If your dog suffers from ear infections, find out how to treat them using all-natural tea tree oil

What are the symptoms of a dog ear infection and how do you treat it?

If your dog is constantly itching its ears, or you can see discharge from the ear or inflammation, there’s a fairly good chance your dog either has an infection or mites.

If you see dark brown or black debris that looks similar to coffee grounds (or white dots in the debris), then your dog most likely has ear mites. Dog mites will feed on the dog’s ear wax and can actually cause an ear infection in your pooch.

Ear infections are more common in dogs with long hanging ears, eg. golden retrievers, basset hounds, beagles, etc.

The first thing to do is clean your dog’s ears… keep reading for further info on how to make an ear wash for your dogs ears.

How can i treat my dogs ear infection with tea tree oil?

You can easily make your own remedy to combat your dog’s ear infection using top-grade essential oils.

The best thing about using tea tree oil is it’s all-natural and doesn’t contain any harmful chemicals or synthetic materials. Tea tree oil is known for its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal properties.

Essential oils such as tea tree have also been found to reduce fear and anxiety in dogs… so hopefully it will help them relax during the ear cleaning process!

Making an ear wash for dogs using tea tree oil

Tea tree oil is often referred to as nature’s wonder in a bottle… there are so many uses for tea tree oil! Here’s how to make a solution to clean your dog’s ears:-

• Add 2-3 drops of tea tree oil to a tablespoon of either grapeseed or olive oil.
• Stir to combine.
• Swab this oil mixture gently into your dog’s ear area.

Some dog shampoos contain tea tree oil, so an alternative would be to use a little bit of tea tree oil shampoo mixed with warm water. Using a damp wash cloth you can clean out your dog’s ears.

You should always dilute tea tree oil with either water or a carrier oil - using it directly on your dog’s ears or skin can result in an allergic reaction.

Always be careful about what you put in your dog’s ears - it’s a very delicate organ that is sensitive to both chemicals and temperature. Don’t use anything too hot or too cold in your dog’s ears as the area is very tender.

Is it safe to put tea tree oil on dogs?

If used externally, tea tree oil is quite safe to use on dogs. The oil should never be ingested by your dog as it can cause a toxic reaction. Care should be taken when applying tea tree oil to your dog’s skin or coat - never apply it to an area where your dog can lick.

Tea tree oil has many other uses for dogs - it can be used to relieve joint and muscle pain plus tea tree oil can be used to repel fleas and other nasty parasites.

It’s quite common to find tea tree oil as an ingredient in dog shampoos - you can make your own by adding a few drops of the oil to your regular dog shampoo. This can also be diluted to use as a cleaning wash for your dog’s ears.

If your dog’s ear infection persists, it’s always best to book an appointment with their vet to have it checked out. Good luck using tea tree oil for your dog’s ears!