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.
Going to try thanks for care
I use Echoears for both dogs, I have changed their diet. Works wonders
I use Zymox, an OTC enzyme that I order from Amazon.com. It works well if used before an ear infection gets really bad.
My dog also was getting bad ear infections and had itchy skin so bad he would scratch himself raw. I eliminated peanut butter and that took care of the itching and a lot of the ear redness/irritation. He still gets occasional ear infections and will give this a try.
Interesting, first dog I’ve heard about being allergic to peanut butter. So glad you found what was making him itch!
Do you know if this Eco Ears is good for cats too?
p.s. In About the Author, there is a misspelling of the word “where” . It is in the first sentence, after Rescue Dogs 101….”WERE” is the misspelled word.
Yes Eco Ears has a cat version. I don’t have cats so can’t speak to its effectiveness. And thank you, funny no one caught the misspelling until now 🙂
I have 5 rescues from people who no longer their pet. I have 3 yorkies (not the miniatures) 1 chihuahua and 1 very large retriever who thinks she is as small as the rest of her sisters and brother. Thank-you for the advice because I have 2 with ear infections and it is very costly at the vets.
You are very welcome. Thank you for rescuing so many dogs!
What did you use to treat your dogs allergies. My labradoodle chews and likes on his paws. Also what dog food do you recommend?
We started with an elimination diet to figure out what she was allergic to. Then add supplements such as coconut oil and probiotics. We feed Zignature because it’s the only food I’ve found she doesn’t have a reaction to.
I have a Maltese rescue with skin allergies and ear infections. Vet gives a IM injection followed by Anti itch pills. We use Hills’s to Home Prescription Diet for skin allergies and ear infections. She sometimes cries. That’s been a while because we scooped everyone up to the Emergency vet.
Thank you for this helpful info. I wanted to add that Dr. Jean Dodds offers Nutriscan that identifies your dogs allergies. It is expensive but it saved my dog from suffering through the lengthy elimination test. I am not affiliated with Dr. Dodds, just a happy customer.
I have a pitbull, he is almost 3 yrs old. His ears stay full of the brown junk, smells horrible, and always scratching or rubbing it. Had previous yeast infection in ears and eyes, vet treated with antibiotic ointment. My question is this. Is it possible that all the yeast in pizza crust (he loves Little Caesar’s) could be cause of these infections? Just a thought. Any help would be be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!
I don’t know, but you shouldn’t be feeding your dog pizza crust. It’s not healthy for them. Stop feeding it to him and see if the ear infections go away.
thank you for the info on Eco Ears, I plan to try it. We have Bulldogs and our female has terrible ear infections. Our male has extreme food alergies. We have limited the diet to Fish only proteins and only use Zignature. So far we are not having much success on the ear infections for our girl. Going to try your suggestion. Thank you for the great info.
You’re welcome. Hope it works. Sounds a lot like our Ginger. Are you feeding her any treats or bones. Consider anything she eats an allergy trigger. Outside allergies can also be an issue.
Hi I’ve just seen your post I’ve got a dog with sensitive ears and I’ve just ordered the liquid you recommend so thank you very much for your help and support. I’m eager to start and get this stuff so I can keep my dogs ears thanks again.