Yorkie Information Center
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Yorkie Ears
Overview
There is a lot to an ear ! In regard to Yorkie ear issues, let's discuss:
There is a lot to an ear ! In regard to Yorkie ear issues, let's discuss:
- Floppy Ears - the age at which the Yorkshire Terrier's ears stand up
- Taping - Does this method work to make the Yorkie's ears stand erect, and if so, what is the proper method
- Proper Ear Care - Learn what health issues can occur without correct ear grooming
- Ear Health Issues - Ear infections, with the Yorkshire Terrier, symptoms and treatments
Some owners choose to tape the ears of the Yorkie puppy. Does this method really work to make the ears stand on their own?
Floppy Ears
Yorkie puppies are born with floppy ears. Puppies do not have the proper muscle strength at the base of the ear in order to hold them erect.
At what age does a Yorkie's ears stand up? Usually between the age of 3 months to 6 months, the ears will gradually stand. One ear may stand up before the other. Some Yorkie puppies are "late bloomers" and the ears may not stand up until much later. In some cases, the ears may not stand up at all. Yorkies with ears who do not stand erect, as referred to as having Floppy Ears. The only time that this would matter, is in dog show conformance events, such as the AKC events, in which judges are looking for ears that are balanced, V-shaped and standing straight up.
What Can I do to Make a Yorkie's Ears Stand Up?
In some instances, a dog's ears will simply not stand up. There are some methods that may work to help improve the dog's ability to strengthen the muscles at the base of the ear. This includes:
Yorkie puppies are born with floppy ears. Puppies do not have the proper muscle strength at the base of the ear in order to hold them erect.
At what age does a Yorkie's ears stand up? Usually between the age of 3 months to 6 months, the ears will gradually stand. One ear may stand up before the other. Some Yorkie puppies are "late bloomers" and the ears may not stand up until much later. In some cases, the ears may not stand up at all. Yorkies with ears who do not stand erect, as referred to as having Floppy Ears. The only time that this would matter, is in dog show conformance events, such as the AKC events, in which judges are looking for ears that are balanced, V-shaped and standing straight up.
What Can I do to Make a Yorkie's Ears Stand Up?
In some instances, a dog's ears will simply not stand up. There are some methods that may work to help improve the dog's ability to strengthen the muscles at the base of the ear. This includes:
- Ear Taping
- Massaging the base of the dog's ear
- Shaving the hair on the ears. The top 1/3 of upper ear is shaved to minimize the weight on the ears. This method involves shaving both the inside and outside of the dog's ear; usually done with a clipping machine which should not cut the dog's skin.
This method is not 100% guaranteed to work; however it does work in some cases.
- Begin by shaving the ears, as mentioned above.
- Clean the ears, using a dog ear cleaning solution and a Q-Tip. Be sure to not enter too deeply into the ear, as doing so could cause damage.
- Gently fold the ear, as if you were closing it up vertically (up and down). When folded, the dog's ear will be standing straight up with a point at the top.
- Wrap gauze around the base of the dog's ear and then secure that with bandage tape or scotch tape. Once both ears are done, use tape to hold both in alignment with each other (See photo above). You may need to experiment to find the perfect degree of tightness. Too tight and circulation will be cut off. Too loose and the wrapping will fall right off.
- When done correctly, the ears will be standing straight on the Yorkie and not flopping to the side of the dog's head. (See photo above)
How Long Should Taping Last?
You will want to leave the taping on your Yorkie for 3 days at a time and then allow the ear to relax and receive fresh air. Be sure to groom and clean the ears in between tapings.
Some dogs respond to this within the 3 days, others may take 3 weeks.
You may find that taping seems to give temporary results. If so, only re-tape if an ear or both ears begins to flop down.
If you do not see results within a month, it is recommended to accept that your Yorkie is either a late bloomer or will have floppy ears. If a Yorkie's ears are not standing up by the age of 7 months, it is most likely not going to happen.
You will want to leave the taping on your Yorkie for 3 days at a time and then allow the ear to relax and receive fresh air. Be sure to groom and clean the ears in between tapings.
Some dogs respond to this within the 3 days, others may take 3 weeks.
You may find that taping seems to give temporary results. If so, only re-tape if an ear or both ears begins to flop down.
If you do not see results within a month, it is recommended to accept that your Yorkie is either a late bloomer or will have floppy ears. If a Yorkie's ears are not standing up by the age of 7 months, it is most likely not going to happen.
Ear Mites
These nasty little creatures can not only live in a dog's ears, but can travel to other parts of a dog's body. These are extremely contagious. Treatment is very important, as having ear mites is very uncomfortable and disturbing to a Yorkie.
Learn about Ear Mites
Yorkie Ear Infections
What Causes this?
Dog ear infections can be triggered by several different elements. Ears that remain wet after bathing or swimming can serve as a host for bacteria. An excess of wax build up may plug the ear and cause infection, foreign objects caught inside of the dog's ear, untreated ear mites or cleaning too deeply can all be causes.
What are the Symptoms?
You will know to take your Yorkie to the veterinarian if you notice:
Last Resort
If the cause of the reoccurring infections cannot be determined and medication is not working at all, the final step that can be taken is surgery. A specialist will surgically open the vertical canal. The ear is then easily and completely cleaned out and treated.
Chronic ear infections can cause a dog's ear canal to become very scarred. This scarring can become so immense that the canal becomes almost closed. If so, Ablation is the final option and only done is the most severe cases with dogs n which no cause can be determined and medication just does not help. The entire ear canal of the dog is removed. Healthy tissue then regrows in its place. A specialist will do this and this is usually expensive. Most dogs do very well after this surgery and most will never experience infections again.
Prevention and Proper Care at Home
Proper grooming to your Yorkie's ears is very important. Dogs with a medical history of ear problems do much better with correct home care.
