEars does have a version for cats! On Amazon: https://amzn.to/2v09UIv
My dog is not a big fan of ear cleaning ..runs from me…how can I clean her ears without it being traumatic to either one of us
A lot of patience! My dog JJ (since past away) would not let me touch his ears. I took it slow, putting the solution on a cotton ball, I’d sit next to him, when he was in a relaxed state of mind (usually at night). I’d pet him, with the cotton ball in my hand and slowly work my way closer to his ears. I know it sounds silly, but I’d almost be petting him with the cotton ball, until I got to his ear, then inside his ear. He still never liked it, but I was at least able to get him calm enough to allow me to clean them out. It didn’t happen over night either, it took weeks for me to be able to sit down and clean his in ears in 5 minutes. In the beginning, I’d spend 20 minutes just petting him with the cotton ball!
My darling Jack Russel suffers from the symptoms as described in your message. I would love to buy the recommended product and would be most grateful if you could tell me how I could get hold of the mentioned Eco Ears
It’s available on Amazon at http://amzn.to/2sOEbuY.
Thank you for the information, if i have a future problem with my dogs ears, i will consider this product.
Thank you for the info
How did you determine that your dog had food allergies. ? We have a cihuahua with reddish pink belly and ears. Also red anus and dark red down rear and front legs. Bet can’t cure it!
That’s not a home remedy. I don’t have a credit card or debit card, I’m on a very limited income. I was expecting a real home remedy.
unfortunatly its not sold in australia