Other Dog Food For Ear Infections We Reviewed
- Canned Food
Wellness Simple Natural Wet Canned Dog Food is a great choice to feed your pup. This particular product is a limited ingredient for dogs with food sensitivities, allergies, and ear problems. Its a grain-free diet and is easily digestible with a single protein and other carbohydrates. This product goes along with the Wellness Simple Natural Dry Dog Food, the top choice on this list. If you decide to give that one a try, then be sure to take a look into the wet canned food.
Key Features
- All natural ingredients no gluten, wheat, or artificial additives
- Easy to digest, made with food sensitivities in mind
- Will energize your dog and boost their immune system fighting off chronic ear infections
- Comes in four different flavors
- Affordable cans come in packs of 12
- Save money by choosing recurring orders and deliveries
Home Remedy For Dog Ear Infectionwhen Will It Work And When It Wont
Bacterial infections can be very difficult to cure with home remedies alone.
A course of veterinarian prescribed antibiotics or steroids is often required to kill the infection.
However, a combination of mild solutions in home remedy mixes applied gently and externally to your dogs ears, together with a healthy diet, regular exercise and helping your dog keep their ears dry can go a long way towards prevention and alleviating symptoms.
Can Dog Food Cause Ear Infections
Dogs are most often afflicted with ear infections due to dietary allergies. Food allergies may lead to inflammatory diseases, which allow for the development of yeast and bacteria in the intestines, ultimately building up to the rest of the body, especially the ear.
Based on study findings is that one in five dogs has some ear infections. Ear infections are often linked with Cocker Spaniels and Golden Retrievers since their larger ear lobes and bushy ear canals promote the accumulation of dirt and bacteria.
It is always advisable to get veterinary assistance if you think your dog has an ear infection. For instance, you can help prevent the reappearance of chronic and recurring infections by following preventive measures.
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What Causes Dog Ear Infections
Ear infections arent just superficial. Your dogs yeasty ears stem from yeast overgrowth in your dogs body. Yeast is present in healthy ears, but there are a few factors that can cause it to grow out of control.
DietAny processed kibble diet worsens yeast because carbohydrates create sugars that feed yeast. And thats especially true of candida yeast.
Oily Or Moist SkinMalassezia yeast is a bit different. Its lipophilic, meaning it likes fats . That means dogs with oily skins or coats are more prone to malassezia. Dogs who love to swim can also be more susceptible because theyre often damp in places like their ears, groins and armpits.
MedicationsAntibiotics and anti-allergy drugs are another big concern. Antibiotics destroy both bad and good bacteria, which allows yeast to grow out of control. And if your dog gets allergy medications like Apoquel when his ear infections are mistaken for allergies, these immune-suppressing drugs make him more susceptible to yeast overgrowth.
Heavy metals and environmental toxins can also harm the beneficial bacteria in your dogs gut, allowing yeast to grow. Heavy metals and other toxins get into your dogs body through vaccines, flea and tick preventatives,cleaning products, food and water.
Your dogs ear yeast infection is usually a sign of a deeper problem in his body
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How To Soothe Your Dogs Itchy Ears
The most aggravating part of a dog ear yeast infection, for both you and your dog, is the itching. Here are some things to bring relief.
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What Is A Dog Ear Infection
An ear infection occurs when bacteria, yeast, or another irritant runs amok in your dogs delicate ears. These infections cause inflammation in the outer, middle, or inner ear. You may also encounter discharge or an unusual odor.
Your dog will be peeved if they have an ear infection. The scratching, head shaking, and whining tells you just how irritating this condition is for your dog!
Some dog breeds are more at risk of developing an ear infection than others. For example, Basset Hounds and Cocker Spaniels are more prone to ear infections because of their large, floppy ears. Their ear structures create the perfect breeding ground for bacteria and yeastdark, warm, and moist.
Dogs with droopy ears are especially at risk if they swim. Since water can easily get trapped in the ears, the residual moisture can lead to an infection.
What Foods Cause Ear Yeast
Food can be a major factor in triggering your dogs yeast ear infection. Food containing carbohydrates like grains, legumes and starches can trigger food sensitivities that upset your dogs microbiome. When the gut flora is unbalanced, your dogs good bacteria is overrun by pathogenic bacteria that encourage the yeast to grow.
High carbohydrate diets like kibble feed yeast when theyre digested and broken down into sugar molecules. That leads to yeast growing larger colonies in the gut and causes chronic inflammation that can trigger ear infections.
Artificial ingredients like preservatives, flavorings and synthetic vitamins and minerals also
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/4 Dog Ear Infections Related To Yeast
Dog ears are nice, warm places. All you need is a little moistness, say from licked paws or simply a moments innocent wetting, and yeast will bloom. Youll know its there because youll smell it. Its horrible.
