[melbrod]

HOW TO PREVENT POSTS FROM POPPING OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF THE EAR
Posting tips from dobebug--

Most newcomers to posting have trouble with the posts popping out of the bottom of the ear, sometimes just a minute or two after they have finished a new taping job. The puppy may even manage to remove the entire post from his ear. It can be extremely frustrating to have to keep redoing your posting job because a post pops out.

But when a post pops out at the base, you must take the ear down--even if you can't put it back up immediately. When the post is out of the base it tends to push the ear in toward the center of the head and you definitely don't want that. You can't fix a posting job after the base has popped out by merely applying more tape--it happened because the posting just wasn't quite right. You will need to remove the post and tape, and start over.

Here are the basic steps:

1. Prepare all of your materials and have them close enough to reach as you post. Back-wrap the posts until the entire post is covered using Zonas, Sport or Coach's Tape (all made by Johnson and Johnson) with the sticky side out. Pre-cut several strips of tape--I usually stick them on a table edge with the end dangling down so I can reach them easily.

2. Make sure the post material (backer rod or pipe insulation) is small enough to go all the way to the bottom of the ear canal. If you are using backer rod with a very young pup, you may need to use a smaller size (3/8 inch, generally) and then move up to a larger diameter as he grows and his ears get heavier and need stiffer support. Taper the post into a blunt point with scissors and use a little bit of cotton to pad the very end of the post.

3. Rotate and twist the post back and forth a little as you push it into the ear. At the same time, pull up on the ear flap so that it is stretched up as high on the post as possible. Don't let go! It's time to start your taping.

4. Once you have pushed the post all the way down into the ear canal (you can't push it too far--the ear canal take a right angle turn before it gets to the ear drum) press the taped post to the ear. While still holding it in place start your first wrap of tape as far down on the post as you can--angle it up to where the ear joins the top of the skull, then bring the tape around the back of the ear and angle it down to meet the spot where you started taping. That will fold the little flap of skin where the ear attaches to the top of the head back against the rest of the ear the way it should be.

5. An extra trick to keep the post from popping out:
When you wrap the first strip of tape around the ear, use one finger to press the back of the ear TOWARD the front of the ear--you can see that this reduces the gap between the front and back of the ear and generally keeps the post from popping out of the ear canal. With the post more secure this way, the puppy is not nearly as likely to shake or scratch at his ears either.

That's the first wrap.

6. Put two or three more wraps on this way--each a little higher than the previous strip but still overlapping it. When you have the base securely taped this way you can continue the process until the entire ear is taped, or you can just wrap a strip or two of tape around the top tip of the ear and then a strip or two in the middle. Make sure your posts are long enough to extend beyond the tip of the ear so that the tip is securely taped. Always just lay the tape loosely around the ear and then use your hand to 'scrunch' the tape so that it firmly holds the post in place.

When you are done with your posting job, the ears should tip out at 10 and 2 o'clock
\ _ / or at least stand vertically | _ |
You never want them to tip inward /_\ If they do, the ears will sag, creating pockets where the ear joins the top of the head. Ears with pockets will not stand properly.

 

[melbrod]

Edited to add:
You can use Johnson and Johnson's Coaches or Athletic tape--the kind designed to be removable--what athletes use to tape their knuckles and hands. you can generally find it at your local pharmacy or Walmart.

Do NOT use the athletic tape that is intended to be "permanent"--the kind that is used to tape hockey sticks, for example.

Do NOT use any kind of self adhering tape or vet wrap--it is stretchy, will shrink if it gets wet, and is too easy to put on the ears too tight.

Do NOT use paper tape. It is not flexible.

 

[melbrod]

Additional comments about posting from dobebug:

I do a lot of posting for people and have found pretty consistently that even when the poster "thinks" the post is as far down in the ear as it can possibly be it really isn't. I finally realized that if I had the new poster take their little finger and slide it down into the puppy's ear until they could feel the bottom of that part of the ear canal and then felt with the other hand lightly on the outside to see what a it felt like when the finger was actually all the way down into the canal it helped a lot.

Then start posting with 3/8" (that's almost always the starting size and often even that has to be tapered to let it slide all the way down in the ear canal.) And look at how the very beginning strips of tape are applied--it should start as far down on the post as possible--and it should point down--and it should then go up so that the first place it touches the ear leather is where the little fold is--that should lay back against the ear. Wrap the tape around and aim it down when you get to the upper part of the back side of the ear--when you start the tape down aim it so it will terminate at the place it started. As you are approaching that point take a finger and push the back of the ear toward the front--that will narrow the opening so it will be much more difficult for the puppy to dislodge the post no matter how much he rolls around in his sleep. Firmly press the end of the tape on the place where it started.

Go back and up a 1/2" and start the second wrap the same way just a little higher--I usually do three wraps when I'm first posting a puppy--and I always do full tape up to the top of the ear--being careful to just lay the tape on and at the tip I don't wrap tape around the tip but I do want it to stay on the post and not flop around in mid air so at the very tip I take a short length of tape and run it up and over the tip of the ear instead of around.

I hope this helps--I know the biggest problem with getting posts to stay in is getting them really ALL the way down into the ear canal. And because they don't move around the puppy is much more tolerant of leaving them alone--because it doesn't feel so much like he's got something rattling around in his ear.

See if that will help--come back and ask questions if any of this doesn't make sense.

 

[melbrod]

What tape to use instead of Zonas--Quote Dobebug:

"You can't find it because Johnson & Johnson sold part of their tape line to another company--the part that they sold includes Zonas, Coach/Sport and Elasticon--those are now owned by Essity and are starting to be found under the Actimove line--medical and sports tapes. From what I've seen so far the only way any of their line is only available if full cartons which I think is the 144 pack. And I've heard that they are working on the retail market packaging--I know Amazon has 1-1/2" equivalent of Zonas in that pack--but that's about a hundred years supply for anyone who isn't a breeder.

