If your dog has a yeast ear infection you may notice one or more of the following symptoms: Red or brown waxy discharge in the ear. Itching, scratching & pawing at the ear.
Dog Ear Yeast Infection vs Ear Mites
Yeast Infection: A dog ear yeast infection often includes symptoms like itching, redness, a yeasty odor, and dark brown or black discharge. Yeast infections are not contagious to other animals or humans.
Combine a teaspoon of salt with a cup of warm water and gently flush your dog's ears with the mixture. Another option is to use coconut oil, which has antifungal properties. Apply a few drops to your pup's ear canal, and gently massage it to help it spread.
Dogs get earwax just like humans do – it's how the ears self-clean against pollen, dirt and debris. Normal dog ear wax ranges from pale yellow to light brown. Keep in mind, the wax may look darker if there's dirt in the ear. The consistency of the wax should be semi-soft.
Dog Ear Infection Treatment
Your veterinarian will take a swab of the ear discharge and look at it under a microscope to see if it's mites, yeast, or bacteria, and then prescribe the appropriate medication. Treatments include antibiotics, antifungals, and anti-mite medications that are usually applied to the skin.
Here's what to look for. Healthy earwax should be a pale, yellowish color. If your dog appears to have dark brown or black earwax or if the earwax looks dirty gray instead of golden, this isn't normal. A noticeable increase in wax build-up can be a sign of a problem as well.
Since all vinegar is acidic and will kill yeast, you can treat your dog's yeast infection with regular white vinegar or apple cider vinegar (ACV). I have used both, but as a control method, I think that the ACV is the best.
The key to preventing yeast ear infections in dogs is keeping the ear canal healthy and dry. Whenever your pooch has been in water bathing or swimming be sure to dry your dog's ears well. Underlying conditions such as allergies or hypothyroidism can cause your dog to experience chronic or recurring infections.
Ear infections are uncomfortable and itchy for dogs, not only that, they can become painful if the infection is left untreated and becomes more severe. If you think that your dog may have a yeast infection in one or both ears it's time to head to the vet.
This condition can make the infected area of your dog's skin itchy, red, and irritated. Yeast infections in a dog's ear can also cause deafness if it goes too long without treatment.
Prescription shampoos are most effective and your vet can prescribe the right one for your dog's specific medical needs. For dogs that have oily coats and are prone to yeast infections, even routine bathing with an over-the-counter dog shampoo can be a helpful step.
Your Pup's Ears
Left untreated ear infections in dogs can develop quickly and result in symptoms such as balance and coordination issues, pain and in severe cases facial paralysis.
It is very common to see yeast infections in a dog's ears or on their skin if they have food allergies or environmental allergies. Other underlying issues that may cause yeast infections in dogs include hormonal problems or other diseases that suppress the immune system.
Foods to Avoid for Yeast Overgrowth in Dogs
Avoid starchy vegetables, foods that contain carbohydrates and added sugars that may show on labels as dextrose and fructose.
The perfect environment for yeast to grow is hot, humid weather. Yeast infections are common when moisture and warmth are combined with a lack of airflow caused by the shape of your dog's ears.
When some dogs eat ingredients such as chicken, wheat, corn or other individual items, ingestion will trigger an allergic reaction that can alter the natural flora and allow an unnatural growth of yeast. If your pet suffers from yeasty ears, attempt altering their diet to eliminate common triggers.
Probiotic yogurts are not only safe for humans, but they are safe for dogs as well. This is beneficial because it means that a healthy gut is promoted. If that was not enough, the probiotics found in yogurts can help your dog to fight yeast infections, which can result in ear and skin problems.
If your main concern is a yeast infection, consider giving the apple cider vinegar orally instead of using it topically. According to experts, yeast has fewer chances of survival in an acidic medium, so adding a small dose of ACV to your dog's food or water will help cure a yeast infection quickly.
Even the color of your cerumen can say a lot about you: Dark brown or black colored earwax is typically older, so its color comes from the dirt and bacteria it has trapped. Adults tend to have darker, harder earwax. Dark brown earwax that is tinged with red may signal a bleeding injury.
Ear mites in dogs typically look like tiny, moving dots in the ear canal, but are so tiny that you may not be able to spot them at all. It takes a vet with an otoscope or microscope to properly spot an infestation.
Ear mites cause intense scratching. If you look in your dog's ears and see dark brown debris that resembles coffee grounds, then your dog most likely has ear mites. This parasite can be shared with cats, dogs and other animals (like the family ferret).
Dog ear discharge can take on a few different forms. You may even see behavioral changes in your dog before you see the actual discharge, so you should be on the lookout for any signs of the following: Waxy, yellow discharge. Dried reddish-brown or black fluid.
Ear drainage that is cloudy, whitish-yellow, or pus-like can indicate an ear infection or ruptured ear drum. Pus due to an infection may also have a foul smell. A chronic ear infection can cause pus or a pus-like drainage to drain from the ear.