Any herbal/home made remedies out there that can help?  

Here is some reading and sites that might help. Also gentle cleaning of your dogs ears on a regular basis will make him feel much better and help keep him infection free. Hope this info helps your furkid!


http://lbah.com/ears.htm


http://www.nativeremedies...


http://search.onlynatural...

Pico is a cocker spaniel and they tend to have problems with ear infections. I used to clean her ears religously, but they still tended to flair up. Another dog owner told me that she puts about a tablespoon of active culture yogurt on her dog's food every day and it pretty much cut out the ear infections. Her dog is about the size of a German Sheperd, so that should be about the right dose (Pico gets a little less.) Ever since I've started Pico on this, her ears are beautiful. She's had the occasional yeast infection when she otherwise gets stressed (for instance, after major surgery and taking antibiotics.) When she does get a yeast infection, I give her a product called Probios that I get at the feed store that has good bacteria that helps fight the infection (it says it's for stomach problems, but it works for ears too - also you can give the sheep or horse version if that is all they have, it's just a sizing issue). (Or WalMart sometimes sells the Probios treats, but they don't work as quickly.)

Also, my vet likes to switch between 2 different medications for the yeast/fungus. You might ask your vet about that and also about giving you the treatment without the visit, since it's pretty clear what's needed. My vet usually just sniffs at the ear discharge rather than testing too - which also saves money!

Does your dog go swimming or get wet frequently? Fungal infections are usually caused by dampness in the ear that doesn't dry adequately. Its more common in drop ear breeds so I'm surprised your dog has this problem.

Try keeping the ears dry everyday with an ear powder. You can get it at Petco. You aren't going to be able to treat the infection with ear powder, but you can help prevent it from starting back up again. If your dog is a swimmer or sticks his head in the gutter or whatever, might want to nip that in the bud.

Frequent ear cleaning by dabbing a cotton ball with some hydrogen peroxide and cleaning out the pinna (dont reach in there with your finger!) may also help. But remember to keep the ears DRY.

I absolutely promise you that tea tree oil will cure his fungal infection. You can buy it in a drug store such as walgreens. Buy the best quality oil you can, it is one thing where cheap is "cheap" dab some oil on a cotton wool ball and wipe out the inside of his ears, if there is any broken skin, dilute the oil with some water (tea tree oil is the only oil that is water dispersible)

The key with tea tree oil is that you must be persistant. It is a broad spectrum antibacterial and antifungal, but it works gently but very effectively.

Get some tea tree oil. Dilute a little with water and apply to his ear. Keep applying everyday until it is cleared up. My daughters got ringworm in their hair years ago. I kept going to the doctor and he gave us medicine that would start clearing it up, but I would come right back. Their hair was falling out. Then I learned about tea tree oil. I put it in their hair two times a day and within about a week it was completely cleared up. I don't see why it would harm your pet. Don't let your dog lick it. Look it up on the internet or as your vet if you can use it. I keep tea tree oil in my house for any fungal infections that come about.