Ear wrapping help....anyone?! - Page 1

Hi, I know this subject has been talked about and talked about on this forum, and I have learned a ton from reading

past posts, but I am wondering if anyone can look at the pictures I posted of my 22 wk old.  This weekend, I put strips

of moleskin foam in each ear.  The right has been going up and down for 1 month (not strong though).  The left was up at

8wks for 4 days then went down and hasn't been up since (except when tilts head down, etc.).  The strips seem to be working

but it was suggested to me by someone (not a GSD person) that I should tape a crown around the base with masking tape to

sturdy them up.  The strips aren't  glued down yet (just the sticky stuff that comes on the foam) because I wanted to see first

if this was even going to work.  I think she,  just this weekend lost all of her puppy teeth, but not all adult teeth are in yet.  I have

been giving her ester C powder and gelatin and many raw bones to gnaw on for quite some time now.  Any ideas or thoughts?

Hope I can get the picture to post........

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!!

Rozoan

RoZoAn,
I have not had to tape ears for 25-30 years but I think I see your problem. The mole skin needs to be cut to fit the inside of the ear. Not little narrow strips. You need to cut pieces that are wide at the bottum and cover most of the inner ear. Go down as far as you can on the surface of the ear to the base. Cut it to fit down as far as you can go before it hits the nubs and it should taper up to near the top of the ear. It should be cut to look like the ear in shape. This should support the whole ear. The way you have it, it will not support the ear. You can put a little bridge between the ears but I don't think this should be necessary. What are the parents ears like? Has the breeder given you any help? 
I hope this helps. As mentioned I have not done this in years but when I did need to this was the best way I found. Taping can cause a mess. 
You can also blow whistles or any thing that will get her attention to excersize the ears often. She is a nice looking girl , good luck with her.

Thanks olskoolgsds.  You know, I did try using a whole piece the shape of her ear a few weeks ago and all it did was "flop" it down, even more.  Maybe that they are a bit stronger now I could try it again.  I also read on Leerburgs site of someone using pipe insulation foam stuff and glued in.  It looked even lighter weight than the moleskin.  Parents ears are good.  The breeder hasn't had to fool with ears before so just gave me a few ideas to try.  I'm just hoping she's just a late bloomer!!   With my previous 2 girls, one came up at 5 weeks, and the other at 2 months, so that's why I'm panicking!! 

Rozoan

the pipe insulation  works awesome !! It is easy to cut to size and it is super light . I did a pup for someone a few weeks ago all was needed was one try by the time the insulation fell out the ear was standing ;)

Cut enough of the insulation off for the lenght of your dogs ears ,the pipe insulation comes with one side cut lenghtwise  cut open the oppesite side  now you have 2 pieces  :) Slide the inside side down across a  edge such as a table  to open it up a little so it is not so curved .  the top of  the foam insert, round of nicely so it will fit  your pups ear  . cut to size of your pups ear once you have  the correct size use your already cut  piece as a cutout copy for the next ear ( easier that way :)) make sure you do not insert to deep into the ear  leave ear canal nice and open . Rather a little shorter then to long  . It will irritate the pup if you place it to far down. so stay above anything that is a part of the ear canal such as the knoppy parts, any smooth surface of the ear leather is what you want to cover . Hard to explain but I think you will know what I mean :)

I use 3M spray adhesive  spray entire foam insert and stick into ear . Watch out it is pretty sticky !! It is best you get help so one person can hold pups head steady :))  place insert from above  ear canal upwards to the tip make sure there are no kinks or creases in the ear rub upwards towards the tip of ear  and outward edges to make sure it is smooth . 

Pia

Well I'm off to Home Depot tomorrow for pipe insulation!  Awesome!  Thanks Pia for letting me know that you've seen it work!

And thanks for the very descriptive instructions.

Rozoan and Henna, who wants to have big beautiful ears! 

Are you feeding her yogurt and cottage cheese along with all the bones and cow hooves to chew...I wouldn't panic...She has big ears and her teeth have been using up here ounces of muscles, and I'm sure will start straightening up now that teeth are all out and new ones in.

Big ears have a hard time , and are the last to stand, after the teeth ,feet and all the other bones get shaped...

I wouldnt even worry about taping them...Who told you to tape them?

Second that motion,  Give her lots of stuff to encourage her to chew,  chewing helps,  I don't know the exact reasons why,  have been told a couple of things...  But the point is,  It does seem to help.  We also use Solid Gold Bone Meal,  That Also makes a HUGE differnce.

Good Luck,  She's gorgeous.

Chewing helps to strengthen the muscles that hold the ears erect.  For sticking the supports to the ears, I have used the glue that is used to hold human hair extensions in place.  (A tip from a Yorkie breeder no less LOL)  It holds really well but still is easily removed.

My guys ears were floppy, and I was so upset...I tried taping, my friend glued foam curlers into his ears, I seriously think all this stuff just irritated him, and made him very sensitive about his ears. Now if I call him & stare at his ears he starts to shake his head, and lays his ears back....! And of course, his ears came up on their own, after he was done teething, and after his last big growth spurt. (And after I stopped messing with them!!!) But I know how you feel, my girls ears came up at 11 weeks and stayed up.....that is the way I thought it was supposed to happen! jo