German Shepherd puppies can be interesting animals to watch. His ears can fluctuate from standing up and drooping for no particular rhythm or reason during his first year of life. The puppy's ears will eventually stand on their own, or need help setting them up. While it's best to have it done professionally, you can self-plaster a German Shepherd puppy's ear that won't shut up, if you're sure.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Deciding to Tape Puppy Ears
Step 1. Look at the structure of the puppy's ears
Simply put, not all German Shepherd puppy ears are created equal. For example, thin ears don't have much cartilage and aren't stiff enough to stand on their own. On the other hand, thick ears may already have enough cartilage and muscle to stand up easily.
- The auricles that are quite wide apart on the dog's head can make it more difficult to stand up.
- Small ears tend to stand up more naturally than large ears.
Step 2. Determine if straightening the puppy's ears is important to you
While the standard German Shepherd has straight ears, know that your puppy doesn't need to meet the breed's standards. You decide whether the puppy needs to meet his standards or not.
- Due to their structure, erect ears are more susceptible to ear infections than drooping ears. Erect ears also don't need to be cleaned as often as drooping ears (about once a month versus once a week).
- Drooping ears tend to retain more moisture than upright ears, making them more susceptible to infection.
- Be aware that not all German Shepherd puppy ears will stand up. This is known as the “soft ear” and can cause ear problems.
- Talk to your vet or German Shepherd breeder if you're still unsure whether your puppy's ears should be plastered or not.
Step 3. Wait for the puppy's ears to stand up naturally
Even after plastering, it's best if the puppy's ears stand up unaided. However, you cannot continue to wait for his ears to stand up. If your puppy's ears don't stick up even though he's 7-8 months old, he's very unlikely to stand up.
- Understand that there is no way to be 100% sure that a puppy's ears will naturally stand on their own.
- Some of the puppy's ears will straighten themselves within 8 weeks. For other children, it can take up to 6 months before the ears stand up straight. In addition, one ear can stand up before the other.
Part 2 of 3: Plastering Puppies' Ears
Step 1. Prepare the necessary equipment
Luckily, you don't need a lot of material to plaster German Shepherd ears. In fact, you most likely already have one at home. One of the things you will need is a large foam roller. You can buy rollers at a hardware store or supermarket.
- Oversized rollers are usually pink, but don't rely on color to pick the right size.
- Otherwise, you can use a small insulating pipe, which can be purchased at a home supply store. You can also use a hose, but make sure it's the same diameter as a large foam roller.
- You will also need plaster. The type of plaster to be used is very important! Ideally, use a white surgical plaster (3M Micropore plaster 5 cm wide), which can be purchased at the pharmacy. You can also use masking tape, but it's best to stick to surgical tape.
- Do not use duct tape or electrical tape. This tape is too sticky and can injure the puppy's ears.
- You will also need glue (Skin Bond adhesive is recommended) and 1-2 unsharpened HB pencils. Do not use false eyelash glue.
- Ice cream sticks can be used as a "bridge" between the pup's ears that have been plastered.
Step 2. Prepare the foam roller to fit in the puppy's ears
Remove the plastic rod from the center of the roller. Then, insert an unsharpened pencil 2.5 cm deep into the hole in the center of the roller to stabilize it when positioned inside the ear. Then, apply glue to the length of the roller around it.
- Apply enough glue to coat the rollers, but not so much that the glue oozes or drips from the rollers. If you apply too much, the glue can run into your dog's ears and cause irritation. Glue can also drip onto your hands, making it difficult to move them.
- If you don't like using glue, apply tape to the roller, with the sticky side facing out. If you want to use tape, don't put the pencil in the hole of the roller.
Step 3. Position the foam roller into the puppy's ear
The foam roller must be positioned properly so that it does not block the dog's ear canal and interfere with his hearing. Place the roller near the lower half of the earlobe. Make sure there is a gap of two fingers between the bottom end of the roller and the dog's head.
It's a good idea to press the roller gently into the inside of the ear so that the glue or tape on the roller touches the ear
Step 4. Tape the ear around the roller
Grab the tip of the pencil, and start wrapping the ear on the roller. While holding the pencil, begin to apply the tape over the top of the ear in a circle and work your way down. Press firmly when bandaging the ear, but be careful not to wrap it too tightly. Don't let the puppy feel uncomfortable and cut off the blood supply to his ears.
