In this article, we will tell you about when german shepherd ears rise and what to do if this did not happen in time. If you took a puppy from an experienced breeder, then you are already familiar with the basic rules. You know how this breed should be. But some questions need to be given Special attention and approach them responsibly.
A purebred German Shepherd should have medium-sized, upright ears with pointed tips. The auricle is set forward. When your dog has them hanging on the sides or broken, it means that the way to all kinds of exhibitions and competitions, unfortunately, is closed.
But while your puppy is still small, don't be in a hurry to worry. Even if your baby has one ear already standing and the other is still hanging. After all, each shepherd is individual and the exact day when the ears stand up cannot be predicted. Your best bet is to relax and watch your puppy grow into a teen very quickly.
The time has come
How many months should this great event take place? Based on the knowledge of experienced dog breeders, the ear formation period begins at one and a half months and ends at five.
By strengthening the cartilage, the ear gradually grows in size, becoming larger and heavier. Since it is directly interconnected with the formation phase of the ears, they can get up in two months and, not having time to fully get stronger, fall again by three months. This is how the body of a German shepherd works and there is nothing wrong with that.
Between five and six months, you need to be extremely careful and constantly monitor your ears. If they do not get up again by six months, then you should contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.... Putting your ears back after seven months is an extremely difficult task, and sometimes impossible.
There are several reasons why a puppy's ears won't rise:
- fright;
- unclean pedigree;
- poor mother's nutrition during pregnancy;
- lack of calcium, phosphorus in the body.
Necessary prevention
If the ears do not rise on their own after five to six months, then some procedures must be performed to prevent a possible defect.
What to do? It's not that difficult. During the period of active growth, the puppy's body is especially lacking in microelements. Should bone meal, kefir, fish. At the same time with the right regime strengthen the feeding muscles with massage cartilage tissue, thereby providing the puppy's ear with the necessary blood circulation. Also, the natural formation can be helped by various sounds that you should suddenly make. Thanks to this, the ears are tense every time and they themselves are vertically fixed.
If there is no proper care and attention for the auricles, then no matter how hard you try, there will be no good result. In addition to regular cleaning, you should monitor the health of each ear. For any redness or discharge, see your veterinarian immediately.
Nothing helped? It means that it is high time for radical measures.
Before starting winding
It is best to consult an experienced professional to position your ears. But if you are confident in yourself and your strengths, you can do this procedure yourself. Below we give a few important tips help you.
Firstly, do not rush with this process, it is better to wait six months when the change of teeth is over. In a hurry, you will only harm the German Shepherd and in the worst case, the ears may not stand up.
Second, don't overuse calcium. Fifty grams of yogurt or kefir is much better food additives... The excess will be deposited in the dog's bones and lead to orthopedic problems in the future.
Third, follow up. A puppy's health is directly related to the muscle strength of the ears.
Fifth, don't forget about special toys and bones. Gnawing them, the pet strengthens the muscles of the ears.
Sixth, do not allow other dogs to drag their pet by the ears to avoid injury.
We start to reel
Before starting the process, remember that you cannot use adhesive materials: tape, electrical tape. They will only hurt the German Shepherd.
First of all, you need foam curlers. correct size... Then we purchase a surgical patch. You will also need two pencils and medical glue. To connect the ears, you need to find a suitable stick, for example, from an ice cream.
To begin with, remove the plastic axle from the center of the curler, instead, insert a pencil to a depth of two centimeters. Apply glue to the surface of the curler circumference so that it does not drip. Otherwise, it will fall into the auricle and cause irritation.
They must be placed at the bottom. auricle so that the auditory canal remains open. For the ear to stick, you should lightly press it against the curlers.
Tape your ear tightly to the curler while holding the pencil. Be sure to remove it before finishing the process. In order not to disrupt blood circulation in the ear, the patch should not be applied too tightly.
Use an ice cream stick to fix the standing position of the ears - attach it to back side glue.
What to do after rewinding
German Shepherd puppies are very active and it is difficult to guess how long it will take for the baby to pull off the coiled structure, if given the opportunity. Therefore, you need to distract your baby with play in order to allow the glue to grab.
It is necessary to hold homemade device about two weeks. This time is enough to put the pet's ears. Carefully monitor the condition of the winding and correct the shortcomings in time.
After the due date, carefully remove the patch using a special solvent for the glue. Do not abruptly perform actions - you will hurt the puppy.
If nothing helped you, then if you wish, you can go to extreme measures and have a German Shepherd Dog undergo ear implantation. You will not solve the problem, but you can adjust the dog to the standard.
To prevent radical procedures, take care of the puppy correctly and follow the diet. Your dog's health is entirely up to you. Everything else is genetic disposition.
Update: April 2019
Lack of appetite and apathy are signals that the pet's health needs to be addressed. increased attention... If the dog is lethargic and does not eat anything, you need to try to quickly find out the reason for this condition, because seemingly harmless symptoms may hide serious illness... So why isn't the dog eating?
