Calcium for ears standing? Where did this myth come from?

[ImJaxon]

I have to ask the question here. I actually posted in a yogurt thread too. But to get more exposure and start a topic, I'm going to ask it here.

Why do people think that calcium is what the ears need?

I had a very long discussion with our vet who was laughing his behind off that people want to give dogs calcium to make ears stand.

The ears are grown with cartilage. The vet told me definitively that calcium will do jack to make a dogs ears stand. I mean, I get that calcium is for bone growth and the teeth and jaws are supported by calcium, but for ears standing he said nothing makes them stand but genetics. He said that chewing things could help as it would stimulate the region and promote circulation and nutrient delivery, but other than that it's largely genetics to whether they will stand or not.

If anything you'd want to give them Dasoquin or something. Glucosamine and chondrodin are the only things that would have ANY affect whatsoever on ears, as it's cartilage. But even even told me that those supplements would not be extremely effective.

This came from our Vet who sees tons and tons of show dogs, and is one of the best in our region.

Can someone explain where this calcium thing comes from?

Thanks

[Mary Beth]

I wouldn't know where the idea started but it is a good thing you checked with your vet before buying another supplement.

[carmspack]

there are many other ingredients of food that assist all ligament and cartilage integrity.

[ImJaxon]

Just FYI folks:

I know that there is a lot of information on the Internet and that lot's of that information travels from site to site to site until it becomes "Internet law".

I'm not someone who wants to be right. I'm just a curious type, and for me I'd rather dig for the facts or consult a professional than worry myself based on what I read on the Internet (which I have done, and maddened myself on multiple subjects over the years). LOL.

So with that said, I don't want to be right, or show everyone they're wrong. I just like information.

For anyone who's interested here's a Wiki article on how cartilage is developed:

Chondrogenesis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I agree with Carmen as well. Quality food is an excellent baseline for good puppy growth.

[GusGus]

Originally Posted by carmspack

there are many other ingredients of food that assist all ligament and cartilage integrity.

So, does calcium actually help? I asked what to help my Dobes ears stand and I got a couple of calcium answers and I also read on DobermanTalk that calcium is good for that as well?

[ImJaxon]

Hey Gus,

Based on my conversation with our vet, who is also a family friend, what I took most from the conversation was this. Calcium will help to support the growth of the bones and jaws and teeth, which are the foundation that the ears sit on. But as far as helping with the ear itself, 100% myth.

He couldn't argue that a strong base for the ears to sit on was a detriment. But he was happy to confirm that from a physiological standpoint calcium does absolutely 0 to help ears stand.

Hope this helps

If it's worth anything to anyone, we got Jaxon a supplement of Dasoquin, which is just glucosamine and chondrotin.

Since he likes yogurt, we give him a bit of it just because he likes it, and for no other reason than his little jaws and teeth are still growing.

[carmspack]

NO .
GSD in the first place are genetically selected to have erect ears , although some of the initial animals integrated into the uniform breed type had drop ears as in the Wurtemberger herding dogs. Dobermann if left to their natural self would have a drop ear (houndy) and a long tail . I have the pleasure to have met an awesome Swedish import male and more recently a female from the same breeder. You wouldn't want the natural drop ear of the Dobermann to stand ! no more than you would want a Bassett hound or Dachshund ear to stand. I knew an "ear artist" that would fly across the continent to crop ears .

[qbchottu]

For ears, give bully sticks and gelatin. Raw trachea, tendons, feet, ligaments.

[ImJaxon]

Agree with bully sticks. He will lay for hours and chew those darn things. Nothing that can do but something good when teething. I freeze them too.

I also blanche carrots, sweet potatoes, apples, bananas to give as frozen treats. Teething pups LOVE to eat cold things. I will even just get his water dish empty and fill it with ice cubes and let him go to town on them. You'd think you'd given him a pot of raw steak if you watched him tear up those ice cubes. So much fun to watch.

[ImJaxon]

Love your PACK Carmen. Nice looking dogs. Especially the Service Dog component.

I am heavily weighing pursuing CARDA certification for Jaxon.

I'm a former military police office with working dog experience, and I miss the service part of my life.

Jaxon is a working dog, so I'm contemplating getting him into a fun, rewarding life like CARDA.