Prydenjoy Posted July 14, 2011 Share Posted July 14, 2011 Is it possible to break a newborns ear while rubbing it vigorously to get it breathing? My sister was here when the pups were born, she's a vet nurse and when the first one was born gasping for air she gave it a good rub for about 10 minutes until it was breathing normally. She joked after that she think she broke its ear, as it was sitting differently afterwards. Now they are 4 weeks old and the little ears have dropped forwards, all but one ear on this one pup (there are only two pups), which kind of curls backwards. Is it possible that she broke it? Should I be doing something to encourage it to sit like the other, like taping or something? Of course their ears aren't supposed to fold over, either (they're Papillons), but it is a normal part of their ear development. I'm just worried this little puppy will have an ear that curls backwards for life! Please tell me I'm just being silly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oakway Posted July 14, 2011 Share Posted July 14, 2011 I have just copied this from the standard. Do you mean Phalene Ears: The ears should be large and mobile with rounded tips, heavily fringed, set towards the back of the head far enough apart to show the slightly rounded shape of the skull. The ears must be completely erect or dropped. When the ears are erect they must be carried obliquely like the spread wings of a butterfly, therefore the name, Papillon. When the ears are dropped they must be completely dropped, and this type is known as the Phalene (moth). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prydenjoy Posted July 15, 2011 Author Share Posted July 15, 2011 Thanks Oakway, but not Phalene. It's quite usual for Papillon puppies to go through stages where their ears drop forwards, such as with their ears at the moment, except for this one ear, which actually curls back... It's hard to explain and I wish my SD reader was working so I could upload pics! I'm taking mum to the vet in a moment anyway, so will ask them and hopefully get an answer - But I know often experienced breeders have sometimes come across more things like this than a country vet ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paptacular! Posted July 15, 2011 Share Posted July 15, 2011 When I went to Portia's breeder to have her mated, she had a pup with ears that curled back, at around 4 weeks old. She wasn't concerned about it and believed they would come right. I've never asked about the outcome though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prydenjoy Posted July 15, 2011 Author Share Posted July 15, 2011 Could you ask about the outcome please? I've been assured that ears do strange things and not to worry about it, but I'm still feeling like this Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Baggins Posted July 15, 2011 Share Posted July 15, 2011 Could you ask about the outcome please? I've been assured that ears do strange things and not to worry about it, but I'm still feeling like this I suggest you contact an experienced pap breeder and get some hints. GSD's often need ears taping. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patters Posted July 15, 2011 Share Posted July 15, 2011 I don't think your baby's ear is broken! Ears are all over the place for weeks, sometimes months. My last litter, one had both ears up at 5 weeks, one at 8 weeks, the third had me re-re-re-checking the pedigree for Phalenes as both his were still firmly down at 10 weeks! Then they started to flop around a bit when he ran for the next couple of weeks, to be fully up and huge at 13 weeks. The next time ears want to switch around is teething, but I haven't experienced this. A US contributor to another list, came home one day to her 3-year-old Phalene having both ears erect. 2 days later, they were down again. EARS!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullbreedlover Posted July 15, 2011 Share Posted July 15, 2011 Ears are made up of cartilage. In alot of breeds the ear set can be incorrect and while the cartilage is still setting ears will be all over the place. In alot of cases if the ears are not sitting correctly they are called soft ears. French Bulldogs can have a problem of a soft ear set. You can cause an injury to the ear cartilage or the cartilage may be malformed. hopefully it will come right with time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toy dog Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 i had a little bitch called pride n joy, yes, it will right itself i believe, i had a baby boy chihuahua that had both his ears curling backwards and i just massaged everyday for a few minutes pulling them forward to where they should be and over time i think by 8, 9 weeks his ears were in the right position. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toy dog Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 (edited) Is it possible to break a newborns ear while rubbing it vigorously to get it breathing? My sister was here when the pups were born, she's a vet nurse and when the first one was born gasping for air she gave it a good rub for about 10 minutes until it was breathing normally. She joked after that she think she broke its ear, as it was sitting differently afterwards. Now they are 4 weeks old and the little ears have dropped forwards, all but one ear on this one pup (there are only two pups), which kind of curls backwards. Is it possible that she broke it? Should I be doing something to encourage it to sit like the other, like taping or something? Of course their ears aren't supposed to fold over, either (they're Papillons), but it is a normal part of their ear development. I'm just worried this little puppy will have an ear that curls backwards for life! Please tell me I'm just being silly no i don't think you're being silly, a valid worry. i was very worried i've never seen it in 26 years of breeding and owning my breed so yeah....ETA asked a few more experienced breeders and they couldn't really answer the question they hadn't seen it either. Edited July 20, 2011 by toy dog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paptacular! Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 And Portia's breeder hasn't replied to my email either, so can't even tell you what happened with her pup. She didn't seem worried though, she seemed to think this girl would have big ears! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirislin Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 I've seen 2 adult whippets with dropped ears, I dont know what the correct term is, that's just my term, the ear seems to be set lower than the other, I dont know if it's a defect they're born with or caused by an injury shortly after birth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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