Member

Posts: 27
From:Oklahoma
Registered: Dec 2003

posted 01-22-2004 08:49 AM         

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Our 7 mth old pup was diagnosed with an ear infection. The vet prescribed ear drops for her (Oto Sooth 15GM) I have to give her 5 drops in each ear twice a day for TWO weeks! This wouldn't not be so bad but as soon as she sees the medicine she takes off. So I hide it and sweet talk her - but as soon as she figures out what I am doing she begins to fight. It is such a struggle to get one drop in let alone 5 and then I still have the other ear to do . After I finish I go overboard with the praises. Any suggestions on how I can get the ear drops in her ears????

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Registered: Sep 2003

posted 01-22-2004 09:03 AM         

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I haven't had to deal with this, but can you distract her with some sort of favorite chew to get her to hold still? I have had better luck clipping Nala's toenails if she has something yummy to chew on. And if she is sleepy.

When we had to give her eyedrops - 2 in each eye twice a day - it was a two person affair. My husband sat on her and I dropped...

Jamiya

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Posts: 117
From:Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 01-22-2004 09:20 AM         

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It might help if you can "load" all five drops into a regular eyedropper so you can squirt them in all at once rather than one drop at a time. Of course Jamiya's technique of one person sitting on the dog while the other drops also works well. LOL. I can picture that.

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posted 01-22-2004 09:28 AM         

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You should have seen the day I tried to have my son (11 years old and built like a bean pole) help me instead of my husband.

He grabbed hold of her collar with both hands and I grabbed her muzzle with one hand while prying her eye open and dropping drops in with the other.

My husband would put her in a sit in front of him (facing away) and then kneel over her so that most of her was stuffed between his legs. Then he'd hold her muzzle with one hand and tip her head up. I'd hold the eye open and drop the drops in.

I hated to have to do it that way, but for one week there wasn't an acceptable alternative. I have been trying to teach her "settle" but so far the most reliable way to get her to stop wiggling and hold still is if you grab her muzzle. That quiets her down for some reason.

Jamiya

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Posts: 27
From:Oklahoma
Registered: Dec 2003

posted 01-22-2004 11:46 AM         

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I have tried distracting her with a toy - it helped some but then she starts to struggle and fight and she may only be 12lbs but she always wins It's only myself and my 9 yrs old daughter (who is the size of a 6,7 yr old ) and I know Sadie is getting a good laugh at us
dukesdad, actually I was just thinking of that very thing I'm going to try it and let u know if it works ...

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Posts: 1179
From:,Calif. U.S.A.
Registered: Dec 2002

posted 01-22-2004 11:46 AM         

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JRs: once you get that ear infection dealt with why don't you check out Thornit powder. It is a miracle product. My poodle used to get red irritated ears yearly until I started puttin this powder in her ears twice a month. No more ear infections of ugly brown wax. They only sell it overseas but it is well worth it. I know I've saved money in vet costs just from using it.

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From:Portland, Oregon US
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 01-22-2004 11:57 AM         

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I have to use ear drops with Witt alot, he has teeny tiny ear canals so it's constantly paying attention and making sure they are clean and no infection developing. I don't have much trouble with him though, maybe because of our battle over doing nails he has learned I will win so he just puts up with it...I don't know. Eye drops were easy! Both dogs just stood in front of me and let me do it, I actually think Dooley liked it! This may be because I am always messing with their eyes, I wipe away any crusties or whatever ad I do wash their faces with a wet wash cloth daily. They are used to me messing with their faces.
I am very firm about it when I say "stay" they know I mean it. I just put Witt on a down stay on the floor and guide him to his side, I tell him stay again and do the drops, if he starts to get up I tell him stay again. The good boys and lovin's are saved for afterwards.
Maybe try peanut butter on a spoon, let her lick it while you do the drops, this wouldn't work for me because the moving around would make it hard to get the drops in, but it may for you. This is what i was told to do with Witt for nail clipping...ya right! He could have cared less if I had had a loondon broil in my hand. But it may work for what you are doing. I gave up on the "tricks and tips" and just got firm about it. My husband says .."you are so mean!" But when his dogs leg was split open guess who was able to clean it and bandage it?

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From:Portland, Oregon US
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 01-22-2004 12:00 PM         

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PS...Duke is right, use a syringe or don't bother counting. If you watch your vet administer them...they are not counting the drops! remember some of it will get shaken out so don't obcess about getting too many in there. I only have to do mine for 7 days...14 seems a long time.

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From:Oklahoma
Registered: Dec 2003

posted 01-23-2004 09:58 AM         

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IT WORKED! I put the drops in a syringe - she still put up a fight but because it was administered in one shot it made it a lot easier.....thx
I am most definitely going to get some of the thornit powder. If I don't get it I think ear infections will be an ongoing problem.Sadie is a miniature schnauzer and her ear are not cropped (heard that this can make a difference and have heard that it doesn't - but I think her floopy ears are so cute). Also, I don't think her hair in her ears have ever been pulled (I just got her) so I will start having this done on a regular basis. I understand that this also can result in getting ear infections more frequently.

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From:,Calif. U.S.A.
Registered: Dec 2002

posted 01-23-2004 10:21 AM         

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I think that if the ear hair is left to grow and then pulled out it can make the ear red and irritated and thats when bacteria and infection can set in. So just plucking whatever is there maybe weekly instead of pulling a few months worth of growth is much better. Did you read about ears at the thornit site. www.championpets.co.uk

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From:Portland, Oregon US
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 01-23-2004 11:33 AM         

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With Witt if I get any water in his ears while bathing him or worse when he goes swimming...he will undoubtedly come up with an ear infection. His canals are so small that the moisture stays. Since I have been being careful and drying his ears well after swims and such I have had no problems.

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From:,Calif. U.S.A.
Registered: Dec 2002

posted 01-23-2004 11:50 AM         

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It seems so weird that people so when you give your dog a bath not to get water in their ears. Gosh, isn't that what alot of breeds were intended to do, hunting and swimming to go get that duck pheasant etc.. Totally insane. I guess way back when, there must have been alot of dogs dieing because of really bad ear infections. What do you think.

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From:Portland, Oregon US
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 01-23-2004 12:23 PM         

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Witt is a mix and although Catahoulas are swimming swamp dogs, Shar-Peis are not and he definately has the Pei ears. He has been cursed with the love of water but ears that can't dry themselves out!

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From:Oklahoma
Registered: Dec 2003

posted 01-27-2004 08:06 PM         

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Sadie has gotten really good at taking her ear drops - I put it in a syringe like suggested and I start giving her a belly rub and baby talking her then I start scratching her all around her ears and quickly put the medicine while scratching her ears...I have to hide the syringe in my hand cause she looks around to see what is in my hand and see what I'm up too - if she sees the syringe she will start putting up a fight - she thinks she's so smart - but I'm smarter lol...but sometimes she makes me question who really is the smarter one lol

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