Dog People....Question in here.

mkrupar · May 2011

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.

mica178 · May 2011

I've only done things to one ear for Berkeley. I usually would do it when she was calm and sleepy so she wouldn't struggle or resist (I do the same thing when it's time for flea drops or whatever else).

mkrupar · May 2011

I missed the sleepy time to try and do it (probably because I was napping myself). I got both of them done with the solution. I still have to do the ointment, but that's not as bad.

em105 · May 2011

We have a lab who LOVES to eat.

We actually put the drops in his ear while he's eating. He could care less. He's focused on his food in general. Another thing to do is just give him a really exciting treat (ie a kong filled with peanut butter and have one person hold that in front of him and the other person kind of straddle, pin with the legs and medicate.

barrelbabe004 · May 2011

My dog gets constant yeast infections in his ear. We put the ointment on a cotton swab and then stick it in his ear and massage it for a few seconds (10-20ish) and then do the other ear the same way. He usually shakes the cotton swabs out of his ear a few seconds after the 2nd ear is done.

DramaGeek · May 2011

It was a two person job for us. H holds, I administer medicine.

mkrupar · May 2011

Unfortunately it's me by my lonesome here doing it.

That's exactly what he has barrel. I didn't know dogs could get yeast infections in their ears.

I could try while he's eating that might work.

jessicabessica · May 2011

I clean my dog's ears somewhat regularly with baby oil. I put some on a cotton pad and gently rub it in her ears. She's generally good about getting poked and prodded, but the first few times I did it I scratched her head and around her ears before actually going for the ears.

SilverLining1 · May 2011

Yeah, it usually takes two people for my golden retriever. We haven't had to clean them in yers, but she still runs away whenever you say "clean your ears". Good luck, it's not easy :P

firsttimersluck · May 2011

Peanut butter!! Put it on a spoon and he'll be at it for a while and will be much less phased by the annoying ear meds. (if you put it on his nose or on the ground he'll be moving all over the place so this works better when you have someone to hold the spoon for you, or if you can administer the meds with just one hand)

DramaGeek · May 2011

Bummer :-( Do you have a neighbor or someone who could help? Or maybe leash him, with the leash looped around something heavy so he can't get away. When J got hurt and couldn't be up and around, we looped his leash around the couch so he couldn't go anywhere and it worked well.

Birdie1483 · May 2011

HAH this is always a fun time for Ozzie. He gets the yeast infections as well. We just had to keep trying to get him to be calm. Now he does it.... ok. The one thing I did learn was when I put cleanser on a q-tip to let it warm up before putting it in his ear. He always hates the cold wet feeling, but if it's a little warmer it helps. I usually just warm it with my (clean) fingers before I clean his ear.

For the ear drops I'd get him to sit and would do it really quickly. I sometimes had to hang onto his collar until he'd settle down. I also give him a treat afterwards for being good.

meep2 · May 2011

Depends what he's like when eating. Some dogs get really territorial with their food so you don't want to deal with them when eating. We had two dogs: one who was like that, one who was the calmest thing ever. With the second she wouldn't be happy about medicine but she'd deal with it calmly. Is there anything else your dog really likes? Belly rubs? Being brushed? You may need to start by holding Lobo around the chest and grabbing the collar while administering the medication. Show him that you have treats before starting, put them in your pocket, and then give them after you're completely finished, with lots of praise.

Birdie1483 · May 2011

Oh, I also learned to angle the ear drops so they kind of slide down into his ear instead of dropping into them. It didn't startle him as much doing it that way. I'd usually point the applicator at the top of the inside of his ear and let it run in that way.

mkrupar · May 2011

What's weird about the ear "drops" is they're more of an ointment. I just gave them to him and he was ok with it. He crawled onto the dog bed in the living room which kind of blocks him there so it wasn't too bad.

The solution is harder because it's liquid and gets everywhere. Oh well. I think he'll get used to it he's just grumpy because things are being put in his ear. I don't have to give him more until the morning.

sarahsaturday2701 · May 2011

I usually fold up and twist a paper towel (the good kind not the kind that falls apart) to use as a sort-of q-tip. I douse it in solution and twist it around inside their ears. A real q-tip works too for the surface parts but I'm scared to stick it too deep in their ears.

Birdie1483 · May 2011

Did they tell you to squirt the solution in? They told me that and it's probably best, but Ozzie prefers it by q-tip

Birdie1483 · May 2011

Pippy, my vet told me not to worry about sticking it in Ozzie's ears because I won't be able to hit his eardrum. Something about the ear canal being curved inside unlike humans. Ozzie is part Beagle, so I'm not sure if it changes by breed. I would ask your vet about it.

redheadfsu · May 2011

I have dachshunds so I just hold them between my legs so they can't move and do both ears quickly. I always feel bad but unless I hold them down, I would be chasing them for hours.

janinekk · May 2011

Awe, poor doggie. My bullmastiff just got over a 4 week ear infection!! It was yeast and bacterial and they were having a hard time treating it. I had to do cleaning and drops twice a day for 4 weeks - in both ears!! She's a pretty calm dog normally, but I would take her for a long walk first, then when she was nice and tired I would grab the ear cleaning solution and ointment and some treats and just try to get the solution in there as fast as possible (in both ears) and massage both her ears at the same time then take gauze to clean it out. I would give her a treat then just drop the ointment in, massage again, and leave it. Another treat after that and she's all done.

Good luck!!

Dog People....Question in here.

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