Ear Drops - Application

[Jed]

Quick fix - maybe Get him somewhere small, with his head in the corner - get astride him, with your knees over his shoulders, grip his shoulders as if you were riding. Put one hand under his chin, pull his head back, hold his flews if you need to. Then insert drops. Change hands to do the other side. You'll find you are short one hand - stapling his ears together on top of his head will help!!

Sounds easy, will look like riding the mechanical bull at the pub after 20 rums :D Take a video?

Permanent fix. As the worlds most hopeless trainer, and laziest dog owner, I teach the dogs to lie on their backs, and each side, totally relaxed. I stroke and rub them when they are doing this. Particularly around the head. Reasonably firm touch, once they find out they wont be harmed, and they gain their confidence about being vunerable, they love it. Circles around the brow and forehead, gently pull the ear leathers.

He'll protest when you begin, because he will feel vunerable, and at 22 months, he can fight. I'd do it on the floor, you sit down, and maybe begin with his head on your lap, and him lying on his brisket. When you have him on his side or back, if he struggles, restrain him, and make soothing noises till he is still.

Next pup you get, teach it as a pup. I teach all the pups I breed to do this, so new owners don't have problems with ear or eye drops. It also helps with toenail clipping too. And if they are injured, they will be reasonably relaxed at the vets.

When I buy a new dog, I have to teach it, so we go through the stuggles, legs in the air, trying to escape, and I do wish everyone would teach their pups this.

Mine just lie there while I squirt anything/everything into their ears and eyes, or stick my fingers in their mouths. They've learned it doesn't hurt, although they don't like it much, but they get belly scratches and head rubs too, so they have a trade off. And after a while, they enjoy it. Doing their ears is a 2 second job. They lie there like flour sacks. Honest

My friends can't believe it, but it is only training, after all.

If you teach this before he needs anything else in his ears, next time will be a walk in the park.

I wish people who wrote books on bringing up pups included this, because it makes life so much easier.

And if you breed, having the bitches relaxed on their backs and sides makes so much difference when they are whelping, or after they whelp. I can usually feel the number of pups in utero, because the bitches are relaxed, and when there is no tension, it's easy.

[Erny]

Permanent fix. As the worlds most hopeless trainer, and laziest dog owner, I teach the dogs to lie on their backs, and each side, totally relaxed. I stroke and rub them when they are doing this. Particularly around the head. Reasonably firm touch, once they find out they wont be harmed, and they gain their confidence about being vunerable, they love it. Circles around the brow and forehead, gently pull the ear leathers.

Thanks Jed but I can do all of this with him. But he won't allow it when it comes to ear drops. I don't have enough arms/hands to restrain him in this position. And for the fact that it obviously did hurt him when I first began the drops, I can't help feeling it is a betrayal of the very trust he puts in me to be able to have him in such a vulnerable position.

I have no problems doing his nails. He lays with me on his mat for this, whilst I dremel them.

I am managing the ear drops better now - as is he. He still hates it and is not exactly what I would call in 'relaxed compliance' mode, but it is improving.

Next pup you get, teach it as a pup.

This I did, and I am able to wipe his ears out in this manner, even though he dislikes that too. But not the drops.

Edited April 3, 2010 by Erny

[Mas1981]

I agree 100% with your view on antibiotics and I dont think I will allow my dog to have cortisone again, makes him feel terrible. I also agree that when the infection is too far gone that the colloidal may not always clear it up. I also prefer to leave the ear well enough alone when i can, however when he starts to scratch the ear its the colloidal every day for 5 days and then i go to every second day for 5 and every 3rd and so on.... seems to be helping. I cant remember from your other posts but what is Mandela eating at the moment?

[Lab_Rat]

Great post Jed! I managed to teach my ridgy a few good things while she was growing up - however she still resists being layed down! Need to work on that! She gets her nails done like a horse is fine with fingers in ears, mouth and other orifices.

Erny - poor Mandela....... and You! Im so glad his ears are recovering.

I reckon he was responding better to the ear drops application because something you were projecting changed! Thats my observation anyway and Im sticking to it :D

I do remember when horse training the slightest change in attitude and energy (from me) had the most amazing affects on the horse and how it behaved!

Hope your boy improves out sight, neither of you deserves to be going through this stuff constantly!

Rat

[Erny]

I agree 100% with your view on antibiotics and I dont think I will allow my dog to have cortisone again, makes him feel terrible. I also agree that when the infection is too far gone that the colloidal may not always clear it up. I also prefer to leave the ear well enough alone when i can, however when he starts to scratch the ear its the colloidal every day for 5 days and then i go to every second day for 5 and every 3rd and so on.... seems to be helping. I cant remember from your other posts but what is Mandela eating at the moment?

