When does a Yorkie's ears stand up?
This process occurs individually for each pet. Some puppies have ears that go up at 10 weeks, some after six months. If they remain hanging after 4, something is probably going wrong. We recommend consulting with your veterinarian before making hasty decisions.
It is possible that one ear is up and the other is hanging. Also sometimes they can fall after some time. For example, due to vaccination.
Care instructions
It is preferable to use a hypoallergenic fabric patch. In second place are paper and silk bases.
Every 2-3 days it is necessary to do dressings, otherwise the ears will become covered with diaper rash. Before re-sealing, wipe the sink with a clean, dry cloth, clean the passages, inspect for inflammation, and massage to restore blood circulation.
It is easier to remove the patch after wetting it with vegetable oil or water. Let the adhesive base soak for 3-4 minutes, then carefully separate from the skin.
If the puppy stubbornly removes the bandages, you need to make sure that he does not feel pain. Simple whims can be stopped with a restrictive collar.
If you are intolerant to the patch, it is better to purchase special glue from a veterinary pharmacy. It is used to glue the ends of the ear triangles, turning them outward.
Why don't my ears hold up?
There are several reasons why a Yorkie's ears won't stay on:
Calcium deficiency
Often the time when a puppy's ears should go up coincides with the change of baby teeth. To simultaneously strengthen cartilage and grow molars, your pet needs double the amount of calcium. If there is a lack of calcium, add vitamins and supplements to your pet's diet.
If you feed your puppy natural food, feed it a spoonful of cottage cheese every day. Gelatin is rich in calcium: it should be added to food in small quantities.
Wool
A Yorkie's coat that is too long interferes with the proper development of the ears. In this case, the fur needs to be trimmed carefully.
Genetic defect
An honest breeder immediately warns the future owner about the puppy’s defects. If you adopted a Yorkie from an unprofessional breeder or through an acquaintance, the likelihood of a defect increases. Only surgery will help you position your ears correctly when they are deviated.
We advise you not to dock your dog. She still won’t be able to take part in exhibitions. Docking will only bring suffering to the animal.
Genetic defects also include:
- problem with cartilage and/or circulation;
- ears are too big.
According to breeders, vaccination may be one of the reasons for drooping ears.
Why do you need to put ears on?
Previously, the Yorkshire Terrier breed standard allowed ears that were not fully erect. After 1990, international requirements became stricter. From then on, the ears of a puppy who has reached the age of six months should be:
- pointed shape;
- medium size;
- set high, but not wide;
- covered with fine wool.
When a German Shepherd's ears stand up: how to place them
Compliance with the conditions described above is necessary for Yorkies who are going to take part in exhibitions. If the dog was purchased as a pet, there is no need to be upset if some condition does not meet the requirements.
Important! Sagging ears do not affect the dog's hearing or health in any way.
What to do if they don't rise?
If your puppy's ears do not go up, first contact your veterinarian to accurately determine the cause and not harm the animal. After the consultation, the veterinarian will give recommendations, and you can do everything necessary on your own.
Tips for setting up your Yorkie's ears:
- Fix your Yorkie's ears no earlier than at the age of 4-5 months;
- if your Yorkie begins to whine or behave strangely, remove the fastenings;
- do not keep the glue on the puppy for more than one week;
- be sure to trim the fur before applying the patch;
- secure the structures better, because the Yorkie strives to pull off the foreign body.
Removing excess hair
If the auricle does not bend completely, but only the tips sag, most likely the reason is that the coat is too thick. Removing the excess helps reduce ear strain. The fur is cut with scissors or shaved with a trimmer from the outside.
The hairs inside the ears can be plucked. There are no nerve endings in the ear canal of Yorkshire Terriers, so the procedure is painless. It also has a positive effect on ear straightening.
Removing excess fur from the ears
Ear placement methods
Experienced breeders recommend trying haircuts coupled with massage as the most gentle methods. If this does not help, proceed to gluing.
A haircut
The simplest thing you can do to raise your ears is to trim them a little. For this:
- Clean your work surface. You will need: scissors or a trimmer, tweezers, a towel (to hold your Yorkie), cotton swabs, peroxide (an antibacterial agent).
- Bathe your Yorkie and carefully remove water from the ears using a cotton swab.
- Lightly dip a clean cotton swab into the antibacterial solution. Gently disinfect the inside of the ear. Remove excess hairs with tweezers.
- Grab the outer edge of your ear. Lightly comb the puppy to define the boundaries. Trim the fur from top to bottom, then go through it with a trimmer.
