Tips for Using Apple Cider Vinegar to Treat Dog Ear Infections

The ear is one part of the dog’s body that’s prone to getting infections. You will know when a dog has an ear infection by observing the following symptoms: whining and head shaking, ear pawing, odor from the ear area, ear discharge, ear redness, and more. Given your dog’s health is at stake and it’s not easy to tell how severe the ear infection is, we would always strongly recommend visiting the vet first.

If, however, you know that your dog is affected by a minor ear yeast infection then it may be possible to treat it with a ubiquitous household ingredient, the apple cider vinegar. Yeast infections in the outer ear canal may occur among dogs if the ear provides an ideal environment for the yeast to grow. This could happen after a dog goes for a swim or if an outdoor pollutant (such as pollen and mold) gets trapped inside the dog’s ears.

Apple cider vinegar, as a home remedy, may help get rid of dog ear infections but only if the condition is still very minor. Again, we strongly recommend visiting the vet first if your dog seems to be suffering. The reason apple cider vinegar may work is due to it containing a chemical called acetic acid, which is known for treating fungal and bacterial infections.

If you do plan on using apple cider vinegar for your dog’s ear infection then please do a spot test first, especially if this is the first time your dog’s body is exposed to vinegar. While rare, some dogs may have skin that is sensitive to the chemical in the apple cider vinegar. Once that’s validated, you could try the following method to use apple cider vinegar to get rid of ear yeast infection among dogs.

First, mix the apple cider vinegar with some warm olive oil at a ratio of 50/50. We don’t use water because it may feed the yeast infection if it isn’t properly wiped out from the dog’s ear canal. Next, dip a cotton swab into the mixture and gently wipe the dog’s ear while paying close attention to the base. Be sure to use different cotton swabs per ear to prevent the infection from spreading.

It may help to prepare some dog treats ahead of time as your dog may not like the idea of having his ears swabbed with a strange-smelling substance. If you clean the dog’s ear regularly then you should hopefully start seeing some results within the next few days.