I don't think there is much available on the retail market that is close but if you are trying to get it look for "sports tapes"--and you want specifically the kind that are used for taping fingers, wrists ankles and things like that--those are designed to be taken off fairly easily and most of them are woven cotton with a reasonably low tack (not terribly sticky) adhesive. Some are available in colors. And I think most are only in 1-1/2" or 2 " and all will split easily and tear into 3/4" or 1" strips. Do not buy any of the sports tapes that are for taping handles of sporting gear--those are intended to stay on forever and have adhesive that will keep them on forever and most of the sport tapes like you want for ears come from companies that also make the stuff for taping bat handles and tennis racquet handles. So make sure of what you are getting.

If you are looking at any Kendall tapes it's the Covidien part of their line that is closest to the the Zonas type. I wouldn't recommend any of their other tapes because they are uber sticky and hard to get off even using good adhesive removers.

And I don't like the 3M durapore for anything except making posts--it's a synthetic fabric and doesn't adjust to ear shapes nearly as well as the woven cotton backing.

Eventually Actimove will get that tape line into the retail market (although it still specialized enough that you may only be able to order it online. I actually used to order both Zonas tape and the adhesive remover from a company in Florida who sold nothing except medical supplies and if you live in a city big enough to have a full supplier of medical stuff you can get things like specialty tapes from them--once they are on the market. It's also where I used to buy Torbet and Osteobond adhesive. But once Amazon and Walmart started carrying those kind of products they were noticeably less expensive.

The only thing I could ever find on the retail market was the Johnson and Johnson Coach/Sport tape--for awhile I could always find it at a couple of different Walgreen pharmacies and in one little pharmacy that was in the retail pharmacy in a huge office building filled with medical offices. But it was never very retail market available.

dobebug"

 

[melbrod]

Here's another little bit about how to tape ears from AllforBlitz...

One piece of advice.... it isn't NEEDED per se, but it helps my posts be a little more secure. On that first piece of tape (and for me every one going all the way up the ear) I start the tape on the post at an angle going towards the middle of his skull and around the ear towards the rear of the dog, and then back towards the base in the same place you started the piece of tape on the post. For me, this just helps really lay the natural ear fold properly, and keep the posts seated really well. Plus starting the tape on the sticky back taped post really helps if they wiggle some, not to come loose while you're trying to get those first couple pieces on, while also trying to hold tension upwards of the ear on the post.

I hope that makes some semblance of sense.

 

[melbrod]

When puppy first comes home I recommend this size

Amazon.com : Syhood 30 Pcs Flexible Curling Rods 9.45 Twist Foam Rollers Soft Foam No Heat Hair Rods Rollers and 1 Steel Pintail Comb Rat Tail Comb for Women Long Short Hair(Blue,9.45 x 0.47 Inch) : Beauty & Personal Care

Amazon.com : Syhood 30 Pcs Flexible Curling Rods 9.45 Twist Foam Rollers Soft Foam No Heat Hair Rods Rollers and 1 Steel Pintail Comb Rat Tail Comb for Women Long Short Hair(Blue,9.45 x 0.47 Inch) : Beauty & Personal Care

www.amazon.com

At around 15 or 16 weeks depending on growth, I would expect to move up to this size, then use the some ones until you're done posting. You may just taper a little more off when you first change sizes.

Amazon.com : My Beauty Spot Flexi Rods Foam Hair Rollers 5/8" Professional Salon Quality 12 Pcs Rubber Hair Rollers for Long, Medium and Short Hair (Pink) : Beauty & Personal Care

Amazon.com : My Beauty Spot Flexi Rods Foam Hair Rollers 5/8" Professional Salon Quality 12 Pcs Rubber Hair Rollers for Long, Medium and Short Hair (Pink) : Beauty & Personal Care

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The zonas tape I purchased (large 32 pack) is no longer available, and far more than you need... This looks like the same thing

Amazon.com: Kendall Medical Tape Porous Cloth 1 Inch X 10 Yard White NonSterile, 2531C - 1 Roll : Health & Household

Buy Kendall Medical Tape Porous Cloth 1 Inch X 10 Yard White NonSterile, 2531C - 1 Roll: First Aid Tape - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

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I would get about 6 rolls.

This is the tape to wrap posts

Amazon.com: 3M Durapore Medical Tape, Non-Sterile, Silk-Like Cloth, White, 1 in x 10 yds, 12 Rolls, 1 Pack : Industrial & Scientific

Amazon.com: 3M Durapore Medical Tape, Non-Sterile, Silk-Like Cloth, White, 1 in x 10 yds, 12 Rolls, 1 Pack : Industrial & Scientific

www.amazon.com

You can also use this around the ears, in place of zonas.

Amazon.com: Hampton Adams | As Seen on Shark Tank | Orignial Athletic Sports Tape (3-Pack) | 45ft Rolls | Very Strong Easy Tear NO Sticky Residue | Best Tape for Athlete & Trainers | Fingers Ankles Wrist (Black) : Health & Household

Buy Hampton Adams | As Seen on Shark Tank | Orignial Athletic Sports Tape (3-Pack) | 45ft Rolls | Very Strong Easy Tear NO Sticky Residue | Best Tape for Athlete & Trainers | Fingers Ankles Wrist (Black): Athletic Tapes & Wraps - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

It may be stickier, I don't know. I haven't personally worked with it, but know many that have. If it is stickier, the unisolv wipes will be less optional, and more mandatory to remove posts when it is time to change them. You will need wipes anyways to clean inside the ears. It removes the tape adhesive residue.