Here is how I healed and prevent my dog's ear infection

Watching a beloved pet suffer is incredibly sad and frustrating. My first dog came to me with chronic ear infections. I wasn’t medically trained, but it was clear he was uncomfortable, constantly scratching his ears and shaking his head.
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The insides of his ears were oily, red and dirty, and sometimes his scratching was so intense that his sensitive skin bled. My only option was to take him to the vet to get ear cleaners and medication.

Did it work?

Not really. I cleaned his ears daily, and while they looked clean, they stayed red and itchy.
Once the medication was finished, his ears would quickly become waxy, develop a musty smell, brown gunk and still itch. And so, the endless battle with ear infections continued.

One day, one of his ears swelled up like a balloon—it turned out to be an ear hematoma caused by tiny veins in the ear canal bleeding internally. Surgery was necessary, adding more stress and expenses to our situation.

I felt trapped in a frustrating cycle of vet visits every 2-3 weeks, spending hundreds of dollars each time.
I was filled with guilt, worry, and frustration, questioning if I was doing something wrong.

Was it too much to ask for a complete cure?
Why did the vet keep prescribing the same treatments?
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​All I wanted was for my dog to be healthy and happy.

The Turning Point

​At one point, I came across an article that suggested a link between dry food and weakened immune systems, making pets more prone to infections. My dog had been on a dry prescription diet for weight management, but he hadn’t lost any weight, despite being fed less than the recommended amount.

Curious, I started Google searching homemade diets for dogs and even purchased recipe books. Although I wasn’t a vet, I decided to take the plunge. I began cooking for my dog, modifying recipes based on my budget. The process was time-consuming, and I constantly felt torn between the vet's advice and what I was reading from non-veterinary “pet experts.”

The Results

​Despite my worry, my dog loved the homemade diet!
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When he was on the prescription diet, I could only feed him half a cup of the kibble twice daily (he was over 100 pounds). Eating was the most precious moment of his life. So the portion I was told to feed always made me feel sad and guilty.

With the homemade diet, I could give him more food that looked like the right amount. Even though I wasn't sure about the nutritional balance of the homemade recipes at that time, I chose happiness for both of us.

In a few months, he started losing weight and his ears seemed to stop bothering him. I could stop cleaning his ears every day—maybe just occasionally when he went swimming. He never had a single episode of ear infection since then. He lived a long life and passed away a while ago, but he was healthy for most of his life after changing his diet.

I'm not here to say that dry food or prescription diets are bad, but I've seen many dogs and cats whose health improved after a diet change.

Lessons Learned

The most important thing I learned was to be curious and open to new approaches. You may have experienced that feeling when something just doesn’t seem right, despite what your vet recommends.

In my case, I chose to take responsibility for my dog's health by exploring alternative solutions.

Through my 15 years in veterinary medicine, I’ve seen many dogs suffer from chronic ear infections. Some even had to have their ear canals surgically removed. I’ve often felt frustrated that many vets don’t discuss the potential connection between diet and ear health with dog owners.

If your dog suffers from chronic ear infections, I encourage you to explore dietary changes.
Below are two studies that discuss the relationship between diet and ear infections in dogs:

• Link to study 1
• Link to study 2

I believe everything happens for a reason, and if you’re reading this, maybe it’s because it’s time to try something different for your furry friend.

I sincerely hope this post helps you and your dog!
If you’re interested in the power of diet, I'm happy to help!

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