Puppy Ear Care
Lop-eared dogs have adorable little ears that need to be cared for. Your puppy's ears must be kept free from moisture for optimal ear health and to avoid yeast infection.
Your puppy will be known for their beautiful, silky coat but the inside of the puppy's ear will also grow some longer hair as well. These hairs need to be removed by gently plucking or pulling them out. It may sound painful, but if you pull out a few hairs at a time it will not bother the dog. Ear powder is really helpful for gripping the fine hair. The pictured product is what I recommend for helping with pulling the ear hair.
You must make sure your puppy's ears are always dry. Any residual moisture from a bath or playing outside is breeding grounds for canine ear problems; ear infections and yeast infections. It is important to inspect your puppy's ears once a week making sure it is healthy pink and free from any debris or dark brown residue.
If you notice your dog shaking it's head or scratching the ears, they probably have a yeast overgrowth. This will also produce a brown, waxy or sticky discharge. Yeast infections are common and can be avoided if you use the following protocol:
Natural Ear Wash:
1/4 cup warm water
1/8 cup white vinegar
1/2 tsp. boric acid powder
2 drops of tea tree oil
2 drops of DAWN liquid dish soap
Shake the ingredients in a container. To apply, saturate a cotton ball or cotton square that has been folded. Place the saturated cotton in the ear, fold the ear flap down and gently rub it in a circular motion for about 30 seconds.
Use once a day for one week and then once a week from this point in order to prevent it. Take a clean cotton square and wipe out any remaining moisture or ear residue.
Pictured is another great ear flush that has antibacterial properties. There are informational videos on youtube on how to use this.
Another wonderful ear product for the floppy ear dogs is Zymox. The Zymox Otic HC is a great product for problematic puppy ears.
