I'm desparate--tips for getting ear drops in

[lovemyshiba]

Poor Jada has an ear infection.
I picked up the drops from my vet last week, and it is not going well. It is such a struggle to get these in her ears. She weighs 85 pounds, and my husband and I both struggle with her.

We have tried treats, kongs, peanut butter, waiting until she is asleep, sneaking up on her--I don't know what else.

We are getting some in, but I think more of it is going on the floor, because she bolts as soon as it is coming!!

If I can't figure out a good way to do this, I wonder if there is something she can take orally to help her ears.

Any advice?

[lv4dogs]

Ussually there is nothing orally available for ear infections? Do you know what type of infection?

Do you know how the vets & techs hold dogs? That is the best technique ever, very very hard to explain without actually seeing it. Maybe bring her in to the vets & have them show you?

You also have to be very very stern. Yell at her if needed & always praise when she's good. The bad part is once she knows she can get away she will try even harder everytime after. Maybe back her in a corner and you & hubby hold her down??

other than thay you have tried all other options (except maybe really yummy treats, meat or that cheese thats in a spray type container)

But one thing you should do is not give up, even after the meds are gone keep the bottle & just pretend to put drops in her ears, just hold the bottle next to her etc... everytime she ignores the bottle praise her!!!!!
Cleaning the ears often (especially w/ fl;oppy eared dogs) will help w/ infections but you have to use drops then too.
good luck

[jenluckenbach]

Having someone show you is a good suggestion.
Also, if you are a regular customer at a groomer's, they might be willing to do it for you. My best suggsetion is if there is any way to get her onto a work bench or table (I know, she's big), but I think that is part of why they behave for us at the grooming salon. UP is simply not normal so they tend to behave a bit better.
I also have found that sometimes less restraint is better than brute force. Does she like something (like an ear rub or a belly rub) so much that when you do it she seemd to "melt" and say AAHHH? If so, do that while the other person sneaks some drops in the ear. Do the worst of the 2 ears first in case you need to wait to trick her into the 2nd ear.
Best of luck

[KYS]

Poor Jada.

Rocky hates having ear drops put in his ears too.
When he sees me putting them in Sheba, he
hides in his crate.

With Rocky, I have to put him in a sit and
sort of stradle my body around him so
he doesn't bolt.
After his drops, I make sure I give him a treat.

Hope her ears clear up soon.

[aly]

I would not yell at her when you do this. That will make the situation much worse. She'll associate the negative experience of getting drops in her ears with another negative experience (yelling). Then she REALLY won't want to hold still or come to you to get them. Backing her into a corner is a very bad idea also. When dogs are scared, they have a fight or flight response. Right now Jada is fleeing from the meds, but if she is backed into a corner, she'll have no choice but to fight. I am NOT saying your dog will bite you, Emily. But just in general, it is not good to back a dog into a corner, especially if you're trying to get them used to something :)

Keep it as positive as you can for her with treats and praise before, during, and after the drops. I have a friend who smears peanut butter on her fridge and lets her dogs lick it off while she does things like ear drops or toenail cutting.

You might want to carry around the eardrops a lot - even when you're not going to give them - so she'll get used to it. When she's okay with you holding the bottle, then you can start feeding her treats while handling her ears, but not actually giving the drops. When she's comfortable with that, you can start pretending to put the drops in, but leave the lid closed so you're actually not putting anything in her ears. While you're doing it, keep the praise going. Then when she's comfortable with that, you can try to actually give them. I realize this process takes time and by the time she gets comfortable with it, her ear infection might be gone! But its just a technique that works well in many situations :)