DIY Disaster: Ear Cleaner

There are a lot of DIY or homemade products for pets on the internet, and lots are great and very inventive. But when it comes to the health of your pet it is not a light matter to chance on a DIY.

Dogs get ear infections. This is a common thing that in the average dog’s life will happen at least once. A build up of yeast or bacteria collects in the ear canal and causes great discomfort and swelling. Commercial ear cleaners have several properties built in to help reduce debris and moisture in the ears, and are safe when directed by your veterinarian.

A DIY that has come through the channels is using vinegar (white or apple cider) as an ear cleaner to help resolve ear infections or as a regular cleaner. Many problems can come from such a simple ingredient.

Ear Drum Damage

When dog’s have ear infections they can cause a lot of trauma to themselves from scratching, rubbing and shaking their head. Before putting anything in your dog’s ear, make sure their ear drum is healthy. Your veterinarian should perform an exam with an ‘otoscope’ to see inside the ear and visualize the ear drum. If the ear drum is damaged there is a very small list of medications that can be used without causing more problems. Broken ear drums are extremely painful and dangerous to all animals (including people). When the wrong thing is put into the ear is can be hazardous to the health of your pet and can result in deafness.

Vinegar & Cuts

Have you ever had a cut and got vinegar or some pickle juice on it? Ouch!

Dogs create tiny cuts in their ears when they scratch. Their ears are already sore and inflamed because of their infections, adding vinegar (diluted or not) would be painful for them.

Better Breeding Grounds for Micro-bugs

Commercial ear cleaners are designed to clean the ear and dry any excess moisture from the ear canal. Yeast and bacteria like warm and damp environments, so the ear is a perfect haven for them to create madness. Vinegar (with or without water) as an ear cleaner prevents the ear from actually drying by adding moisture to the ear, creating a perfect environment for bacteria or yeast to multiply.

Written by Justine Campbell.