Ears that won't go up

[CelticxConnections]

I have a 5 month old GSD Pup who has an ear that doesnt seem to want to go all the way up. I have heard that if the ears are not up by 6 months they most likely will not go up so my first queston is is this true?

My second queston is should I tape his ear now or wait a while longer?

Both his parents had ears that stayed up if that is imporant.

And here is a pic of him now. Its just his left ear tip that is not going up and its been like that for about a month.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c393/CelticxConections/ImportedPhotos00215.jpg

 

[Charliesmommy]

Aww, what a cutie. Charlie's ears did not stand up until about 5 months, maybe even a little longer. I think anywhere from 4-6 months is typical so don't give up hope. I did read that if they aren't up by 6 months they aren't going to stand up.

My vet told me that it doesn't do any good to tape a GSDs ears but I think there are conflicting opinions on that. She said they'll either stand or they won't. She did have me supplement Charlie's food with bonemeal. She said their ears are trying to stand up at the same time they are teething and since all that calcium is going to their teeth instead of their ear cartilage, that's what causes the ears to be floppy.

 

[Mayasmydobe]

what about Vitamin C? I really have no Idea but with my Doberman I was told that Vitamin C helps ears. Again, It might be something to look into, but I really have no idea about GSD ears.

 

[CelticxConnections]

Don't be fooled, he knows he's the baby and acts the part.

Its good to know that his ear still has a good chance. My other GSD's ears where up really fast so I wasn't sure how long it would take. I'll have to ask Duke's vet about bonemeal. Thanks for the help.

 

[OutlineACDs]

It wouldn't hurt to put a strip of moleskin in the ear. Just buy the Dr. Scholls moleskin and cut a piece to fit in his ear and just leave it in as long as he will allow. This gives the ear a little strength and helps it stand.

 

[fillyone]

Be very careful adding any kind of calcium to a puppies diet, it's easy to throw off the nutrional balance of the puppies food and lead to growth/joint issues.
Have you contacted the breeder to ask for advice?

 

[~Tucker&Me~]

Awww... I think it gives him character

~Tucker

 

[blue]

Have him watch the Exorcist or Amityville Horror, if those movies dont get his ears standing Im out of ideas.

 

[SisMorphine]

IF you decide to tape, be careful. We had a woman who insisted on us taping her GSD's ears because it was a show dog and she wanted those ears to stand. She insisted that the taping be tight because she wanted to be sure they would stand. Well, one of the ears died (she didn't change the tape for weeks) and had to be amputated simply because she was far more worried about cosmetic appearance. So sad and unecessary.

 

[ACooper]

It wouldn't hurt to put a strip of moleskin in the ear. Just buy the Dr. Scholls moleskin and cut a piece to fit in his ear and just leave it in as long as he will allow. This gives the ear a little strength and helps it stand.

I have also heard of the moleskin. This won't "kill the ear" because you are not talking about posting, and posting TOO TIGHT does cut off circulation.

Also another trick that is used for Dobe puppies after they have been posted but need an extra little bit.........breath right nose strips. It may sound crazy, but I have seen it done, and heard of it repeatedly

 

[OutlineACDs]

I too have heard of the breathe right strips. Just try a few different things and use the one that works best of your dog.

 

[SizzleDog]

I dont' know if the breathe-rite strips are strong enough for that much of a droop... moleskin works (but you need to use skin adhesive to keep it in, especially with all the hair in a GSD ear) but it could work.

My dogs' breeder (Dobes, for close to 40 years) has always given Vitamin C to help ears - never calcium, but Vitamin C. Ears have always seemed to stand better and faster if the dog is getting a VitC pill with every meal.

 

[Ottos_owner]

Don't give up on ears yet

Our GSD's ears (which are large) started going up nicely but then flopped back down when he was teething. I did give him one-half calcium tablet a day for about a month, although I'm not sure this made any difference. Anyhow, one day we noticed that the ears were going back up and sure enough, they were fine by the time he was 7 months. I personally wouldn't worry too much about it. Even if that ear never goes fully up, it'll just give him personality!

 

[simplymisty]

I want to say it took my GSD about 6 months, it was just like yours, the tip on the one ear was floppy. I wouldn't have cared if it stayed that way because it was cute. But at about 6 mo it stayed up.

Our 2nd GSD mixed with Golden has the in between ears, not floppy and not up, just kind of in the middle. Too cute!

 

[showpug]

Ears can act very funny until your dog is done teething. I would wait a few more months and I bet they'll stand...

 

[LabLover47]

yeah just give it some time and maybe add a little more vitamin c into the diet and see what happens...

 

[RedyreRottweilers]

I would put moleskin in the ear immediately if you seriously want it to stand.

 

[noludoru]

:yikes: you want to post his ears!!!!!!!!!! But he's such a little cutie that way...



Sorry, had to get that out. Good luck with his earsies! (But they are sooooo cute...)

 

[Jynx]

I also would use the moleskin. Of all the gsd's I've had, I have never had an ear problem, they were all erect by the time they hit 12 weeks old and stayed that way, tho some can do weird things during teething time.

On a gsd, ears are SUPPOSED to stand up when they are around 12 weeks. The longer it takes for them to stand, the softer the ear leather probably is.
Alot of AM lined dogs have soft ears. While alot of gsd's ears end up standing at later ages, when you start hitting the 5 month mark, the majority need intervention or they aren't going to stand up at all. (and it could very well be a teething issue at this age).

If you want them to stand, check with your breeder, they should know how to use moleskin/tape the ear up. I personally, just wouldn't wait..

Good luck
Diane

 

[CelticxConnections]

His ear is getting better and only the very tip of it droops now. I think I'm going to use the moleskin to help it the rest of the way.

I have talked with the breeders and they said his dad's ear took a bit to get up all the way.