puppy ears

[memenzel]

Hi! The other day I was reading in a Rottie book about how ears can go the wrong way and you have to massage them, etc.

Sara is 4mo. When she would perk up her ears, they used to fold over forward (best I can describe!), now they kind of lean back. Is this normal? Do I need to massage? If so, how the heck do I do it?

I feed Canidae, and she is doing great with it.

I saw the thread earlier about ears, and most said it was a growth spurt, but one said to massage.

What do you think? Am I just being the worried first time mom?

[fbkeays]

To massage the ears have the pup face away from you and place your thumbs at the base of the ear on the top and the side of your index finger on the inside. Start rubbing and pulling forward til you get to the tip of the ear.

[bear1906]

Can this really help correct a poorly set ear?

[MonsterFarm]

Yes, it will help with the way the ear is folded, but will not help ear set which is how the ear is positioned on head. You must do it often and keep it up through teething stage. If you wait too long to work on ears they can set that way permanently.

What we do with our kids when their ears fly is use moleskin stuck on underside of ear. We use a teardrop shape sized to fit in ear and attached where ear is improperly folding. This keeps ear from breaking at wrong spot. If moleskin doesnt stick well use eyelash cement(will not cause irritation) to hold it on. Put new skins on every few days or as needed.

We use this on rotties and pugs works well for both.

[bear1906]

Great advice...where can I get some from?

[Judy Chrusch]

I would like to add that when people pet your puppy ask them NOT to pet her on TOP of the head, this makes them pull their ears back, not good if you end up showing her. My pup is 11 months old and I will tell people before they even approach us. The natural thing to do is pet on top of the head but I ask if they can pet him UNDER his chin. People don't realize that it's not really a good idea for safety reasons too to go over their head with your hand, especially a dog you don't know. There are lots of simple things to get the ears correct, one being get yourself a squeeky toy or something that will make her perk them up. Work on this several times a day. Call her, have certain words that will make her stop and perk those ears up. All this is important during the teething and growing stages. Find something that will really interest her. Do you plan on showing her? Hope this helps.

Judy

[Judi W]

I have never taped ears although I have massaged some if a pup seemed to be having a particularly difficult teething stage. I prefer, like Judy, the teach them to work the ears. The best exercise is to bait them up into the alert position several times a day (they get the bait when they do the work) and that will develop the correct muscles at the base.

I personally do not discourage a pat on the head as that is what most people will give to a dog (including myself!) and I want my dog to be perfectly comfortable with the action as we are out and about a lot. The forward ear description is for "when alert" and the dogs are really not expected to have them in that position at all times. Yes, Judy is right, in that they will place them back to show "I'm a friendly dog" when being patted.

None of this, as mentioned, will do much for an incorrect ear set or ear. It will help the pup through that teething stage.

[bear1906]

PS WHERE DO I GET THE MOLESKIN FROM?

[amya1234]

Hi, I believe I was the one questioning the floppy ear in the first place, anyway, it was floppy for about 2 days and all of a sudden it was back to normal. Go figure? I'm glad it's back!

[memenzel]

One of hers is back and I am massaging the other, and it seems to be going back, must be a growing spurt. She's rather funning looking right now, all legs!

[AngelBunny]

bear1906:

You can get moleskin at any drugstore--Dr Scholl's because people use it to provide a cushion between aching bunions and shoes. You can buy it in small sheets, cut it to any size you wish, peel off the back & stick it on.