Dog Ear is Bright Red & Swollen

Hi Wade,
In the photo you submitted, you only included your dog's left ear, how does her RIGHT ear look? In holistic medicine, it is important to look at the WHOLE patient. Therefore, it is necessary to know what is going on with the rest of her, not just her left ear.

Otitis externa (inflammation of the external ear) is usually an acute flare-up of an underlying chronic condition. Meaning that if only the ear is treated, it will not solve the problem. In other words, what is being done to prevent it from occurring again, or in the other ear? Going back over her history, it will be necessary to determine if this is due to a chronic condition called 'vaccinosis' (too many vaccinations).

Or perhaps she has been on poor or improper nutrition (a lifetime of DRY dog food), and her immune system (aka 'Vital Force') is weak, leading to this flare-up of otitis. See our page on 10 Best Dog Food Options for some good dog food suggestions.

Seeking the help of a holistic veterinarian to treat your 'WHOLE' dog, not just the ear, is what should be done. See our page on Alternative Medicine for Dogs for more information.

In the meantime, she is miserable, and you should put an Comfy Cone Pet E-Collar on her to prevent her from causing more damage to her skin and ear.

Also, use room temperature green tea to pour into her ear, about 1 TBSP, one time daily. (It is sometimes best to do this outdoors, as she will shake her head to remove excess fluid from her ear, and it will go everywhere!)

Give her 1/2 to 1 baby aspirin, WITH food, two times daily for the next 2-3 days. This will help to reduce inflammation, and help with pain. It is NOT holistic, but only a temporary 'fix' to relieve her suffering, until you are able to locate a holistic veterinarian.

Take care,
Dr. Carol Jean Tillman

DISCLAIMER: The above should never replace the advice of your local veterinarian, as they have the ability to evaluate your dog in person.

Related Pages:
- Dog Ear Infection & Dog Ear Problems,
- Ask a Vet Online Library - Dog Ear Problems Section