MarkChambers
Notable member
Thanks Jan. I don't think I do need to use it but I want to be prepared.
The New Arrival
- Thread starter MarkChambers
- Start date
Kaiser2016
Well-Known Member
You figured it out! My belief is that if they are sleeping you must never disturb them. I went hungry till 4 pm one time because K was sleeping on the main floor.
MarkChambers
Notable member
Question for everyone. Pup has a blackish goop that we have to clean out every time we repost. Or doesn't smell pleasant either. Does she need a trip to the vet or do I just clean thoroughly each time?
How often do you change the posts? If it smells I would check with your vet to see if there's an infection there. They can give you some simple antibiotic gel to put in the canal to clear it up.
I do thoroughly clean the ears when I do a post change too.
MarkChambers
Notable member
4 to 5 days. Went to the vet and she has a yeast infection in her right ear. Not serious. Wanted drops in every 12 hours. Explained she was a show pup and had to be posted. She understood and used an ear pack that dissolves over a 10 day period and is a one time treatment. So I can post twice and it can be redone after 10 if necessary but it isn't usually.
MarkChambers
Notable member
So, how far down into the canal do does the post go? I had one in last night and it only took one major head shake to dislodge it.
Kaiser2016
Well-Known Member
The canal is shaped like an L so you can't hit their ear drum. It can go really far down. Also the ears don't stand till teething is done so the time spent to clear the infection is not harming anything.
MarkChambers
Notable member
Thanks. I thought I pushed it in till it stopped. I'll try again.
MarkChambers
Notable member
I should add that she suggested I leave the ear open for a few day to let the medication work before closing the ear up with the posts. Kaiser's comment was reassuring but I'm still worried that I am going to have a flop eared Doberman. A cropped flop at that.
How old is she again? It can really set you back to leave the posts out for a couple days if she's been posted for a while now. If they're young and just cropped, it isn't such a big issue since the cartilage still has time to form.
Perhaps you could use this method right now.
Alternative Methods For Ear Posting
My2Girls
Notable member
I think your posts might be a bit thick (I zoomed up on the most recent pic with the posts) for her ear and might be the reason why you can’t get down into the ear far enough. What size backer rod are you using?
MarkChambers
Notable member
1/2 inch. But those posts are only to the lower knob and don't go into the canal. That's the method the breeder uses. 1/2 rod with a tie rap backer. The post rests on the bottom knob. I tried using 1/2 inch under 2 wraps of duct tape as per your method. There are no pictures of that.
FYI the breeder has been doing dobes for over 30 years and has seen it all. Might have to extend the time a bit but there shouldn't be any problems. The vet was pretty insistent about leaving the ear open for a few days. She said the same thing.
She will be 15 weeks next Monday
FYI the breeder has been doing dobes for over 30 years and has seen it all. Might have to extend the time a bit but there shouldn't be any problems. The vet was pretty insistent about leaving the ear open for a few days. She said the same thing.
She will be 15 weeks next Monday
My2Girls
Notable member
Yes I’ve heard of all sorts of techniques breeders would use- I believe at one point they used to do one week in one week out.
And I’m certainly not an expert, this is my first cropped dobie. When we went on vacation for a week I left the posts out the entire time so my dog sitter wouldn’t have to deal with them (if they got wet, shaken out etc). I fully expected to post until 8 months based on my pups crop and we did post about that long - so I don’t know how much that one week out really effected/extended posting time. Personally I would let the ear heal/clear up and just post a bit longer. At that point you’ll be a pro at posting!
Also I would make sure, after the ear infection has cleared that there is some airflow into the canal so that you don’t keep getting infections. I changed my posts every 3 days - for sanitary reason not because they didn’t last. But I have 2 dobies that play rough so after 3 days they needed a change.
And I’m certainly not an expert, this is my first cropped dobie. When we went on vacation for a week I left the posts out the entire time so my dog sitter wouldn’t have to deal with them (if they got wet, shaken out etc). I fully expected to post until 8 months based on my pups crop and we did post about that long - so I don’t know how much that one week out really effected/extended posting time. Personally I would let the ear heal/clear up and just post a bit longer. At that point you’ll be a pro at posting!
Also I would make sure, after the ear infection has cleared that there is some airflow into the canal so that you don’t keep getting infections. I changed my posts every 3 days - for sanitary reason not because they didn’t last. But I have 2 dobies that play rough so after 3 days they needed a change.
MarkChambers
Notable member
Well tomorrow will be 4 days and the posts go back on. Taking her to see the breeder and get her take on things and to let her do this post.
MarkChambers
Notable member
Well the breeder posted and the results, while a bit better, were not satisfactory. So here she is with her new posting. I did use bumpers because of the inward lean but otherwise it is the JanS method. I am convinced that this didn't work the first time because of the ear infection. They bothered her to the point where she tore them out. But the infection is gone, they're stable and she seems quite happy with them. And the bridge is gone. THANKS JAN!!
Posting job looks great!!
I agree and she's a real sweetheart!
MarkChambers
Notable member
The good news.
MarkChambers
Notable member
The bad news is that the posts have made the ear canal extremely raw. Almost an open store. What to do? This has become a bone of contention between my wife and I who is taking the oh poor baby and doesn't want the pays to go back in until the soreness is gone. Can I cover the end of the post with a soft gauze and antibiotic ointment and repost? Anyone else encountered this?