As with bacterial infections above yeast infections are often related to diet, in that you see so few of them in dogs fed biologically appropriate food.
The thing is yeast LOVES carbs. Carbs are sugar to the body and thats what yeast eats. Carbs / sugar in your dogs diet would be cereal for sure, dental sticks but also fruit, potatoes, rice and the sweeter veg like carrots.
If your dog is suffering a yeast infection of the ear the best ear cleaner is vinega. While any will do, apple cider vinegar is the best. You want the stuff with the mother in it but you dont want the bits in the mix you put in the ears! Pour through some cloth and use it neat. Incredibly effective for yeast but also bacteria and really anything living.
Before using vinegar make sure there are no cuts in his ear. Dont worry, it wont kill him. If there was a little cut in there you missed, hell let you know.
They can get yeast infections in other damp spots too, eg fat folds on a bulldog and paws are a common one. You can use vinegar there too as long as his skin is not cracked.
Lastly, yeast hates garlic. Include a little fresh garlic in their food. Yes, garlic is safe for dogs. Half a clove per 15kg of dog is a good dose. Also keeps the flea and worms away!
The Dog Ear Infection Home Remedy Guide For Pet Parents
Home remedies can be used for dog ear infections, but use with care on external areas only so you dont upset the natural pH balance in your dogs ear or apply anything that can cause your dog further harm. Talk with your vet about natural remedies that may help with your dogs recovery and how to keep your dogs ears clean and healthy to prevent recurring ear infections.
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Rule Out Underlying Causes
An ear infection is typically a sign that something else is going on with your dog, says Dr. Alexandra Gould, a veterinarian with Dermatology Clinic for Animals in Tacoma, Washington. Its only through treating these underlying causes that ear infections can be prevented. Causes, she says, include allergies, foreign objects stuck in the ear , hormonal and autoimmune diseases, and tumors.
Very often, allergies are responsible. Skin allergies bring inflammation to the surface of the body which causes irritation and warmth. The confined space of the ear canal breeds yeast and bacterial growth that further increases the inflammation, and can lead to ear infections explains Dr. Michael Lund, veterinary staff manager for ASPCAs Community Medicine Department in New York.
Like us, dogs can react to any number of allergens in the environment, like pollen, grass, mites, and fleas . And what you feed your dog may be the problem, says Boynton. Some dogs have food allergies or food sensitivities, which can predispose them to ear infections. Dogs in the United States most often react to beef, dairy products, and wheat, she says.
Dog Ear Infection Home Remedies
Dog ear infection home remedies can be relatively inexpensive and offer a more natural approach to keeping ear infections under control.
Some of the many ingredients used in home remedy applications for dogs include vinegar , coconut oil, calendula flowers and other herbs, olive oil, garlic oil or Vitamin E oil, tea tree oil, lemons, yogurt, Epsom salts, baking soda and green tea. Home remedies may also include ingredients such as boric acid and hydrogen peroxide.
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How Dog Ear Infections Start
An ear infection begins when a trigger creates heat and inflammation in the ear. The glands that line the ear kick into overdrive and produce excess wax. Yeast and bacteria, normally present at low levels in your dogs ear, thrive in that type of environment and grow rapidly out of control. The ear then becomes swollen if left untended, the ear canal itself can become completely closed and no longer visible.
How Is Otitis Interna Treated
Otitis interna is a very serious condition. If your dog is unable to eat or drink normally due to nausea or disorientation, then hospitalization for intravenous fluid therapy is generally warranted. Nausea must be controlled and dehydration avoided. It may also be necessary to sedate or anesthetize your dog in order to adequately see the ear tissues, take samples for bacterial culture, and appropriately clean the ear.
Treatment of the underlying infection is very important, and your veterinarian will prescribe the appropriate medications. Medications will be administered directly in the ear and orally. Antibiotics will be used for a bacterial infection for 6-8 weeks minimum. If the infection is fungal in nature, an anti-fungal medication will be prescribed. Whatever medications are chosen, it is critical that they be given precisely as prescribed.
“If your dog has an altered balance, restrict his activity during treatment to prevent falling injuries.”
If your dog has an altered balance, restrict his activity during treatment to prevent falling injuries. These dogs should not have access to stairs as they may take a tumble. You may also need to hand feed your dog temporarily – reaching down into a dish may stimulate nausea.
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Why Does My Dog Keep Getting Ear Infections
You should take it very seriously if your dog repeatedly contracts ear infections. There are many reasons for this. The most common reasons are environmental and food-related allergies. If you fail to keep a check on your dogs ear health or provide the right food, your dog may remain vulnerable to allergies and infections.
How To Prevent Ear Infections In Dogs And Puppies
Regular grooming, ear cleaning, and ear maintenance are important parts of pet care. Routine ear cleansing is especially important if your dog swims often.
