Doggy Ear Infections – Can CBD Help?

Dogs and young kids are alike in many ways. They both fill your heart to the point where you think it might burst, they both make loud noises at inconvenient times, and they both get ear infections a LOT.

Your dog’s ear infection can have a few different causes, and determining the cause is important in choosing the right treatment. Ear infections can be caused by:

• Bacteria
• Hormone changes or imbalances
• Yeast
• Allergies
• Ear mites
•  Immune system issues, which can start in the gut

You should visit your holistic vet if your dog is having frequent, recurrent ear infections to find the root cause of the problem. In addition to the causes above, there are times where your dog may have something lodged into his or her ear canal whether it’s wax or some type of foreign object.

Symptoms of ear infections

Like in people, ear infections can cause a range of symptoms in dogs. The main symptoms are:

• Itchy, irritated ears
• Tilting the head to one side
• Pain when opening the mouth wide
• Hearing loss
• Nausea and vomiting
• Walking in circles

These are not the only symptoms of ear infection in dogs, but they are the most common. Pain can be added to the most common symptoms. That’s why tilting her head to one side, or shaking their head, is commonly observed.

You may not be able to tell if the ears are red or swollen inside. But, if the infection is severe you may smell it.  If your dog is exhibiting behaviors that are unusual, you should contact your holistic vet. Ear infections aren’t generally a life-threatening issue, but loss of hearing is a possibility if the infection becomes severe for a period of time.

Holistic Options

If your goal is to treat ear infections without needing a prescription antibiotic, you have a few options including colloidal silver, apple cider vinegar, and CBD.

Colloidal silver is antibacterial and antifungal. These characteristics can clean the ears and keep them clean. And, help kill the bacteria causing the ear infections. Colloidal silver can be used orally or rubbed into the ears.

Apple cider vinegar possesses antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial properties which may be useful to treat ear infections. Like colloidal silver, apple cider vinegar is ingested by putting a few drops into water, or can be applied topically to the ears by mixing with a 50/50 water solution.

Coconut oil is another great option to treat ear infections because it works as an antifungal. When combined with CBD, which works as an anti-inflammatory, coconut oil can help treat ear infections when ingested. CBD Dog Health CALM and EASE CBD oil for dogs contains coconut oil and CBD and can be an effective ear infection treatment.

 

Prevent Ear Infections in Dog

Preventing ear infections is important, but it may take a bit of experimenting to find the cause. Often, ear infections caused by allergies start with gut health. Highly processed foods, over-vaccination, and chronic stress can impact gut health, which can cause ear infections as well. Ensuring you are cleaning your dog’s ears on a regular basis is also important. Your veterinarian, or potentially your groomer, could explain how to properly clean your dog’s ears. Generally, your dog’s ears must be cleaned once or twice per week.

You shouldn’t remove any fur from your dog’s ears unless instructed by your veterinarian because it could lead to inflammation. If the hair isn’t causing an issue, it must be removed properly by a professional.

As with any new treatment, talk to your holistic vet about the best option for your specific dog’s needs.

 

About Angela Ardolino

Angela Ardolino is a holistic pet expert who has been caring for animals for over 20 years and operates a rescue farm, Fire Flake Farm, in Florida. She is also the owner of  Beautify the Beast,  a natural pet salon and shop. After getting her certificate in Medical Cannabis Biology and Therapeutic use from the University of Vermont School of Medicine, she founded CBD Dog Health to provide high quality, all-natural medical cannabis products designed specifically for pets. Angela has seven dogs, Odie a 12-year-old mini-schnauzer, Nina an 8-year-old Doberman. Jolene a 7-year-old mutt, Maza a 7-year-old mutt, Rhemi an 8-year-old poodle, Potato a 15-year-old shih-tzu, and Miss Daisie a 15-year-old black lab, plus 4-10 more at any time she is fostering or boarding. She uses Full Spectrum Hemp Extract on all her pets at her rescue farm every day, and has since 2016. She is a member of the Society of Cannabis Clinicians, the Veterinary Cannabis Association and has trained hundreds medical doctors and veterinarians about the therapeutic uses of medical cannabis on animals. Visit www.angelaardolino.com for more information.