does anyone know of a natural remidy for skin/ear infections is labradors?

Question

my lab has always had food allergies since he was a pup. tried everything!! vet has cost me over $2000 in 5 yrs. tried over the counter and prescribed meds but the infections keep coming back. he's always scratching his ear and is crying cos he's hurting himself. i am continually washing out brown stuff (twice daily) have also tried ear canker drops with no change. all suggestions gratefully accepted. thanks

Answer 1

My last two dogs have had chronic ear infections. I have tried a few antibiotics that only seem to work for a short pweiod of time and then the infection comes back. I just keep using it if I get a flare up. It seem to occur on very hot humid days. It is a real pain.

Answer 2

keeping the ear dry is first and formost. Whether it's a fungus, mites, or infection, try this.....Ear powder. Sold at most pet stores, made by biogroom, or any other company. It has resin in it and dry's out the ear canal. It's used to "pull" hair the grows in the ear canal of some breeds. (shih-tzu's, poodles, bichons, schnauzers, etc) Wash it out with Ear cleaner, also available in pet stores. Pour it strait down the ear canal. You have to dig in there with a q-tip.. Really reach down deep. Dogs don't have ear drums in the same place as people. Do not be afraid to dig way down and pull all the brown yucky stuff out. You will not puncture an ear drum. After digging all that out with the ear cleaner, put the ear powder in. Do this 3 times a day in both ears, even if the other is not infected. It should clear up for you in a week or so. Remember, dig deep, pull as much junk out of there as you can with the ear cleaner, then use the powder. The more you dig out, the quicker it will go away. After its improved, keep using the process every other day to keep it from coming back. I've been a dog groomer for 20 years, and when my customers come to me with this same problem after spending thousands at the vet, I tell them the same thing I've just told you. Within a couple of weeks, they call me, thanking me. This will work!! Be consistant and dig all that crap out of the ear canal. That is, in fact the trick to it. Don't be afraid to dig deep. Do it 3 times a day. Use the ear powder. Good luck

Answer 3

Hi-my bassett/lab mix also has skin allergies-we started him on dog food for sensative skin. As for the ears-my old English Sheepdog had lots of ear infections over the years. We tried EVERYTHING-she was always shaking her head and had injured her ear once by shaking next to a table. Finally, our vet prescribed a medication to literally dry out her ears. That was the biggest problem with long eared dogs-keeping the inside dry so that bacteria and yeast don't have a nice place to grow. Call your vet and ask about it. As soon as we started it, we never had another ear problem-I just wish we had known about it years before.

Answer 4

There is a product called Wally's ear oil. It can be found in health food stores and some GNC's. It has garlic oil and tea tree oil in it which are both antiseptics. I use it on my children all the time when they get ear infections. We've never had to go to the doctor. My mini dachshund also had and ear infection, and I used it on him also with great results. Make sure you gently warm the drops before putting them in your dogs ear though. Otherwise, the cold drops can be painful. Good luck!

Answer 5

I would use a tea tree oil soap on the skin but not in the ears. Has the vet used steriods (im thinking at 2k you tried this) With the ears I would clean them out daily with cotton pad with alcohol. Not cotton ball they tend to fray on me but the pads stay in shape a little better to rub the inner skin. Alcohol as you know doesn't kill germs but it is an effective cleaner. One of mine has an antibiotic ear drop and if steriods and antihistimines are not working you may have to stay in close contact with your vet to make sure he gets antibiotics when needed.

Labs and water are you getting his ears dried out well when he gets in water. I have one dog that will stick his head in any bucket of water watch that yours has dry ears. More of a home remedy for children with ear infection is the hairdryer.

FYI 2 k in five years isn't bad.

Answer 6

Hi,

I have a Lab myself. His ears are always nasty & smell too. We took him to the river in our boat & let him swim, He was good for about 3 months. At the time i didn't know that this would help him tho. I talked with my vet, she said that i washed in inside ear canal
& washed away the ear mites. I take him to the river about every 3 - 4 motnhs and let him swim for about an hour. That was 2 years ago, he does not itch & they do not smell. & doesn't cost a thing.

Answer 7

Our Rotweiler/German Shepard mix, had an ear infection once, and I called our "Local-Vet" to see if they could give me a "Home-Remedy" and she said hydrogen peroxide, and if that didn't work, to bring him in.. And Lo' & behold it didn't work, I dont know what my ex did about the problem from that point on, but, I'd call a vet, and just ask them what would be "Best" for your poor labrador..I used to have a black lab, and I just love those dogs! Poor thing..I know how agonizing it is for them, when they get those ear infections.. They wine & wimper, and itch their ears, its so sad, to see your favorite pet, suffer, that way, ..so, I'd just give them a "Jingle" and I'm sure by now they have better "over the counter" home-remedies, than when my ex, and I were together.. Good-Luck, to you......

Answer 8

They make foods that are specially made for dogs with allergies. Visit some of the dog food web sites, and you might be able to get a free sample. My vet told me to change our dogs food, because he had allergies. It took a couple of months of buying different foods before I found one he likes, because he is picky. The change in food helped tremendously! We started noticing a difference in a couple of months. Put neosporin on his ears. You can also give your dog benedryl, but you'll need to ask a vet how much to give. Our vet recommends food change first, then benedryl.

Answer 9

You NEED antibiotics! Cranberry juice and all the other the counter stuff only PREVENTS one! They DO NOT CURE one! If you don't get antibiotics it will eventually turn into a kidney infection. Then you could end up in the hospital.

Answer 10

If your vet has tried everything and it's not working. Why not try a holistic vet?

http://www.holisticvetlist.com/

I have great faith in regular vets, but no one knows everything. I have seen good results with certain conditions.

Good Luck!