He's on a raw diet, although it's a diet that I'm not satisfied as being 'balanced' atm. The problem being that he goes "off" various meats. He's "off" raw meat just now, and for 2 weeks I've had to cook his meat. Predominantly chicken. Not what I wanted to do, but he's too lean to be able to take the 'bad luck, that's all you get' tactic. In addition to the meat he is on Digestivite (nutrients), Intestomine, Omega Blend Oil, Enzyme tabs (can't remember the name without looking it up), Vitamin C. He's not long ago finished a stint of tissue salts and some gastro drops for his stomach. There was also another holistic substance which tasted (and smelt) foul - I used to syringe that down his throat - it made a big difference to his coat and stool condition (prescribed by naturopath). I offer chicken wings during the day as well and for the most part he's been eating them, although he left the two I gave him yesterday so I didn't bother offering more today. I cooked up some beef meat mince and up until recently he was enjoying that in between the chicken (wouldn't eat it raw though) but in the last two days he has gone off that. Sardines he gets once or twice a week. Occasionally a raw egg, although he refused the one I offered him a few days or so ago. Won't touch roo mince (cooked some up the other day, to see if that would make a difference - he ate only a small mouth full). Up until last October he would happily eat it, but then he went off it and won't touch it since. Once in a blue moon he'll have a good gnaw on a roo tail, but it seems he needs it to sit in the sun for a day or two - perhaps to dry out the meat a little and reduce the richness of it . But that has been too difficult to allow, as it only attracts the flies and maggots and, worse, the european wasps. Won't touch lamb necks - that was the first food he went 'off' when his digestive woes began about 13 months ago. Has turkey mince every now and again - sometimes he'll eat it, sometimes he'll walk away from it. His food treats are roo jerky and he's enjoyed them, up until 2 weeks ago, when he went off them too. Although now he's started back to them - not over the top about them like he once was. Was good with BARF Rabbit for a stint - was the only thing he would eat, for a while. But now won't touch that either, unless it is a blue moon.

As a pup he was introduced to many different raw foods (including vegies and fruit) and he loved them all. He won't touch anything vegetable now and only very occasionally and semi-reluctantly will have a small piece of a banana that I might be eating. Once in a blue moon he'll take a piece of apple. Won't touch carrots, yet as a pup they were one of his favourite treats (other favourite was a few raw peas at a time).

Edited April 3, 2010 by Erny

[Erny]

I reckon he was responding better to the ear drops application because something you were projecting changed! Thats my observation anyway and Im sticking to it :D

You could be right, Lab_Rat. Perhaps just the fact that I steeled myself to getting it done and done as swiftly as I could lent me a more determined ..... ummmm, determination, perhaps. He bucked around tonight a fair bit, although didn't react as violently to the drops themselves once I got them in. Perhaps I relaxed on it and took for granted his improved response a little too much. So yes, there could be something in what you say. Lordy, he's strong and so much more noticeably so when I only have one arm with which to hold him. I'm quite amazed with how dexterous I've become in using my legs and feet to help hold him in place .

I do remember when horse training the slightest change in attitude and energy (from me) had the most amazing affects on the horse and how it behaved!

I agree. You ever read Sally Swift's "Centred Riding"? That made a big difference in my riding career. And the fact that after reading the book I happens-chanced to meet up with a riding instructor who was taught by Sally Swift (this person was even mentioned in the book). Wow, what a difference both the book and that instruction made to me, and my horse.

Hope your boy improves out sight, neither of you deserves to be going through this stuff constantly!

Thanks, Rat. I appreciate that and I agree. I feel more for my boy. He's only 22 months and no dog that young should be having to have all the medical type attentions he's had in this space of time. That's what's not fair. He's got to be one of the most poked and probed young dogs around. Presuming we get through this, lack of man-handling won't be an issue and won't have done him harm to have learnt the compliance he already has.

Edited April 3, 2010 by Erny

[Lab_Rat]

Geez Erny - your post at the end of page three - the history of Mandelas dramas - made me cry

You are right when you say its not fair for such a young dog to have had so many troubles! My girls slight issues seem like nothing compared to your boy

I cannot believe that conventional vet medicine hasnt been able to pinpoint what is wrong with the poor little guy. I know I would have pulled all my hair out by now and probably be on the verge of some sort of breakdown!

Im presuming hes been tested for all manner of things, that youve been through quite a number of vets?

Have they just looked at the physical side of things? What Ive been wondering is if he is suffering from anorexia? I know it sounds a tad weird, but who knows? And it does exist in dogs and cats! I was also wondering if it may be something hormone related - theres lots of those running around our bodies!!

I really do hope you find an answer soon - I feel strongly for you both!

Take care and give the big boofer a hug from us here!