Repeat the haircut every few weeks to prevent the hair from becoming overgrown. Remember, the procedure must be carried out carefully and under sterile conditions.
Bonding with adhesive tape
To attach this method, you will need a roll of plaster (sold at any pharmacy) and scissors. Procedure:
- Trim your Yorkie a little. How to do this - see above.
- Take a piece of the patch and wrap it around your ear, without twisting it into a tube. Don't touch the fur. Do a similar procedure with the second ear.
- Once both ears are taped, secure them in an upright position with duct tape.
A Yorkie should not wear this design for more than a week. After a week everything should level out. If necessary, make a dressing.
Tip: to avoid unnecessary pain when removing the patch, moisten its ends with vegetable oil before removing. Over a long period of wearing, the patch sticks to the puppy’s delicate skin. Discomfort or irritation may occur if not handled carefully.
"Wand"
In addition to the patches, you will need cotton swabs. First remove the cotton wool from them so that only the rod remains. Owners of Yorkies advise filing the ends with a file so as not to injure the dog. It is advisable to moisten the ends of the sticks with an antiseptic, then dry.
Following are the instructions:
- Disinfect your ears.
- Cut two pieces of adhesive tape. They should be larger than the stem of the wand but smaller than the Yorkie's ear.
- Place the stick on the sticky side. Cover it with the second piece of adhesive tape. You need to do the same with the second stick.
- Place a simple device vertically into each ear. Secure with another piece of tape. It is important that the structure holds up well. The puppy must not damage it or remove it.
Using veterinary glue
- Buy special glue for dogs at the pet store.
- Glue the tips of the Yorkie's ears so that they stick out. The inner side must be unfolded.
- After a week, wash off the glue.
Massage to restore blood flow
Give your Yorkie a daily massage for quick results. Using your thumb and forefinger, gently move from the base of your ear to the tip about 5-6 times. Repeat the procedure several times a day. Combined with the methods described above, massage will give excellent results.
Help needed
First, feel your pet's ears to assess the thickness of the ear cartilage. This can happen if the puppy's mother was poorly fed during pregnancy and lactation. As a result, due to a lack of vitamins and minerals, the Yorkshire terrier's ears do not stand up in due time. Also, the baby’s ear muscles may be underdeveloped for the same reason or due to a genetic predisposition.
To correct this situation, it is necessary to add special additives to the Yorkshire Terrier's food: calcium, glucosamine, fish oil, chondroitin. Be sure to consult with your veterinarian about the doses and how many times a day you should give the medications to avoid overdose.
You can also add a gelatin solution to your pet’s food once a day (dissolve five grams of powdered gelatin in two hundred milliliters of warm water).
If your dog's ears do not stand up during teeth changes or routine vaccinations, add food supplements high in calcium and phosphorus. You can purchase supplements for decorative breeds at any veterinary store. Be sure to read the included instructions.
Medicines and supplements alone may not be enough, so you need to combine them with ear cartilage massage. You need to insert your index finger shallowly inside your ear, leaving your thumb outside. Using gentle circular motions, pull each ear from its base to the very tip. Repeat these movements several times a day, as often as possible.
If the ears still do not stand up, perhaps the reason lies in the large amount of hair. It will have to be removed using scissors or an animal clipper. Carefully remove the hair from the ends of the ears on both sides. It is not necessary to completely cut off each ear - up to half will be enough. Repeat the procedure every week.
Are you doing everything you're supposed to do, but your baby's ears still aren't working? Then you will have to move on to more radical methods - start gluing them. This can be done in one of the following ways.
Advice from breeders and dog owners
Marina “Well, Betty and I suffered a lot! We were told to cut first, then glue. It’s easier to get the dog’s hair cut completely, and at the same time the ears will be trimmed. And after that you can glue it.”
Natalya “I know one breeder, she bought a male dog from one of the nurseries for breeding and exhibitions. By six months his ears were no longer erect. This is how we went to exhibitions: two hours before the event we glued our ears with adhesive tape. They stood for a couple of hours, then returned to a hanging position. Maybe they teased me with something else, I don’t know for sure. It's a complete torment for the dog. My opinion is this: before getting a Yorkie, read the literature and ask other breeders. The puppy was definitely cheap, but that’s another topic…”
Taping ears
Adhesive tape is considered an unsafe means for setting ears, as it can cause severe irritation to the animal's skin. But the method also has an advantage - the tape is a lightweight material that does not put pressure on the blood vessels and, unlike a patch, it sticks less to the hairs.
The technique for applying tape is the same as for the folding method. The shaved ear is covered with a wide strip of adhesive tape, and both ears are secured with a “bridge.”