- Remove the pencil in a gentle upward motion before finishing the ear bandage.
- Even if one of the puppy's ears is standing up straight, it's a good idea to cover both ears.
Step 5. Stabilize both ears
Place an ice cream stick behind both ears and secure each ear with extra tape or glue. The ice cream stick will act as a bridge between the ears to keep them upright and stable while they are bandaged.
Step 6. Distract the puppy
The puppy will likely start fiddling with his ears as soon as you finish the dressing. Distract him for 5 minutes until the glue and/or tape is firmly attached. You can give your puppy food or play to distract him.
Puppies do have a lot of energy, so trying to keep them calm until the glue and/or tape sticks together may not work as well. Invite him to do activities that he likes to take his attention away from his ears, at least temporarily
Step 7. Keep the ear bandaged for 10-14 days
A puppy's ears can take up to 2 weeks to remain stable in an upright position. During this time, the puppy has likely removed his ice cream stick and is starting to peel the tape off his ears. This is likely to happen within the first 24 hours after you bandaged the ear.
- If the plaster or ice cream stick looks loose, fix it as needed
- Cover the puppy's ears with a plastic bag if you are going for a walk and it is raining outside.
- Consider removing the bandage after 7 days to see if the ear can stand on its own. If not, put the tape back on the dog's ear.
Step 8. Remove the plaster and ice cream stick
We recommend using an adhesive remover to remove the tape from your dog's ears. This product can be purchased at a supermarket or hardware store. Follow the product instructions on the bottle, and gently remove the tape and foam roller from the dog's ear.
- Do not pull the tape or roller forcibly. This not only hurts the puppy but also damages the internal organs of the dog's ears.
- Don't worry if your puppy's ears don't stand straight up when you remove the tape and foam roller. The ears can weaken a bit after being plastered, but will get stronger over time.
Part 3 of 3: Caring for Puppies' Ears before Plastering
Step 1. Try not to plaster the puppy's ears too quickly
It's a good idea to wait until a German Shepherd puppy's adult teeth begin to appear (around 3-5 months of age) before plastering his ears. You can even wait until all of his teeth are finished (around 7 months of age).
- Because a puppy's calcium intake is shifted from ear to tooth during teething, the earlobe will stand up and droop back and forth.
- Consult your veterinarian if you are unsure when to start plastering your puppy's ears.
Step 2. Give the puppy extra calcium
During the process of teething, a puppy's ears will lose calcium. If there's not enough calcium, your puppy's ears can have a hard time standing up straight. Adding calcium to your dog's diet (1 tablespoon of cottage cheese or yogurt per meal) will help keep his calcium intake adequate.
- Even if you are tempted, do not give calcium supplements to puppies. Excess calcium can deposit in the bones and cause long-term orthopedic disorders, such as bone spurs and arthritis later in life.
- Talk to your vet to find ways to increase your dog's calcium intake.
Step 3. Keep the puppy healthy
A puppy's overall health plays an important role in the strength of his ears. One of the things you need to do is stick to a schedule for vaccinations and deworming your puppy. You also need to give your dog a balanced and quality diet.
Step 4. Encourage the dog to use his ear muscles
If one day you see your puppy's ears stand up and droop the next day, urge him to use his ear muscles more often. The more often he raises his ears, the muscles will be stronger and able to stand up straight. Try making interesting sounds and sounds (such as a car horn, clapping, ringing a bell) to raise the puppy's ears.
Give the puppy a chew toy and a bone to bite into. Chewing movements will strengthen the muscles at the base of the ear
Step 5. Protect your German Shepherd puppy's ears from injury
Damage to a puppy's ears can prevent him from standing up straight. Contrary to popular belief, massaging the base of a dog's ear no would push him to his feet. In fact, massaging, rubbing, and playing with a puppy's ears can cause injury.
- If your puppy sleeps in a crate, try not to lean his head against the wall of the crate while sleeping. This sleeping position can damage the puppy's ears.
- Puppies can tug at each other and tug at the ears of a friend or sibling. If you have other puppies, monitor them closely to make sure they don't irritate each other's ears.
- Clean the puppy's ears regularly. Dog ear cleaners can be purchased at pet stores. Learn how to clean dog ears from the vet.
Tips
- If you're not sure you can plaster your own ears, it's best to use the services of a veterinarian.
- Have a partner hold the puppy while you tap the ears.
