Doberman Forum : Doberman Breed Dog Forums banner

ears flaps upside down

4K views 10 replies 5 participants last post by  CaliDobe 
#1 ·
Hi everyone,

My little pup just got to 4 months and her ear posting is going terribly. I had a previous thread explaining the issues with the crop and removal and etc. but this will focus on posting. Her posting began quite late due to the issues from the surgery and she ended up with an ear infection after. She never liked having posts on and would scratch or disform them daily. I gave her plenty of treats while posting, still hated having her ears touched. Everything was healed, no signs of infection or anything when I finally started so it shouldn't have been painful for her. Unfortunately, something medical came up last month and I have since been away from her due to this emergency. I trusted her to family friends who have had plenty of experience with dogs and puppies. I gave a clear set of instructions and videos and contacts for any help or problems they may have and told them to contact with any information or inquiries at all. I received two updates on my dog in the duration of my leave and sent them multiple, MULTIPLE long detailed texts asking about her condition and anything without reply. I'd never had any problems beforehand and I eased her into the new home for a few days and had no problems with her being there or with contacting the family. I frequently asked about the posts because I had seen a photo where they were off and her ears were folded upside down, which I'd never had a problem with while posting nor have I ever seen this on a doberman. Blah, blah, contacted them, no response, told them to take her to the vet, no response, nothing. The vet is about an hour drive away as the procedure is illegal where I live and there is only one vet that does ear posting. Without making this thread a complaint about what terrible dog sitters they are, I came back to a puppy with ears that I'd never imagine to see on a dog let alone my dog. I'm doing regular posts right now but I don't see that its helping very much and she still scratches at them. I could only assume that they didn't or seldom posted her ears and undoubtedly incorrectly. It's only been one week of me properly posting the ears, and I plan on taking her to the vet if they still fold upwards when I change the posts again. I've heard that giving some cottage cheese will help calcium wise to make her ears stronger. Please tell me what to do because I have no clue whether this is something that could be fixed with resuming to regular posting or whether this is serious and I need to bring her in immediately or what, I'm quite lost and hurt for my little girl.

*they stay like this even when she is running or looking down or doing anything, they almost look like they've gotten used to this position. will upload more pictures if these don't give enough detail, all I have on the computer right now. Photos were taken when bringing her home they've since been cleaned and posted immediately. Will upload pictures of posts after changing them.
 

Attachments

See less See more
3
#2 ·
Do not give her any calcium supplements - you can cause problems with improper bone growth.

I would have her ears checked for infection just to be sure, if it were me. Then, you need to be posting them VERY consistently, only leaving them down long enough to clean and dry them, and then right back up. Every time you leave them down like that you are setting yourself back in getting them to stand. She's still young enough to correct this with proper posting. Be sure you are stretching the ear up tight on the post and getting the post down deep in the ear. Get the posts set at the "10" and "2" positions and you should be able to correct this with good, consistent posting of the ears with a sturdy post if you keep those ears up and don't let them stay down in that position. Make sure your posts are sturdy. If you are using backer rods, I would wrap them with some duct tape first to make them a bit more firm. Be sure you then "back wrap" them with the posting tape (I like zonas tape) to be sure only the taping tape touches the ears - you don't want the ears irritated.
 
#3 ·
Keep posting--it'll just take longer but that will eventually take care of the ears folding over her head. Just think of it as a very bad case of pockets (which is basically what it is).

Sorry you've had so much trouble with the ears from the get go but she'll get used to the posts.

By the way, make sure the post is seated all the way into the base of the ears--one of the things that makes puppies fuss with posts is not getting them down into the base--they can move a little and it feels weird to the pup and they scratch or rub the ears. Also make sure that you are pulling the ear up before you stick it to the post and that you aren't dislodging the post while you are doing that.

Good luck--this will be OK with continued posting.
 
#5 ·
meadowcat I'm following the method with backer rods and tape (the one stickied to the ear posting and cropping forum). I actually brought her to the vet the day after I posted on here and she did have an ear infection. Going to check back at the end of this week and then bringing her to the other hospital to have her ears posted and get their insight too. After that, hopefully no more infections and constant posting from there on out.
 