* Remove excess hair - Hair blocks the natural flow of air into the dog’s ear canal. Extra hair should be plucked out with tweezers. Ear powder may be used, this is a powder that makes plucking easier.
* Flushing - Once any excess hair is removed, the ears should be flushed and cleaned. This can be done with solution given to you by your dog’s veterinarian or found over the counter. Once done, gently massage the base of your dog’s ears . This helps to move the solution in and around the folds inside the dog's ear. This solution will not only clean, but will dry the canal and help keep the pH balanced. This is done 1 time per week and any time after a bath.
These nasty little creatures can not only live in a dog's ears, but can travel to other parts of a dog's body. These are extremely contagious. Treatment is very important, as having ear mites is very uncomfortable and disturbing to a Yorkie.
Learn about Ear Mites
Yorkie Ear Infections
What Causes this?
Dog ear infections can be triggered by several different elements. Ears that remain wet after bathing or swimming can serve as a host for bacteria. An excess of wax build up may plug the ear and cause infection, foreign objects caught inside of the dog's ear, untreated ear mites or cleaning too deeply can all be causes.
What are the Symptoms?
You will know to take your Yorkie to the veterinarian if you notice:
- A very bad odor coming from the ear/s
- A discharge coming out of the dog's ear
- The Yorkie is constantly trying to scratch their ears, or rubbing them against objects
- Touching the ear causes the dog to react with signs of pain, such as a yelping noise.
- When an ear infection is left untreated, it can cause the dog to become dizzy, unbalanced and even vomit
The dog must be examined by the veterinarian. Tests will be performed, including looking into the ears to examine the canal. The ear may be flushed.
The veterinarian will perform a professional cleaning and then medication will be given to you, to bring home to treat your Yorkie. Most infections clear up in a week or so, if medication is given properly and ears are kept clean.
The veterinarian will perform a professional cleaning and then medication will be given to you, to bring home to treat your Yorkie. Most infections clear up in a week or so, if medication is given properly and ears are kept clean.
Reoccurring Dog Ear Infections
Some dogs have chronic ear problems, that keep coming back as soon as the medication is gone and with some dogs, medication never fully fixes the infection. At this point, extensive testing must be done to find the cause of the reoccurring issue.
With this type of issue, it is important to find the cause. Why? Because a lot of ear infections can cause scarring inside the dog's ear and lead to even more serious health concerns. As long as the dog keeps getting hit by infections, scarring will increase and lead to even bigger health issues. Several steps should be performed:
1. A sample of the ear discharge should be examined to identify the exact type of bacteria. or virus.
2. Owners must regularly perform ear washings at home
3. Testing may show that the infections are being caused by allergies. This is the #1 reason for reoccurring infections. Once the cause of the allergy is determined, ...prognosis is good.
Some dogs have chronic ear problems, that keep coming back as soon as the medication is gone and with some dogs, medication never fully fixes the infection. At this point, extensive testing must be done to find the cause of the reoccurring issue.
With this type of issue, it is important to find the cause. Why? Because a lot of ear infections can cause scarring inside the dog's ear and lead to even more serious health concerns. As long as the dog keeps getting hit by infections, scarring will increase and lead to even bigger health issues. Several steps should be performed:
1. A sample of the ear discharge should be examined to identify the exact type of bacteria. or virus.
2. Owners must regularly perform ear washings at home
3. Testing may show that the infections are being caused by allergies. This is the #1 reason for reoccurring infections. Once the cause of the allergy is determined, ...prognosis is good.
Pseudomonas Canine Ear Infections
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a very rare type of bacteria and it is resistant to most antibiotic medication. When a dog with reoccuring infections is given many different types of antibiotics, most of the bacteria is killed but not all. What lingers is a strain that is severely strong and resistant.
When the culture of the dog’s ear discharge is done, this will show if it is indeed Pseudomonas. This will also show if this strain can be eliminated by the very strong antibiotics of Enrofloxacin or Orbifloxacin. A topical treatment will be given as well to use at home.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a very rare type of bacteria and it is resistant to most antibiotic medication. When a dog with reoccuring infections is given many different types of antibiotics, most of the bacteria is killed but not all. What lingers is a strain that is severely strong and resistant.
When the culture of the dog’s ear discharge is done, this will show if it is indeed Pseudomonas. This will also show if this strain can be eliminated by the very strong antibiotics of Enrofloxacin or Orbifloxacin. A topical treatment will be given as well to use at home.
Last Resort
If the cause of the reoccurring infections cannot be determined and medication is not working at all, the final step that can be taken is surgery. A specialist will surgically open the vertical canal. The ear is then easily and completely cleaned out and treated.
Chronic ear infections can cause a dog's ear canal to become very scarred. This scarring can become so immense that the canal becomes almost closed. If so, Ablation is the final option and only done is the most severe cases with dogs n which no cause can be determined and medication just does not help. The entire ear canal of the dog is removed. Healthy tissue then regrows in its place. A specialist will do this and this is usually expensive. Most dogs do very well after this surgery and most will never experience infections again.
Prevention and Proper Care at Home
Proper grooming to your Yorkie's ears is very important. Dogs with a medical history of ear problems do much better with correct home care.
* Remove excess hair - Hair blocks the natural flow of air into the dog’s ear canal. Extra hair should be plucked out with tweezers. Ear powder may be used, this is a powder that makes plucking easier.
* Flushing - Once any excess hair is removed, the ears should be flushed and cleaned. This can be done with solution given to you by your dog’s veterinarian or found over the counter. Once done, gently massage the base of your dog’s ears . This helps to move the solution in and around the folds inside the dog's ear. This solution will not only clean, but will dry the canal and help keep the pH balanced. This is done 1 time per week and any time after a bath.
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