Taping natural ears problem

[Zeke's mom]

pulling hair off....

Those of you who are having problem with thetape pulling the hair off should try this. At medical supply stores they sell an adhesive remover that will help get the stickness off was you remove the tape. Just askthe clerk for adhesiver remover and they will know...the name of ithad slipped my mind. Wet Cotton balls withthe solution and as you remove the tape slowly, keep the cotton balls right at the edge of the tape and the skin.
It will help so much...or at least Zeke thinks it saved him from being bald!

 

[abby's mum]

At what age is best to do this? When is it too late? We have taped Abby's and it has helped but it seems everytime she grows they go crazy again.

 

[Jaelle]

For removing the tape, I used petroleum jelly (sp?).

I tape he's ears around three months, at first 4 days on/2 days off, and after a while, just taping when his ears where falling wrong again. I think I have read somewhere that it's worse when teething, and after, better.

Thanks Lael! You did a very great job too, your baby has very nice ears!!!

 

[Lael]

At what age is best to do this? When is it too late? We have taped Abby's and it has helped but it seems everytime she grows they go crazy again.

Like Jaelle said, I have also heard that their ears will continually change as they are growing and teething. Often Lael's ears will start to flip back again, and I'll just tape them for a few days to correct them.

As for age... I do not know there is any particular age for it has to be done. Hopefully if someone knows they can post, but I would think taping natural ears will help set any age of ear. (That is just my thought... I very well could be wrong.) Do a search on here for taping ears; I think you might find some good info.

Cat & Lael

 

[Shotze's Mom]

I got the first aid tape but I dont think its the right kind. Now Im having problems with it sticking. She can scratch it right off within 5 minutes of me putting it on. I tried both ways of taping and the more invasive (euro boxer site) seems to hold a tad longer but not long enough to matter. Specifically what kind of first aid tape do I need to be using? Paper, plastic, or cloth? First it was the electrical tape sticking TOO good now its the first aid tape not sticking good enough. ARGH! Thanks for any help!!

 

[abradbury.5]

never taped

I never taped Toffee's ears and I think they turned out great. Maybe I was lucky?

 

[bezell]

ToksImg look at see how your pups ears fly in your avtar....looka t Lael's avtar....that is the natural ear standard. Now it doesn't matter how your boxers ears look unless you are going to show your dog or bitch. We taped Bodie's ears, but our adopter girl Jezze never ahd her ears taped or massaged, so hers fly all the time. We are trying to massage them into shape, but she is 18 mos and has soft cartilage so I don't think it will work. As for Kat....Bodie had the same problem, but we came up with a solution. Cut your electrical tape just like normal, then tear a small piece of klennex or paper towel the same width as the tape about 1-2 inches long. Place that in the middle of the tape before applying the tape to the dogs ears. Make sure enough of the tape touches the dogs ears to secure it, but this reduces the amount of sticky tape to ears ratio. Also, make sure you put the tape on for 4 days and off for 1-2 or longer if the dogs ears are laying correctly. Leaving the tape on for to long (depending on the dog) can cause sores, which can be irritated by the sticky tape being peeled off. Oh yeah and when you peel the tape off, peel it with the hair growth, not against it.

 

[Lael]

Specifically what kind of first aid tape do I need to be using? Paper, plastic, or cloth? First it was the electrical tape sticking TOO good now its the first aid tape not sticking good enough.

Shotze's Mom: I think bezell has the best idea:

Cut your electrical tape just like normal, then tear a small piece of klennex or paper towel the same width as the tape about 1-2 inches long. Place that in the middle of the tape before applying the tape to the dogs ears. Make sure enough of the tape touches the dogs ears to secure it, but this reduces the amount of sticky tape to ears ratio.

This is what I am going to try for taping Lael's ears.

The other issue I've found is that plastic tapes (like electrical tape) have 'cutting' edges. In other words, where the ear falls over the edge of the tape, Lael's skin can get very red; and even in some spots will cut a little bit into her skin (which is the primary reason why I don't like taping with electrical tape). So, I would suggest cloth first aid tape, because I would think it is more flexible. Let me know what you find... I'm trying to figure out the least painful/irritating & efficient way also.

Cat & Lael

 

[bezell]

if you have problems with the electrical tape cutting into the edges of your dogs ears, try this. Instead of securing the tape to tape right at the edge of the dogs ear, leave a little space. Pinch the tape together approx 2-3 mm after the dogs ear. Then, cut another short piece of tape and circle it around the tape that is pinched together. This will insure that the tape stays together, and won't come off. It worked for Bodie....plus if your dog scratches at his ears with the tape on, re-direct his interests and use positive re-inforcement when he listens. Bodie learned to ignore the tape while with this training. Occassionally we would come home and find he had removed the tape, but with constant training while we were around it wasn't very often. Also, make sure during the days when the tape is off you massage the ears about every 1-2 hours for approx 2 -3 min each. This will help the ear fold faster and allow the tape to stay off longer. See the thread " will taping do any good at this point" for helpful hints on massaging.
good luck.

 

[Lael]

Thanks for the helpful info, bezell!

Cat & Lael