Rat

[Erny]

Hi Rat - thanks for the sympathy and yes, he's been a great deal of work and very time consuming for me. I've been to Vets. That's a bit of a story in itself and I don't really feel inclined to relate it on a public forum. Another Vet after prescribing antibiotics (which I gave him against my better judgement and which made his stomach and stools bad - coincidentally perhaps but that was around the time he started going off food) wanted to refer to a specialist Vet - that was ages ago and the initial symptom for which I went was mucous in his stool (this was the first sign of things not being as well as they could be). I checked with the specialist Vet and they suggested the first thing they'd do was put him under GA and endoscope him. I made the decision then (supported by another Vet) that GA wasn't going to help his system and also that it was likely to be an academic exercise. They would tell me his stomach/bowel was upset. I already knew that.

All the other symptoms he has been showing are likely to lead to recommended treatments such as antibiotics and cortisone. That, IMO, isn't really what he needs either. I'm going this (hard) the naturopathic way. I'm watching. And I'm giving his system every chance I can give it to steady itself.

If you saw me walking out as I did this morning with him, you would think "what a lovely looking dog". His coat is good as is his demeanour. I don't want to talk about his hives in case I jinx things. Interdigital cysts seem to be improving although that's a gradual thing. I am hoping (against hope, perhaps) that maturation will have him stabilise. I confer with his naturopath regularly and also went the 'hair sample' route, at the beginning. I watch him like a hawk. It's tiring at times, and yes it is disheartening when things start looking good and then go backwards, but we just keep working on things to improve his system and managing symptoms along the way.

Rat - it's not that bad. Overall he's a happy dog and we spend a good amount of time larking and laughing. He is interested in the world and we enjoy our training. He'll run like the wind when we go out somewhere he can be off-lead. He's very alert and cheeky. I have hope and that is a huge plus. I remember my avatar girl, when her condition was realised and we knew there was nothing I could do and that the end of her time was near and inevitable. THAT is bad and much worse. Mandela has symptoms and yes I feel sorry for him for all the poking and probing I have to do, but it's not that bad. It could be far far worse. And if that's what it becomes, then I will look at the conventional Veterinary medications/treatments if that's what I end up having to do. At the moment though, the naturopathic treatments seem to be getting us through (although sometimes frustratingly slowly) one symptom and another.

She'll be right .

[Lab_Rat]

Thanks for that Erny! Hey - could you put up a couple of photos of Mandela?? I would love to see him.

Rat

[Erny]

I will. I was going to put one up with my previous post, but I'm getting ready for a wedding - I think there are photos in my camera but I need to download. Will do when I have a tad more time.

I'm wearing a dress! Can't believe it! First time I've done that in a long time .

[Miss Monster]

I will. I was going to put one up with my previous post, but I'm getting ready for a wedding - I think there are photos in my camera but I need to download. Will do when I have a tad more time.

I'm wearing a dress! Can't believe it! First time I've done that in a long time .

Can't wait to see pics of him Erny (and would love to see one of you in a dress too )

I really don't envy you.... I can't imagine having to do anything to Bakari that he didn't want me too - He's 55kg!

[Mas1981]

I agree 100% with your view on antibiotics and I dont think I will allow my dog to have cortisone again, makes him feel terrible. I also agree that when the infection is too far gone that the colloidal may not always clear it up. I also prefer to leave the ear well enough alone when i can, however when he starts to scratch the ear its the colloidal every day for 5 days and then i go to every second day for 5 and every 3rd and so on.... seems to be helping. I cant remember from your other posts but what is Mandela eating at the moment?

He's on a raw diet, although it's a diet that I'm not satisfied as being 'balanced' atm. The problem being that he goes "off" various meats. He's "off" raw meat just now, and for 2 weeks I've had to cook his meat. Predominantly chicken. Not what I wanted to do, but he's too lean to be able to take the 'bad luck, that's all you get' tactic. In addition to the meat he is on Digestivite (nutrients), Intestomine, Omega Blend Oil, Enzyme tabs (can't remember the name without looking it up), Vitamin C. He's not long ago finished a stint of tissue salts and some gastro drops for his stomach. There was also another holistic substance which tasted (and smelt) foul - I used to syringe that down his throat - it made a big difference to his coat and stool condition (prescribed by naturopath). I offer chicken wings during the day as well and for the most part he's been eating them, although he left the two I gave him yesterday so I didn't bother offering more today. I cooked up some beef meat mince and up until recently he was enjoying that in between the chicken (wouldn't eat it raw though) but in the last two days he has gone off that. Sardines he gets once or twice a week. Occasionally a raw egg, although he refused the one I offered him a few days or so ago. Won't touch roo mince (cooked some up the other day, to see if that would make a difference - he ate only a small mouth full). Up until last October he would happily eat it, but then he went off it and won't touch it since. Once in a blue moon he'll have a good gnaw on a roo tail, but it seems he needs it to sit in the sun for a day or two - perhaps to dry out the meat a little and reduce the richness of it . But that has been too difficult to allow, as it only attracts the flies and maggots and, worse, the european wasps. Won't touch lamb necks - that was the first food he went 'off' when his digestive woes began about 13 months ago. Has turkey mince every now and again - sometimes he'll eat it, sometimes he'll walk away from it. His food treats are roo jerky and he's enjoyed them, up until 2 weeks ago, when he went off them too. Although now he's started back to them - not over the top about them like he once was. Was good with BARF Rabbit for a stint - was the only thing he would eat, for a while. But now won't touch that either, unless it is a blue moon.