#7 ·
Okay, no posting until the infection is cleared up, of course. Then, just follow the ear posting method from the sticky (I would skip the vet wrap, though, as it's not necessary and can do more harm than good). I would STRONGLY recommend avoiding having a vet post the ears. Even good cropping vets often are terrible at posting. You would be much better off finding a local Doberman person who is skilled in posting to help you. The DPCA lists the chapter clubs on their website, and they would be a good contact - they generally have a membership of experienced people, and I know my club would all be happy to help someone post. We've seen many people have ears screwed up on this forum by vets, even vets that are good croppers.
 
#6 ·
Thanks dobebug, don't know what id do without your advice to my constant panics lol. I post them, but she somehow managed to scratch them out from the base or shake. I try to push it a bit lower but they're as far as they can go, I'm going to be asking about this when she gets them posted this weekend.
 
#8 ·
Hard to find in BC, theres one vet (which Ill be taking her to) thats an hour and a half drive away so not the most convenient. My breeder is much further. I'll see how it goes with the vet, head out if I'm having troubles but hopefully posting will go better this time and I wont have to go out too often. I'll try contacting other breeders, but they're not much closer to where I live either.
 
#9 ·
I know there are some Dobe folks in BC...I honestly think you'd be better off on your own than with a vet posting. Just my two cents. You don't need to be in touch with breeders, necessarily, just Dobe owners with posting experience.

There's a FB group that is for ear posting, too. I'm not in it, but I can find out the link for you if you want. I do also know at least a few folks in BC and might be able to find someone to help you if you want to PM me your general location.
 
#10 · (Edited)
This might help you keep her from shaking the posts out. She is probably fussing with them so much because the rod is loose in the ear and feels funny.

I imagine you may be doing these already (and I’m repeating what others have said because I wasn’t on line earlier and type slowly), but just in case:

1. Use a smaller size backer rod. You can tape it a little more above the tapered part to make it stiffer, but the tapered tip might help it go in further. You can, of course, still use the size you are currently using if the smaller size doesn’t seem stiff enough to hold the ears in the right position or as she gets bigger to carry the extra weight of her larger ears without bending. But it might be worth experimenting with a smaller diameter rod.

2. Have everything ready before you start--tape cut to the right lengths, and easy to reach (I stick one end of the tape on the edge of a table and leave the rest dangling free so I can grab it quickly). Have your backer rods already stiffened with duct tape and back taped.

3. Taper the end of the post like a sharpened pencil and twist the post as you push it in (sorta screw it in), stretch the ear up (lightly) and stick it to the post. Don’t let go! While you have the ear stretched up and stuck to the post, apply the tape. If the ear is stuck to the tape while it is stretched a little, it should have no slack or looseness in the ear tissue at the bottom which will help keep the post snug in her ear.

4. Use a bumper at the place where her ears are really trying to fold back to make them stay in the right position. You may need an especially big bumper since her ears are so determined to fold back. Tape over the folded/broken area if you are seeing a crease where her ears fold back (tape running across the bent area and a bit on each side to keep the area straight) as you post to add extra support and help keep the ears upright. Tape the ear rather lightly above the crease so there is no extra weight at the tips make them bend more.

As everyone has said--learn to post them yourself. Keep trying; you will learn a few tricks as you go that makes the process work for you. Repost them immediately every time the post comes out, if they get wet, if you smell a funny smell, or see a discharge/raw skin/reddened area. ( I imagine you know that.) If you have to wait until you can get an appt. with the vet or have the time to drive there...you will have a problem keeping up with the posting. It takes constant attention to make sure the posting keeps looking right.

Her ear should be completely healed from the cropping and infection--no scabs or open cut areas at all, and no redness or other signs of infection. Once she is ready for posting, don’t leave her ears down for more than about 15 minutes or so...long enough to dry them, clean them up, and give them a gentle massage if she enjoys it. Then back into the posts. If you let them stay un-posted until you see them fall or fold back, you are setting the process back and risking the posting not doing its job.
 
#11 ·
Thanks Melbrod,

I get everything out and ready so it can be a quick process but she fusses so much even with treats after she's been tired out because she had so many problems with her ears from the start, I'm guessing thats why she can't get used to it. I always ask the vet to check her ears to make sure they're completely fine for posting so it shouldn't be anything medical. I know how to post the ears, but I'd like to see the vet anyway to see if they have any ideas on how to do them better or ways to get her used to it as theyll be able to see it in person. I'm currently using the 3/8 backer rod width, it fits her ears and anything bigger wouldn't work/would stretch her base. Her infection will be cleared up soon so will definitely get on with the posting and pray to god there are no more infections in the near future.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top