Dog ears come in many different shapes and sizes. In addition, they can be arranged upright, folded or hanging depending on each breed or specimen. All this variety is normal, but if a dog with raised ears suddenly appears with a drop, it can be due to several pathologies that the veterinarian has to diagnose.
In this article on our site, we are going to review the possible causes that explain why my dog has a floppy ear. We will also talk about the cases in which a dog has one or both ears drooping when he should have them erect.
My dog's ears don't perk up
In some dogs, the auricle, or pinna, made up of a sheet of cartilage covered on both sides by a layer of skin and hair, is erect naturally When one or both ears hang down in this type of dog, some caregivers are concerned.
In these cases, the fact that the dog has one or both floppy ears is a exclusively aesthetic problemthat does not imply any repercussions for the her he alth. Also, keep in mind that puppies of breeds with pricked ears will keep their ears hanging until approximately 5-8 months of age They can pick up first one and, later, the other. There are no fixed dates. Each issue will go at its own pace.
If the dog has passed more months and still does not lift them, it may be due to genetic issuesIn other words, if their parents did not have both ears fully erect, it is very possible that our puppy will not be able to lift them either. In a smaller percentage of cases, the ears do not stand up due to serious feeding problems or pathologies such as those that we will explain in the following sections.
In any case, keep in mind that bandages, supplements or home remedies with the aim of raising the ears are counterproductive and can produce just the opposite effect to that desired. Therefore, if you are concerned about the position of your dog's ears, go to the vet Any action must be mediated by this professional. Of course, it must be ensured that the dog belongs to a breed with pricked ears. There are surgical techniques that could raise the ears, but the first thing is to question the ethics of subjecting an animal to an operation and a postoperative period just for a human aesthetic ideal that does not have the slightest importance for the dog.
My dog has dropped an ear
There are several conditions that can cause a dog to have a floppy ear. Normally they are causes that will produce a series of symptoms that should make us go to the vet Early intervention usually prevents the lowering of the ear from being permanent. On the other hand, if the dog does not receive assistance, for example, those specimens that are in a situation of abandonment, it is when the damage to the ear becomes permanent, and it is no longer possible to recover its initial upright position. Unfortunately, this is not a rare finding in dogs picked up from the street. The ear is lowered and deformed. Among the common causes of drooping ears in dogs are the following:
- Bite Injuries: When dogs fight it is not uncommon for the ears to be injured, as these are vulnerable and accessible areas. Animal bites are commonly complicated by infections. Except for minor injuries, they have to receive veterinary care and even surgery precisely to avoid deformations.
- Otitis media: This is an infection that usually develops from the outer ear. Dogs shake their heads to the affected side, scratch their diseased ear, feel pain, and pass a foul-smelling discharge. Sometimes this ear infection injures a branch of the facial nerve that runs through the eardrum. In these cases, we will observe a drooping of the upper lip and ear on the affected side. It is essential that the veterinarian clean the ear and prescribe a treatment based on oral antibiotics. They are usually long treatments, which last for several weeks. In recurrent or chronic cases, surgical intervention may be necessary. Otitis media can be prevented if, as soon as we notice symptoms such as those described, we go to the vet to start treatment as soon as possible.
My dog's ear is swollen and droopy
Sometimes our dog has a droopy ear and, furthermore, it is inflamed. It is common for this swelling to be due to an abscess, which is an accumulation of pus, or, above all, to a hematoma , which is the accumulation of blood under the skin. In the first case, a frequent cause of abscesses is fights with other dogs The bites become infected and the pus can remain under the skin, even if it looks like cured.
Hematomas, specifically known as otohematomas, usually appear when the dog shakes its head vigorously or scratches its ear. In these cases, it would be necessary to find out what is causing the discomfort and itching that the dog is trying to relieve. Both abscesses and otohematomas have to be seen by the veterinarian In both cases a surgical intervention may be necessaryto avoid permanent deformations that will leave the ear drooping.
