How To Mix Vinegar And Rubbing Alcohol For A Dog Ear Infection?

Ear infections can be frequent in dogs and can become very serious if not treated in a timely fashion. Dogs suffer from ear infections from the shape of their ear canal, especially dogs with a lot of contact with water or those with floppy ears. Depending on the cause of the ear infection, there are different medications prescribed by the veterinarian. If a veterinarian isn’t available though, should you mix vinegar and rubbing alcohol for a dog ear infection, and how do you do that?

Mixing vinegar and rubbing alcohol does have its benefits for a dog ear infection, but causes more harm than good. Being very acidic, vinegar does not allow the growth of some pathogens on or in your dog’s ear but being mostly waterly, it also creates a suitable environment for bacteria.  The second product,  rubbing alcohol, does help with drying out the excessive moisture in the ear, but it will also inflame your dog’s ear (not to mention is very toxic for dogs in general). So, while this mix does have its benefits, no one should use it, especially not an untrained person.

What Are The Signs Of A Dog Ear Infection?

An ear infection is very irritating and uncomfortable for your dog. It would be very painful if left untreated. There are a lot of signs that make it obvious your dog is having an ear problem. After seeing these signs, you should take it to a veterinarian.

The first signs that can make us curious about what’s happening are lots of head shaking, scratching at the affected ear, and head rubbing. The inflammation created by the ear makes it very itchy, red, and sometimes swollen. This is why your dog starts scratching its ears more, and shakes its head or walks with the head a little down toward the affected ear.

Sometimes while they are scratching its ear, they would make a sound while scratching. So, if you see this happening, you should take a look in your dog’s ear.

While you will check its ear, you may see lots of wax or some black discharge and crust inside the ear. You may smell a bad odor too. This is a really important sign because it means a bad infection is happening.

Should You Visit Your Veterinarian Right Away For A Dog Ear Infection?

After noticing the previously explained signs, you should take your dog to the vet. This should be the first thing you do. The veterinary doctor has to check the ear to determine the cause of this ear infection.

If you will neglect to take your dog to the vet, ear infections will develop into more serious problems. In this case, your dog may lose its hearing and balance. It won’t be able to keep its balance and would start to walk awkwardly.

The important thing is to talk to your veterinarian. They will decide on the proper treatment for the ear infection. We don’t recommend exploring the internet for home remedy options for a dog’s ear infection. Some of them are misinforming owners, and they could make the infection worse. Let your vet tell you what to do.

How Can You Mix Rubbing Alcohol And Vinegar For A Dog Ear Infection?

On the internet, you can find lots of easy home remedies you can use for your dog’s ear infection, such as mixing rubbing alcohol and vinegar. This is a bad mixture that does not help your dog’s condition but will make it much worse.

We don’t suggest mixing rubbing alcohol and vinegar due to how the mixture will cause irritation and damage to the ear. In most ear infections, inside the ear’s canal, there can be found open wounds caused by inflammation and itching. Imagine putting some alcohol and vinegar in an open wound, what would you feel?

At this moment, the alcohol will cause a burning feeling in the wound inside the ear, and it would be an awful feeling for your dog, which will remember it as a bad experience when you need to treat these in the future. It would be very difficult to treat a dog who has been hurt a lot in this way.

Besides, alcohol is toxic to dogs, so it shouldn’t be used as a treatment for dog ear infections anyway. In addition, due to how watery this mixture is, the ear canal would end up getting wet, which would create an environment for bacteria to grow in.

Other Ways To Treat A Dog Ear Infection Besides A Mix Of Rubbing Alcohol And Vinegar 

If your dog has an ear infection, the only way to treat it is by prescription medications from your vet. Your vet will examine the ear canal with special equipment. Some of this equipment has a camera, which will allow the vet to see the inside of your dog’s ear.

Your veterinarian will also take a swab of the ear discharge and look at it under the microscope to determine the cause of the infection. For example, they will do this to determine if it is a mite, bacteria, or yeast infection.

Once your vet has determined a cause, they will administer or prescribe the proper treatment. So, there is only one proper way to treat the eat infection, which is to let your vet handle it.

How Can You Prevent Ear Infections In Your Dog?

One of the important tips to keep ear infections away from your dog is to keep their ears dry. Bacteria and yeast tend to develop in a warm and moist environment. If your dogs like to swim often, or after giving it a shower, the best thing to do is to make sure its ear canal is dry.

Also, cleaning your dogs regularly is one of the most effective ways to prevent ear infections. This is something you can do as an owner with special cleaning solutions for dogs. While bathing your dog, you can use cotton balls to put them inside the ears. In this way, you keep them dry, preventing water from hanging out inside. After bathing, remove the cotton ball and dry your dog again to make sure everything is in order.

You could also set up appointments with a groomer.

In Conclusion: How To Mix Vinegar And Rubbing Alcohol For A Dog Ear Infection

So, in conclusion how to mix vinegar and rubbing alcohol for your dear dog’s infection, is to not do it at all, due to their negative effects on the ear canal. The only advice is to take your dog to your veterinarian as soon as you see the first symptoms and to take preventative measures to stop ear infections from occurring in the first place.

So, what’s got you interested in home remedies for ear infections? Let us know your thoughts and why in the comments below!