Cleaning is best accomplished with a professional dog ear cleaning product. These typically have been specifically formulated for effective pH ranges for dogs and contain drying agents.
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Treatment For Dog Ear Infection
For successful treatment you must clean the ear with a gentle cleanser as the ear will be painful. An effective way to clean the ear is to fill the ear canal with the cleaning solution, place an appropriate-sized cotton ball in the ear canal opening, then gently massage the ear at the base. The cotton ball serves several functions. It acts as a lid to the allow the fluid to go back and forth in the canal, it absorbs the excess solution and it holds onto the debris as it comes up, letting you know what is down in the ear canal. As long as your dog tolerates it, you can clean the ear several times until the cotton ball comes out fairly clean. There are a few cautions when cleaning a dogs ear. Do not use Q-Tip swabs as they may push debris deeper into the ear canal and rupture the eardrum. Do not use rubbing alcohol or other solutions that are irritating to inflamed skin , After the ear canal has been cleaned, allow it to dry for approximately 10 minutes. Then instill the medication your veterinarian has prescribed . The length of treatment depends on the patient, severity of infection, and any changes to the ear . In some cases oral medications are necessary . Your veterinarian will schedule rechecks to make sure the medications are working and the infection is cleared.
Normal Dog Ears Vs Not Normal
The canine ear canal is shaped like a capital letter L, with the opening to the outside located at the top of the vertical section . Glands and hair line the dogs ear the glands produce wax, and the hair moves it up and out to clean the ear, naturally. A normal dog ear should not require much home cleaning. A normal, clean ear should be a healthy pink and not stink! Signs that something is not right in your dogs ears can include:
- Head shaking.
- Ear flaps that look like orange peel.
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Brothers Complete Turkey Meal + Egg Formula
First 5 Ingredients: Turkey Meal, Whole Eggs Dried, Pea Starch, Cassava/Tapioca, Peas
If youre on the lookout for an advanced allergy care grain-free dry dog food, the Brothers Complete Turkey Meal & Egg Formula is worth your consideration.
Made with over 90% animal protein source, this dog food includes turkey, chicken, and dried whole eggs. Its minimum crude protein content is 36%.
If your dogs are not into turkey meat, you can also try other flavors. Brothers Complete made sure to provide pet parents with a variety of options when it comes to taste. Flavors include lamb meal, goat meal, chicken meal, and venison meal.
Apart from containing high-quality animal proteins, this grain-free, GMO-free, and potato-free formula is also packed with digestive enzymes, prebiotics, and probiotics.
This will not only help soothe your dogs itching but will also manage your dogs weight and nourish their digestive health.
To seal the deal, this turkey meal dog food formula also meets AAFCOs established nutritional levels for dog food nutrient profiles and is made for all life stages.
PROS:
CONS
- Storage issues. Unlike other dog food brands that came in easy-to-seal bags, this turkey meal dry dog food diet isnt. One wished it came in a zip-lock container.
- Carb-content. Since this is a dry dog food, manufacturers need to add a binding agent to make the kibbles. In this case, tapioca and legumes are included in its first five ingredients.
Blue Buffalo Freedom Adult Beef Recipe Grain
Top Ingredients: Deboned Beef, Turkey Meal, Potatoes, Peas, Pea Starch, Potato Starch, Chicken Fat
- Deboned beef as the primary source of protein
- Grain-free, gluten-free
- Rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids
- Free from poultry by-products, corn, soy
- Helps maintain a healthy oxidative balance
If youre mindful about feeding allergens to your dog with an ear infection, pick this high-quality dry food blend. This grain-free option works perfectly with allergic and sensitive dogs and offers them the right balance of healthy antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals to promote overall wellbeing. This ones a popular choice amongst animal nutritionist for including the perfect ingredients to support your canines immune health.
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Dog Ear Infections The Simple And Natural Solution
Ear infections in dogs are one of the top 3 reasons for visiting a vet today. They can be pretty uncomfortable, particularly if you allow them to fester. Youll know he has one as he will be vigorously shaking or rubbing at his ears, often whining when he does as everyone knows ear infections can hurt. Dog ear infections, notably the yeast based ones, can be accompanied by a bad, cheesy smell.
This article will discuss 4 different types of ear infections and finish with how best to clean your dogs ears at home. Thankfully whatever the cause of your dogs ear infection, there is always a simple, natural cure you can try using bits you often have around the home. Just as you would with your own kids you should certainly give them a go before things get too bad and you need the vet with their meds.
Im Dr Conor Brady, a canine nutritionist that specialises in canine food sensitivity and natural therapies. In the article below I will give you some tips on canine ear infections. Articles like this get folk on to my site. The worst cases book me for a consultation. IF some products are recommended I will track the link. If you buy it I will get tiny bit of that sale.