New problem- one ear down, one up - YorkieTalk.com Forums

ellie18 · 04-20-2009, 09:39 PM

I got Molly when she was almost 6 months old, she is now 8 1/2 months old. Both of her ears have always been up until two days ago. Now one ear is up and one is down. She can still put the other up when I try to get her attention by calling her name but then it goes back down 5 seconds later. Does anyone know what is causing this? Is this normal? Is it a sign of an ear infection? She does itch her ears a lot especially right before bed (and not anywhere else, so it's not fleas). She has been itching her ears since I got her so I figured that was normal. Her hearing is fine. Any advice/knowledge would be appreciated!

Wabbit · 04-20-2009, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ellie18

I got Molly when she was almost 6 months old, she is now 8 1/2 months old. Both of her ears have always been up until two days ago. Now one ear is up and one is down. She can still put the other up when I try to get her attention by calling her name but then it goes back down 5 seconds later. Does anyone know what is causing this? Is this normal? Is it a sign of an ear infection? She does itch her ears a lot especially right before bed (and not anywhere else, so it's not fleas). She has been itching her ears since I got her so I figured that was normal. Her hearing is fine. Any advice/knowledge would be appreciated!

She's probably just teething! That is normal....if it doesn't go back up tho...you might have to tape the floppy one up....but I wouldn't doubt it goes back up pretty soon....

Have you had her checked for ear mites?? I don't think that would cause her ear to flop...but it would cause her to itch...I'd definately take her to the vet and have them check her for mites.

Also look in her ears and see if she has alot of hair inside of them....If you haven't had her groomed by a groomer....then you might need to pull the hair inside her ears...it can collect dust and debris and cause it to itch....it doesn't hurt them at all...just make sure you grab small amounts and pull quickly...and just inside the ear..not near the outside or that will hurt. Good luck!

And Welcome to YT!

Jemma · 04-21-2009, 05:05 AM

OMG, you can pull hair out from under their ears and it doesn't hurt?? Can you use sicssors to cut it short??

Jemma · 04-21-2009, 05:07 AM

ooppss never mind. I see you means hairs that are near the opening of the ear canal?

ms_mato · 04-21-2009, 07:00 AM

I had this happen to me and my Sadie's age was about the same. First the vet changed the diet and I taped the ear for not more than one week and it went right back up and never came down again.

Patti · 04-21-2009, 07:03 AM

Pixie has one ear go half way down for about 6 months and she was over 2 years old. One day it went back up. I did nothing different. I always shave the hair off and she had no infections. So I would think with your baby being so young it will come back up.

mommy2bella · 04-21-2009, 05:45 PM

The same thing happened to Bella when she was about 3 month old. She would only bring it up if I got her all excited! I had just recently given her a bath, and a little water got in it. I put a q-tip in it just barely and soaked up the water and the next day it came up.

There could be a few things:

is her hair too long? Ears can fall over from being too "heavy" and yes one may do it before the other does.

does her ear have a smell to it? I know this sounds gross, but sniff her ear and see if it smells funny. If so, that is a definate sign of infection so take her to the vet ASAP to get some meds!

Ear mites are a possiblity, which she would need to see a dr to get meds for as well (typically a liquid to put down into her ear)

Is there water in it? Bath lately? Rain?

Hope this helps!

ellie18 · 04-21-2009, 06:06 PM

wow, thanks everyone! good to know that it will eventually go up again.

i'll look into ear mites. she has been to two different groomers so hopefully one of them trimmed her ears but i'll check it out. her hair is pretty short (1 inch long or so). also, she had a bath yesterday but otherwise no difference in water amounts (her ear went down about 3 days ago now). i guess she could be teething as well! great advice. i love yorkietalk! her ears smell normal.

04-20-2009, 09:39 PM	#1
ellie18 Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 15	New problem- one ear down, one up I got Molly when she was almost 6 months old, she is now 8 1/2 months old. Both of her ears have always been up until two days ago. Now one ear is up and one is down. She can still put the other up when I try to get her attention by calling her name but then it goes back down 5 seconds later. Does anyone know what is causing this? Is this normal? Is it a sign of an ear infection? She does itch her ears a lot especially right before bed (and not anywhere else, so it's not fleas). She has been itching her ears since I got her so I figured that was normal. Her hearing is fine. Any advice/knowledge would be appreciated!

04-21-2009, 07:00 AM	#5
ms_mato Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Florida US Posts: 34	I had this happen to me and my Sadie's age was about the same. First the vet changed the diet and I taped the ear for not more than one week and it went right back up and never came down again. __________________ Sasha Sophia Arielle Tessie Anastasia

04-21-2009, 07:03 AM	#6
Patti Donating YT 30K Club Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 35,509 Blog Entries: 6	Pixie has one ear go half way down for about 6 months and she was over 2 years old. One day it went back up. I did nothing different. I always shave the hair off and she had no infections. So I would think with your baby being so young it will come back up. __________________ Cali Pixie Roxie : RIP Nikki; RIP Maya;RIP my sweet Dixie girl 1/17/08 http://callipuppyscastle.bravehost.com/index.html

04-21-2009, 05:45 PM	#7
mommy2bella Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Gordonsville,VA Posts: 63	The same thing happened to Bella when she was about 3 month old. She would only bring it up if I got her all excited! I had just recently given her a bath, and a little water got in it. I put a q-tip in it just barely and soaked up the water and the next day it came up. There could be a few things: is her hair too long? Ears can fall over from being too "heavy" and yes one may do it before the other does. does her ear have a smell to it? I know this sounds gross, but sniff her ear and see if it smells funny. If so, that is a definate sign of infection so take her to the vet ASAP to get some meds! Ear mites are a possiblity, which she would need to see a dr to get meds for as well (typically a liquid to put down into her ear) Is there water in it? Bath lately? Rain? Hope this helps! __________________ Breanna Bella's Mommy

04-21-2009, 05:05 AM	#3
Jemma Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: NJ Posts: 838	OMG, you can pull hair out from under their ears and it doesn't hurt?? Can you use sicssors to cut it short??

04-21-2009, 05:07 AM	#4
Jemma Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: NJ Posts: 838	ooppss never mind. I see you means hairs that are near the opening of the ear canal?

04-21-2009, 06:06 PM	#8
ellie18 Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 15	wow, thanks everyone! good to know that it will eventually go up again. i'll look into ear mites. she has been to two different groomers so hopefully one of them trimmed her ears but i'll check it out. her hair is pretty short (1 inch long or so). also, she had a bath yesterday but otherwise no difference in water amounts (her ear went down about 3 days ago now). i guess she could be teething as well! great advice. i love yorkietalk! her ears smell normal.