Ear Infection in Dogs and What Causes it?

Ear infection for many dogs is unfortunately a condition they learn to live with. But it shouldn't be like that. There are many cases of ear infections that are treated, but never cured, i.e. the root of the problem is never determined. Don't accept that your dog has an ear infection and that it is a condition that cannot be cured. And that you are doomed to constant visits to the vet due to antibiotic and corticosteroid therapy. It is important to approach chronic ear infection by looking at the whole organism, not just the ear. Antibiotic and corticosteroid therapy often slows down the body's fight against inflammation because they affect the immune response in the intestines - the body's largest immune organ. Read more about this topic in the post "Dog allergies and what role does a healthy dog ​​diet play in this?"

There are two main causes of ear infections

• Infection
• Chronic inflammation

If the dog has symptoms such as:

• red,
• swollen,
• ear warm to the touch
• and constant scratching,

< div> but there is no discharge in the ear itself and in the ear canal, it is a chronic inflammation, if the previously mentioned symptoms are accompanied by discharge from the ear, it is an infection. 
How can the food a dog eats be related to ear infections?
 Ear infections are very often caused by fungi. Fungi that make up the normal microflora of the skin and thus the ear will flourish if the dog eats food that is rich in starch. Dehydrated food contains large amounts of starch (40% and more) and this is exactly the case with every dehydrated food because without the carbohydrate/starch component it is impossible to achieve the dehydrated form. Food rich in starch, in addition to the surface of the skin, also causes an imbalance of the intestinal microflora, allowing fungi to thrive in the intestines. Excessive growth of fungi in the intestines causes an inflammatory reaction that will manifest itself with digestive problems, but also with inflammatory problems elsewhere in the body. That is why it is extremely important that in the case of chronic ear infections, the problem is looked for in the whole organism and not only in the ear. And that the therapy we apply also applies to the whole organism. Because it is necessary to solve the root of the problem. 
What are natural remedies that help with ear infections?
 If your dog has problems with ear infections and is still eating dehydrated food, the first step is to switch him to fresh food that does not contain starch. Calendula tincture. Add a few drops of calendula tincture to 100ml of lukewarm water and clean the ear using a soft cloth. At the same time, you do not want to soak the ear with a large amount of this solution, because a wet ear is also a perfect medium for the development of microorganisms. Apple cider vinegar. Dilute apple cider vinegar with water in a ratio of 1:1 and clean the ear with a soft cloth. Apple cider vinegar has a very beneficial effect on soothing itching.