Tips for doing ear flushing

[2catsand2kids]

We have a 12 week old miniature poodle. His ears were bothering him and the vet has given us some ear solution which we have to flush his ears with every couple of days. We have been doing it for the last couple of weeks but he absolutely HATES it, he only has to see the bottle now and he starts getting really agitated. We introduced it really gently, give loads of treats and praise when we do it to try and get him to be positive about it but clearly it hasn’t worked.

Does anyone have any tips or suggestions as to how we can do his ears without distressing him too much and where he isn’t trying to wiggle away manically while we’re doing it?

I would personally phone your vet. One of my dogs had a severe infection in his ear. It was a nightmare as he didn't like it. In the end the vet sedated him and put antibiotics inside his ear and that was the end of that infection. Previous to that we messed about for weeks with drops stressing him out and us.

@Sitdowncupoftea thank you for replying. It was the vet who prescribed the stuff for the flushing. We have been persevering and he has got much better at having it done (definitely never going to be his favourite thing no matter what treats follow though). We’re back at the vets next Wednesday and she’s going to have a look again at his ears, fingers crossed all this flushing is making a difference!

Have a look at 'bucket game' training on YouTube to get cooperation on stuff like this.

Also don't make a meal of it - no pinning him down/wrestling him etc. Sit next to him and stroke his ear/flip the ear flap back. Squirt a small amount into the ear, then give a good rub down the ear canal alongside the head.

Most owners are so focussed on holding the head completely still /getting perfect statue-still restraint that they freak the dog out. Often less is more.

Along with tips above, I find using 2.5ml syringes much better and easier than using whatever bottle the wash comes in.

They are small, easy to manouvre, easy to operate with one hand and you know how much wash you have used.

They are also easy to dose slowly and gently, rather than some bottles which squirt the stuff in suddenly and so can shock/surprise the dog.