As a pup he was introduced to many different raw foods (including vegies and fruit) and he loved them all. He won't touch anything vegetable now and only very occasionally and semi-reluctantly will have a small piece of a banana that I might be eating. Once in a blue moon he'll take a piece of apple. Won't touch carrots, yet as a pup they were one of his favourite treats (other favourite was a few raw peas at a time).

Wow he must be really difficult to feed!!!

I was just asking because I seem remember him being on raw but I wasnt 100% sure and I was just going to say that if he was eating anything with yeast in then the ears may take longer to clear. I feed Mason about 3/4 kibble ( yeast and soy free) and a quarter raw but he cant digest bones so he only gets boneless meat or mince, usually beef or roo. I am lucky with my lab tho as he will eat a piece of paper off the floor if i let him and my 2 ridgies were the same Funny you should mention him going off the roo meat though as a friends pup had been getting roo meat with VAN and she suddenly wouldnt touch the roo meat all of a sudden, she stopped eating it for about 2 weeks and then one day decided to eat it again .

[Erny]

I have lots of variations of these of Mandela doing zoomies. I'm not a great photographer and he is fast and I often find my camera zoom isn't fast enough to move in or out according to how far away from me is. These were taken on or around 30th March. He just decided it was zoomie time - there isn't anything that he's chasing. He's just running for sheer sake and joy of running. And of course, being a Ridgy, there was a lot of coursing involved .

Masons Mom - There's nothing that I feed that would contain yeast, to my knowledge.

Edited April 5, 2010 by Erny

[Erny]

This one's really grainy. It was on a long zoom and he was moving really quickly. Apologies for the insult such a poor quality photo must be to the eyes of those who are really good at photography.

Edited April 5, 2010 by Erny

[Erny]

[Jed]

Permanent fix. As the worlds most hopeless trainer, and laziest dog owner, I teach the dogs to lie on their backs, and each side, totally relaxed. I stroke and rub them when they are doing this. Particularly around the head. Reasonably firm touch, once they find out they wont be harmed, and they gain their confidence about being vunerable, they love it. Circles around the brow and forehead, gently pull the ear leathers.

Thanks Jed but I can do all of this with him. But he won't allow it when it comes to ear drops. I don't have enough arms/hands to restrain him in this position. And for the fact that it obviously did hurt him when I first began the drops, I can't help feeling it is a betrayal of the very trust he puts in me to be able to have him in such a vulnerable position.

I have no problems doing his nails. He lays with me on his mat for this, whilst I dremel them.

I am managing the ear drops better now - as is he. He still hates it and is not exactly what I would call in 'relaxed compliance' mode, but it is improving.

Next pup you get, teach it as a pup.

This I did, and I am able to wipe his ears out in this manner, even though he dislikes that too. But not the drops.

He's way too smart

Or maybe mine are just terrified enough to lie there?

[Mas1981]

I have lots of variations of these of Mandela doing zoomies. I'm not a great photographer and he is fast and I often find my camera zoom isn't fast enough to move in or out according to how far away from me is. These were taken on or around 30th March. He just decided it was zoomie time - there isn't anything that he's chasing. He's just running for sheer sake and joy of running. And of course, being a Ridgy, there was a lot of coursing involved .

Masons Mom - There's nothing that I feed that would contain yeast, to my knowledge.

No it doesnt sound like it from what you have listed

My shutter speed is also not quick enough to catch my boys zoomies. I had 2 ridgeback x sisters and the one used to zoom and the other didnt.

[Cosmolo]

Just wanted to say i do sympathise Erny- while we don't have the same issues, we sometimes struggle with Dexter- getting tablets into him and then getting him to eat during the same time frame he has to get tablets.

He can smell a tablet in ANY food so we just have to shove them down his throat- but he then becomes suspicious of anything we try to feed him as he thinks it may have a tablet in it- he will refuse anything, even his favourite training treats or roast chicken! And he gets that stressed when we give him tablets that he salivates and shakes. And unfortunately he has had to have many more tablets in his short life than any dog should so it becomes a vicious circle.

Wishing Mandela well- he looks beautiful in the photos.

[laeral]

I hope the ear drop saga is getting easier Erny

OMG What a gorgeous boy. Such a handsome face

[Miss Monster]

Oh wow... Look at that head!

He's gorgeous!