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My dog has an ear infection. How can I help and treat it at home?
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | Staffordshire Bull Terrier | Male | unneutered | 40 lbs
Hello, my staffordshire terrier has an ear infection (reddish brown discharge, constant shaking, clearly uncomfortable). We are wondering how to help him and if this is something we can treat at home?
5 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Answered By Dr. Strydom, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on April 23rd, 2020
I suggest you use a medicated ear wash (see link below) and an actual ear medication (also linked below). Clean the ears and medicate once per day but do them at opposite times of the day (clean in the evening and medicate in the morning or vice-versa). You don't want to put the medication in the ears on top of the cleaning solution. Do both for AT LEAST 7-10 days. If he is not improved by that time he will need to see your vet.
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Be sure you are cleaning the ears correctly. See YouTube video linked below. When you medicate be sure the medication is getting down into the ear canal and not just in the top portion of the canal that you can see.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_8f1fll42A&t=16s
Hope this helps. If you have more questions you can always opt for a private consultation where we can chat back and forth. That way you can ask as many questions as you'd like. Best wishes!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpfulRelated Answers from Veterinarians
Answered By Dr. Paula Simons
Veterinarian
Many ear infections require a prescription medication from a veterinarian. Ear infections are usually classified as bacterial, fungal, or parasitic. Your vet will swab Chance's ear and look at the discharge under a microscope. They will then prescribe medication depending on the type of infection found. There is not a whole lot you can do at home aside from buying some ear cleaning solution and trying to clean Chance's ears yourself to try to reduce build up of discharge. His ears would need to be dried thoroughly afterward.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Jessica Desrosiers
Veterinary Technician
Published on April 13th, 2023
If the cause behind the irritation is allergies, there are OTC medications such as Benadryl and Claritin that can help reduce allergy symptoms, however, if it's best to get the OK from your veterinarian first to make sure there aren't any medication interactions or health concerns. If the ear is actively infected, then it should be seen by your vet in person for antibiotics if there is a secondary bacterial or yeast infection that also needs to be treated while the allergies are brought under control. Using an Elizabethan (cone) collar and keeping the ear clean can also help reduce further irritation or rubbing of the ear.
3Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Dr. Massimo Orioles, DVM, Cert AVP, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Published on November 10th, 2016
Unfortunately effective ear drops are on prescription, but your vet could do more than one prescription so you can buy them online.
The combination of Canaural (with medication) and Sancerum (it is not on prescription and used only for ear cleaning) would be a good first line treatment.
Aurizon or Otomax (instead of the Canaural) are more specific products, more indicated for resistant and more difficult cases.
Aurizon, Otomax and Canaural can be used for a week each time.
Sancerum can be used for routine ears cleaning.1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS
Veterinarian
Published on May 9th, 2017
Oh no, poor Oscar! Unfortunately ear infections can be very hard to treat, and I would recommend having a culture done on his ear. That will tell the vet what bacteria are present in his ear causing the infection, and then can pick an antibiotic to treat. Some dogs are prone to chronic ear infections, and if this continues to be a problem, there is a solution to keep Oscar from ever getting another ear infection. It's a surgery called a total ear canal ablation and bulla osteotomy (TECALBO). While it will cure ear infection forever, it will leave him deaf in that ear. It would be a last resort surgery, but it is something to consider if you keep having problems with ear infections.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful