Is There Something Wrong With The Puppy
If the ears do not stand up after 5 months, there might be a flaw in the proper growth of the puppy due to insufficient nutrition. A dog needs a proper food diet consisting of nutrients rich with calcium, proteins, and vitamins A, C, and D.
If you are not providing quality food to your dog, then you need to shift to high-quality food with all the required nutrients. You can also take the help of a vet to know about the proper diet of your puppy according to its age.
Apart from the proper nutrition, the floppy ears after 8 months is also an indication of low-standard genetics. People try to solve this issue by tapping but tapping doesnt work if there is an error in the biological makeup of a breed.
When To Stop Taping
When your German Shepherd reaches the age of 9 months, their ears should stand on their own without the need to be taped. If your puppy is 9 months and their ears are still floppy, visit the vet for help.
This could mean that your German Shepherds ears might stay floppy permanently and there is no need to worry.
How To Fix A German Shepherds Floppy Ears
If you notice early enough that your german shepherd has floppy ears, then you can often work to get them to stand up straight.
Here are some of the ways you can fix a german shepherd with floppy ears.
The Tape Method
One of the most common ways to fix a german shepherd with floppy ears is the tape method. Its been used by hundreds of german shepherd owners in the past with great results, and its relatively easy to do!
Here are the steps you need to take for the tape method to be effective.
Find Foam Rollers, Tape, And Popsicle Sticks
The first thing youre going to need to do is to find foam hair rollers, tape, and a popsicle stick. These are the only three tools youll need. If you cant get your hand on foam rollers you can normally get them off .
And remember, when youre using tape, you dont want to use tape thats too sticky, otherwise it will hurt your german shepherd when you want to remove it. Heres a great tape to use.
Place The Foam Rollers Inside Your German Shepherds Ears
Now the next step is to place the foam rollers inside your german shepherd ears. When theyre in his ears wrap his ears around them and then tape them in place.
Just make sure there arent any creases or crinkles in their ears. When theyre straight and looking good, you can tape them.
Place The Popsicles At The Top Of The Foam Rollers
Remove Once A Week
When To Stop
If you get to the 9-month mark and your german shepherds ears still havent stood up on their own then its time to stop.
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Have I Myself Already Messed With The Dogs Ears Myself
Have you tried a technique youve read about on the internet to modify your dogs ears such as taping, ear forms or ear padding, and not consulted an expert such as a vet first?
This is particularly common in first time or inexperienced owners who are impatient or panic.
A dogs ears will generally develop naturally, but there are some things that can be done which may influence how they sit.
See a vet for your options.
Are There Foods Or Supplements That Will Help My German Shepherd Puppy
Its a well-known fact that calcium helps contribute to healthy cartilage growth. However, supplements intended for human usage arent practical for dogs and might even cause health difficulties.
Even supplemental calcium formulated for dogs might not be suitable for your puppy if unnecessary. In addition, excess calcium tends to settle in a dogs joints, which can cause further problems.
Some supplements and foods can help strengthen and rebuild cartilage. Glucosamine and chondroitin have this effect.
These supplements will also not harm your puppys future health.
Should you choose to give your dog these nutrients as a part of their food instead of a supplement, chicken feet can easily fit the bill.
Dogs produce Vitamin C naturally, making supplementing optional. However, there are some benefits to extra Vitamin C worth considering:
- A natural type of histamine that protects your dog against allergies
- An immune system booster providing antibodies, increased anti-viral and anti-cancer protection, and increased white blood cells
- Contributes to healthy joint development
Before you supplement Vitamin C, its a good idea to make sure your dog requires extra to avoid overdosing them. Signs of a Vitamin C overdose can include either constipation or diarrhea.
Vitamin D is a nutrient where additional supplementing is beneficial because dogs bodies do not create it naturally.
Even if your dog spends a lot of time outside, they might not necessarily get the extra amount they need.
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What About Having My Shepherds Ears Cropped
Even though the breed standard does not call for cropping and posting, some owners choose this option anyway. However, this is a lengthy, expensive process that does not always work.
According to Jenna Stregowski, unnecessary cropping can be risky for your dog. Many vets wont crop ears for dogs whose breed standard doesnt call for cropping.
German Shepherd Ear Cleaning Solution
If you dont want to make your own homemade dog ear cleaner feel free to use any of these recommended over-the-counter cleaner products.
- Epi-Otic may be used for routine ear cleansing in healthy ear canal or prior to administration of other ear preparations
- A mild alcohol-free cleansing and drying solution for routine maintenance of otitis externa
- Epi-Otic has a low pH of 2.2 and contains no chlorhexidine or alcohol
- Packaging May Vary
- Ear care for dogs and cats – soothes ear infections, redness and inflammation for pets of all ages
- Gentle no-sting formula helps ease painful ear infections caused by bacteria, fungi and yeast
- Solution provides a safe, natural alternative to antibiotics with 1% Hydrocortisone for itch relief
- No pre-cleaning of painful ears required – fill ear canal and let antimicrobial solution get to work
- Patented antimicrobial LP3 Enzyme System helps clear ear secretions and promotes healthy ears
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Why Does It Take Five To Eight Months For Your Gsds Ears To Stand Up Naturally
German Shepherd puppies need time to develop healthy cartilage that can hold up the weight of their ears. When they are finished teething, usually, youll start to see their ears beginning to perk up and flop down back and forth.
If their ears can permanently become straight just before the end of the five months , then their ears will be straight and pointy otherwise they might get floppy ears for the rest of their life.
Do German Shepherds Have Cropped Ears
A common misconception that many people have is that German Shepherds have cropped ears that account for their erect posture. It often surprises some people to learn that the AKC standard calls for naturally erect, not cropped ears.
According to the German Shepherd Club of America, the breeds appearance is best designed to exemplify its work as a flock guardian.
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Why Some German Shepherds Have Floppy Ears
The number one reason is genetic. Some puppies have floppy ears due to their genes. In this case, theres not much you can do about it.
The second reason is breeding fallacy. Many people adopting German Shepherds expect their dogs to have large ears. Because of this, a lot of breeders, especially breeders of the American Showline type, try to breed German Shepherds with larger ears.
The result of this attempt is enhanced German Shepherds with ears that are too heavy and too big to hold the cartilage up, which makes their ears flop.
Those two points above show us the importance of getting our puppies from good reputable breeders. Ask a lot of questions to the breeder and meet the puppys parents before adopting them.
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Other Methods In Making Your Dogs Ear Stand Up
Although many German Shepherd owners use taping to correct their dogs ears, there are many less invasive, but highly effective methods that you should try first. Lets take a look:
Chew Toys
Chewing on safe puppy chew toys is the easiest way you can help your dogs ears to stand up. Not only will chewing help with teething, but it will also help your dog to exercise his jaw, head, and neck muscles, thus making them strong enough to hold the weight of his ears.
Supplements
Many owners believe that supplementing their German Shepherds diet with calcium will help their ears to stand up. However, your dogs ears are made from cartilage, not bone, and calcium doesnt have any effect on the development of the cartilage.
If you want to supplement your pups diet, its much safer to supplement it with Glucosamine which lubricates the joints and supports healthy cartilage. As always, you should first talk with your vet to see if your German Shepherd puppy can benefit from using supplements.
Diet
Feeding your puppy with high-quality dog food is essential for his overall well-being and proper development. Make sure that you are feeding your pup with the highest quality food you can afford, and steer clear from brands that use fillers such as wheat, corn, or soy.
Check For Parasites
So, do routine fecal tests and keep up with deworming treatments to keep intestinal parasites at bay. Furthermore, get your dog tested for heartworms and talk with your vet about a preventative care plan.
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Brief History Of German Shepherd
The German Shepherd is a medium to large-sized dog breed that originated in Germany in 1899. While originally developed to work as herding dogs, German Shepherds have evolved and become all-purpose working dogs.
Thanks to their intelligence, agility, strength, and loyalty, this breed is preferred by police and military and also used for all types of work including search-and-rescue and as service dogs.
While original German Shepherds were primarily bred as working dogs, the modern German Shepherds are subjected by scrutiny. In the U.S breeders put an accent on looks and started breeding German Shepherds with an extremely sloping back that resulted in poor gait in back legs.
Luckily, some U.S breeders have begun to value the breeds working abilities and traditional appearance and started to breed German Shepherds with a straight back.
Physical Damage Or Accidents
Puppies are active and mischievous and can get into plenty of trouble. This includes physical damage or accidents that have the cartilage or muscles in their ears.
If this happens their ears may suffer long-term damage and not stand up naturally on their own.
How to Keep Their Ears Safe
You should only touch their ears in soft pets to protect their growing bodies from damage or harm.
In order to keep their ears safe dont:
- tug
- or twist their ears
Even if youre only playing!
Its possible that rough play between littermates or other dog friends could cause damage or tear the ears. So watch out for a rough play that might lead to ear damage.
And, if your pup has been in an accident that hurt their ears, take them immediately to the vets.
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Homemade Ear Cleaner For German Shepherds
Use one of the following recipes to make homemade ear cleaner to clean your GSDs ears:
Disclaimer: I am not a vet. This information is provided for information purposes only. Check with your vet for any questions or concerns. Do not use homemade ear cleaner if you suspect your GSD has an ear infection. Again, see your vet!
Want Your German Shepherd To Have Upright Ears The Facts
Everything you need to know about why, and how to help, your German Shepherd Dog have upright ears.
The German Shepherd Dog was first bred just over 100 years ago, and in that time it has become one of the most stunning, distinctive and recognizable breeds. And perhaps the most noticeable feature of a German Shepherd is the ears. An adult German Shepherds ears are immediately obvious as they are upright and pointy, making them look alert and regal!
But German Shepherds are not born with upright ears. Like all puppies, German Shepherd are born with tiny ears flopping on the sides. As the puppies grow older, their ears should naturally go up, but in some cases, they dont and there are different reasons why a German Shepherd Dogs ears wont go up.
For many owners it is a big issue if the ears dont go up, after all they should, it is part of the breed standard, and breeding and showing is not recommended if they dont.
If you have, or are thinking of, getting a German Shepherd Dog, and you are concerned about their ears, then read on!
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Checking For Infections And Problems
Before anything, you should check your german shepherds ears for infections or other problems. If you do notice either, then youll need to take them to the vet straight away instead of cleaning the ears yourself.
Some of the most common signs of infection in your german shepherds ears are the following.
Redness
If your german shepherds ears are red its often a sign that theyve been scratching them a lot or that theyre inflamed. Both of these are common signs that your german shepherd probably has an infection.
Inflammation
You may also notice that the skin around your german shepherds ears seems raised and red. This is a clear sign of inflammation and means you should get your pups ears checked ASAP.
Discharge
If you notice any kind of discharge from your pups ears, there can be no denying theres something wrong. Even a lot of ear wax can be a symptom of infection as well.
A Bad Smell
Your german shepherds ears will naturally have a certain doggy odor to them. But any other smell will warrant a trip to the vets as well.
Scratching
Lastly, if you notice your german shepherd is constantly scratching their ears, then it shows theyre irritated. Infections are often going to cause this kind of irritation.
If your german shepherd is scratching too much you may also notice scabs and sores.
Why Do German Shepherds Put Their Ears Down
Finally, theres the flat ear position where the ears will appear tightly pinned back and held tight to the dogs head. Many people believe this means the dog is sick. This is not entirely true sickness may coincide with the position but isnt usually the only cause. So, why do German Shepherds put their ears down?
German Shepherds put their ears down because of fear or anxiety. If your dog is afraid of his environment, another person or animal, or occasionally illness, you will notice his ears flattening and pinned tight to the head. Other signs include cowering, a hunched and rigid body, and whimpering.
Check out this dog in the below photo. His ears are down and pinned flat against his head. He is clearly anxious or afraid and hoping to be adopted.
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How To Tape German Shepherd Dog Ears Up
Some people recommend taping your German Shepherds ears if their ears are not still up at five months old. In some cases, tapping may work for show line German Shepherds. But it rarely works for working line German Shepherds.
If you want to tape your German Shepherds ears, you must consult with your vet first, and only do the following steps under your vets supervision.
There are several methods to tape your GSD puppys ears.
What Else Can I Do To Make German Shepherd Ears Stand Up
If your dog does not have the right genetics for pointy ears, then there is nothing you can do. However, if they have shown signs that their ears are going to perk up, then there are a few things you can do to protect them from damage.
This article is accurate and true to the best of the authors knowledge. It is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, or formal and individualized advice from a veterinary medical professional. Animals exhibiting signs and symptoms of distress should be seen by a veterinarian immediately.
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German Shepherd Ear Wax
If you notice black spots or wax in your GSDs ears follow the directions above to clean them out. Does your dog continue to shake its head and scratch at its ears? This could be a sign of an ear infection or ear mites.
If youve cleaned out your GSDs ears two days in a row and they are still having problems take them to your vet to check for mites and infections.
What If My Puppies Ears Are Not Standing
- The ear is made of a series of cartilages
- The position of the ear flap is largely controlled by muscles that attach onto the cartilages of the ear.
- Trauma when a dog is a pup may cause disruption of the muscles of the ear and cause the ear flap to flop over. However, massaging the base of the ear gently may help increase blood flow and improve it’s ability to stand
- Tear Mender fabric glue
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