XP Dog People...Question in here.

mkrupar

I know there are dog owners over here and have a question.

I took Lobo to the vet yesterday. He has an ear infection and they gave me some solution to clean his ears out with and some ointment to put in his ears. Has anyone had to administer ear medicine to their dog before? If so, did you find a good way to do it? I can usually get one ear done, then he runs away for the second one.

And I thought putting ointment in Pepper's eye was hard.

kimheartsscott

My mom has a gentle leader which she has to attach to her dog's kennel when she cleans her ears.  It's the only way she can get her to stay in one spot for both ears.

I would try leashing Lobo or confining him to a small room while you do it, and then give him lots of love afterwards.  There is probably a better way to do it, but I'm not sure what that would be.

mkrupar

I had to laugh when the solution said to do it outside because they shake their heads after you're done and any excess goes flying. I will definitely not be chasing my dog around the yard trying to get solution in his ears.

This last time he ran to the dog bed in the living room, which is between a chair and the entertainment center so he kind of confined himself. Except after I got the first ear done he shot up and ran to the kitchen under the table. He's almost 70lbs so I may have to try leashing him or confining him in the back bedroom.

kimheartsscott

How are you supposed to do the drops?  My mom has to drop them in and then massage the dog's ear in a circular motion to work them down into the ear canal.  I would imagine that would help keep it from splattering over just dropping them in?

jasmineh7777

Can someone help you? I would use a leash as well, but get him in a Sit before you start. Have your FI or friend distract him with treats while you put the drop in. Make sure he's focused on the person with the treats before you start, and give him plenty of treats while you're doing it.

Hays2be

My 90 pound rottie had to have ear cleaning/drops a few times.  I'd hold him between my knees (boy, was that fun!) with a miniature bone on each knee.  He was a very smart dog.  After I did an ear, he got a treat, so he tolerated the procedure.  He ran like he!! after I finished the second ear...

I had to put him down almost two yars ago.  I still miss the best dog I ever had.

mkrupar

Kim I have to  massage the earrs too, but when he shakes when I'm done some that may have goten on his ears gets flung around. That's not the problem, I can clean that up no worries.

Unfortunately it is only me here to do this. I give him lots of treats and loving when I'm done. Maybe I should start with a treat or two to distract him. I could also try while he's intently chewing on his bone. He gets distracted easily doing that.

I'm sorry you hadto put your dog down Hays.

Steph0871

Just my two cents, but I wouldn't sneak up on him. I tried that the first few times I had to clean Puckett's ears.  He was really skittish around me for awhile after that.  Now, I do like Jas said.  Get him in Sit, then show him the bottle (usually I'll hold onto his leash so he can't leave.)  Keep him calm, do it as quickly as possible, and give him a treat after with lots of praise.  That seems to be the easiest.  Now, when he sees the bottle of ear solution, he just lies down and looks at me, pouting.  But he lets me do it, and it goes so much more quickly.

Oh, and let him run away once you're done. That shiit smells bad when it gets flung all around you   I usually try to wipe off his ear with a warm washcloth after it's done, too, so he doens' thave to smell it as strongly.

murphanzo

Try putting the dog on a table, or a surface he's not used to being on.  It freaks the dogs and they don't run.  We put ours on the bathroom counter (he's 50lbs) so there isn't room for him to run and soak a connton ball with the meds.  OH, VERY IMPORTANT!!  Give him a "high value" treat after you're done (cheese, peanut butter, etc.)  That way he associates it with a good thing.

mkrupar

I have to do the cleaning solution and give him the ointment twice a day. I just finished putting the ointment in. That's not as bad as the solution. I got him to lay down on the dog bed and gave him belly rubs while doing it. I have him a knuckle to chew on afterwards. He's sleeping soundly on the floor in front of the couch now,

Brandiewine11

I put Maggie into the "down" position then straddle her without sitting on her. I can then easily control her head. If she's being difficult, i give her a kong toy with a bunch of peanut butter in it. Keeps her busy long enough and she doesn't even notice what I'm doing.

mstar284

It seems brutal, but I pin them down so they can't move at all while FI squirts the drops. Afterwards he rubs their ears and lots of love and kisses.

greeneke2

I pin my pup down too. For the cleaning solution, my vet recommended putting the solution on a cotton ball and then pushing the cotton ball into her ear and massage her ear with the cotton ball inside and then take it out.  Its a lot easier than trying to squirt the solution down there and it doesn't bother my pup as much...

Girlie1030

Soaking a cotton ball in the cleaning solution and putting that into the ear, followed by a "massage" has worked best for when my lab gets an ear infection.  I tried once just putting the solution directly into his ear and he went ape-sh!t.  Good luck!