Puppy ear - normal?

Moss26 · 01-26-2012, 08:58 PM

Hi everyone, I was at the vet cardiologist today - long story on my other thread today - and one of the technicians went off about my pup's right ear doing the "comb over" thing. She told me horror stories that, "left untreated, the ear will 'cement' and stay like that forever." Then she made a makeshift splint out of gauze, stuck it in his ear, and taped it up.

This is my first pup and he is 9 weeks old...I guess the logic seemed to make sense. From what I have read though, they will go through a bunch of different stages and I do not need to start taping them up.

I'm just a neurotic new parent that needs some reassurance. Thanks!

Here is a pic:

juliejujubean · 01-26-2012, 08:59 PM

i have NEVER seen a german shepherd who's ears did not stand up on their own!
i am positive that this person is full of it.

llombardo · 01-26-2012, 09:01 PM

He is adorable

I just got my first shepherd puppy a couple months ago and one of her ears was kinda crooked/floppy and it has straightened out nicely without anyones help. From what I understand it can go either way, so I don't know if doing anything helps or aggravates it. Either way--straight or floppy your puppy is cute!!

llombardo · 01-26-2012, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by juliejujubean

i have NEVER seen a german shepherd who's ears did not stand up on their own!
i am positive that this person is full of it.

I've seen a couple that have both floppy ears or one floppy/crooked ear and they were older. I thought mine was going to keep a crooked ear, but so far its looking straighter every day..but I do agree that this person didn't know what they were talking about.

Magnolia · 01-26-2012, 09:04 PM

My avatar shows Grendel with the comb over ear. I love all the funny stages. He's 4.5 months old and both ears have been up for ages. There is no need for you to be worried about a puppy so young.

idahospud49 · 01-26-2012, 09:07 PM

CUTE!!! Don't worry about his ears, especially at this age, just enjoy all of the crazy/adorable ear stages they have!!

doggiedad · 01-26-2012, 09:11 PM

my last GSD's ears didn't stand untill
he was 6 months old. the GSD i have now ears
stood up at 5 months old. in both cases the ears
did the ear dance, "up down and all around". the
ears are one more thing that'll make you lose weight.

GSDAlphaMom · 01-26-2012, 09:21 PM

That tech needs to be fired! Your pup is 9 weeks old, not at all unusual for the ears not to be up yet. Yes sometimes the ears don't go up on their own but that is the vast miniority. If they aren't up by 5.5 months then you can provide them some support. There is absolutly no need at 9 weeks.

Here are some pictures of the different stages the ears go through:

Ear Stages - a pictorial

**jocoyn** · 01-26-2012, 09:22 PM

I absolutely would not mess with his ears at THIS age. Mine have always stood by 4 months but I know others can give advice if they don't come up. This is perfectly normal for his ears.

BR870 · 01-26-2012, 09:29 PM

Follow the link in my signiture to se Ez's comb over ear... That ear was the first one to come up. Here is pic when we got him.

That ear now...

Actually the other ear is still alittle soft and the tip dips in the evenings. Its trying to stand fully though and should be up 100% within the week since its making noticeable progress each day...

Vet tech was full of it...

01-26-2012, 08:58 PM	#1 (permalink)
Moss26 New Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 16	Puppy ear - normal? Hi everyone, I was at the vet cardiologist today - long story on my other thread today - and one of the technicians went off about my pup's right ear doing the "comb over" thing. She told me horror stories that, "left untreated, the ear will 'cement' and stay like that forever." Then she made a makeshift splint out of gauze, stuck it in his ear, and taped it up. This is my first pup and he is 9 weeks old...I guess the logic seemed to make sense. From what I have read though, they will go through a bunch of different stages and I do not need to start taping them up. I'm just a neurotic new parent that needs some reassurance. Thanks! Here is a pic:

01-26-2012, 08:59 PM	#2 (permalink)
juliejujubean Master Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Mississippi Posts: 824	i have NEVER seen a german shepherd who's ears did not stand up on their own! i am positive that this person is full of it. __________________ Diamond, Mar 19, 2011 Pictures

01-26-2012, 09:01 PM	#3 (permalink)
llombardo Elite Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,572	He is adorable I just got my first shepherd puppy a couple months ago and one of her ears was kinda crooked/floppy and it has straightened out nicely without anyones help. From what I understand it can go either way, so I don't know if doing anything helps or aggravates it. Either way--straight or floppy your puppy is cute!! __________________ Misty- Samoyed Mix Tannor- Golden Retriever CGC Robyn- German Shepherd CGC Cats-Thunder, Harley, Miley, Bandit, and Ferah RIP Boo..Black Lab "A dog is the only thing on this earth that loves you more than he loves himself."

01-26-2012, 09:07 PM	#6 (permalink)
idahospud49 Elite Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Linden, Arizona Posts: 1,690	CUTE!!! Don't worry about his ears, especially at this age, just enjoy all of the crazy/adorable ear stages they have!! __________________ Megan Amadeus 1/13/2003-10/20/2010 RIP Glock 1/25/2011

01-26-2012, 09:11 PM	#7 (permalink)
doggiedad Crowned Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Jenkintown,Pa. Posts: 9,846	my last GSD's ears didn't stand untill he was 6 months old. the GSD i have now ears stood up at 5 months old. in both cases the ears did the ear dance, "up down and all around". the ears are one more thing that'll make you lose weight. __________________ "Life Without A Dog Is A Life Unfulfilled"

01-26-2012, 09:04 PM	#5 (permalink)
Magnolia Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Mississippi Posts: 159	My avatar shows Grendel with the comb over ear. I love all the funny stages. He's 4.5 months old and both ears have been up for ages. There is no need for you to be worried about a puppy so young.

01-26-2012, 09:21 PM	#8 (permalink)
GSDAlphaMom Knighted Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 2,230	That tech needs to be fired! Your pup is 9 weeks old, not at all unusual for the ears not to be up yet. Yes sometimes the ears don't go up on their own but that is the vast miniority. If they aren't up by 5.5 months then you can provide them some support. There is absolutly no need at 9 weeks. Here are some pictures of the different stages the ears go through: Ear Stages - a pictorial

01-26-2012, 09:22 PM	#9 (permalink)
jocoyn Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: South Carolina Posts: 8,045	I absolutely would not mess with his ears at THIS age. Mine have always stood by 4 months but I know others can give advice if they don't come up. This is perfectly normal for his ears. __________________ Nancy www.scsarda.org Grim (Grimmy Bear) & Beau (Bo-dee man) Waiting at the Bridge: Cyra, Toby, Rainbow, Linus, Oscar, Arlo & Waggles

01-26-2012, 09:29 PM	#10 (permalink)
BR870 Master Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 828	Follow the link in my signiture to se Ez's comb over ear... That ear was the first one to come up. Here is pic when we got him. That ear now... Actually the other ear is still alittle soft and the tip dips in the evenings. Its trying to stand fully though and should be up 100% within the week since its making noticeable progress each day... Vet tech was full of it... __________________ Rob Ezra von der Rennbahn Princess Abigail "Abbie" Kai (RIP) Loki (RIP)

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