When hunger is seen as a normal option
Do not rush to the veterinarian at the slightest change in your pet's appetite to find out why. There are a number of reasons why hunger is considered an option. physiological norm... All that the owner can do under the conditions listed below is to wait a while, observing the condition of the pet.
- Heat, second half of pregnancy and childbirth. During this period, the dog undergoes changes at the hormone level, which can affect its appetite. There is a chance that during this period the animal will seem somewhat emaciated. Also, when eating the placenta after childbirth, the dog's hunger does not occur earlier than after 5-8 hours. If, apart from the lack of appetite, nothing bothers you, you should not interfere with the process, it is enough to observe so that new symptoms do not appear until the appetite is normalized;
- An excess of nutrients. The dog is able to feel the abundance of essential nutrients in the body, which does not need to be replenished. During such periods, the dog feels great, even when not eating. No need to force food!
- During the period of illness. Very often, during the period of treatment, the dog's appetite disappears. If, in the absence of appetite, the animal continues to recover, then there is no point in feeding it by force or with the help of droppers.
- Stress and blues. Dogs are sensitive to changes in weather conditions, a change of environment or owner, may have Bad mood and mope. This causes intermittent hunger. The lack of appetite for such reasons is not long lasting, but even in this state, the dog does not refuse special treats. But to feed in such a period over delicious food not recommended as blues and stress can turn into fussy eating.
- Fastidiousness... When feeding an animal delicious treats(meat or special food for dogs, which is made with flavor enhancers), then it will completely refuse from ordinary food (cereals, soups, etc.).
- Teething... Teething in young puppies is often accompanied by unpleasant sensations when eating. Small dogs can gnaw everything around to relieve their condition, but they will refuse food.
- Hot weather . Very often, in hot weather, dogs try to drink more and eat less. In hot weather it is considered normal if the dog only drinks, but does not eat. At a comfortable temperature, appetite returns and does not require any intervention.
- Old age. An older dog often refuses food in anticipation of his own demise.
Possible causes of a lack of appetite associated with health problems
The most common reasons a dog is lethargic and not eating anything include:
- Dental problems and diseases oral cavity. For any discomfort that occurs when eating food, the dog will later refuse to eat (broken or loose teeth, mouth injuries, stomatitis). You can notice how the dog approaches the food, seems to start eating, but immediately stops and does not touch the food anymore.
- Any ear diseases ... Hearing infections are always accompanied by unpleasant sensations, and sometimes pain, when chewing or when you need to gnaw something.
- Chemotherapy for oncological diseases significantly reduces appetite.
- Diseases gastrointestinal tract (enteritis, volvulus or intussusception of the intestine, gastritis and ulcerative lesions stomach or intestines, stomach or intestinal blockage).
- A foreign body in the mouth or esophagus of a dog.
- Any pain syndrome ... If the dog long time is experiencing painful sensations different etiology, most often the appetite will be completely absent. They say that the dog feels pain: trembling, shortness of breath, hunched back, the dog tries to move less.
- Any infectious viral or bacterial diseases accompanied by an increase in body temperature. If jumped total temperature body, the dog will drink more, and the appetite will be reduced or disappear altogether.
- Post-traumatic shock... If a dog has received numerous injuries and lost a lot of blood, then of course there can be no question of any appetite.
- Drug therapy... With individual sensitivity to some drugs, loss of appetite may develop with excessive exposure to the liver and stomach.
If the dog does not eat, is lethargic and ... (approximate reasons for additional symptoms)
If the lack of appetite is accompanied by lethargy, fever, tremors, thirst, discoloration of the mucous membranes and skin, vomiting and diarrhea are clear signs health problems. The owner of the dog can only guess what happened to the pet, accurate diagnosis only a veterinarian will supply.
For this, the veterinarian undergoes a clinical examination and:
- laboratory tests of blood and urine;
- x-ray;
- Ultrasound of internal organs;
- endoscopy.
If the dog is sluggish, it doesn't eat anything and ...
| Symptom: | Possible reasons: |
only drinks |
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does not drink |
|
It has elevated temperature body |
|
vomits |
|
vomits and vilifies |
|
diarrhea, vomits and has a high fever |
|
vomits foam |
|
It has yellow mucous membranes or skin |
|
trembles, tries to move less, breathes heavily |
pain syndrome of various localization. |
sleeps a lot, lies down, does not react to external stimuli and does not drink |
Urgently deliver to the veterinarian to determine the exact cause! |
How to restore your pet's appetite?
- Eliminate the root cause, which is accompanied by a decrease in appetite: problems in the oral cavity or cure the underlying disease.
- If the dog has stress or blues, you need to try to devote more time to it, stroking, soothing in a gentle voice. At enough attention, the dog will return to its former appetite quickly enough.
- If a food refusal accompanies a change in diet, then it is recommended to return to the old food, and move slowly to the new diet, gradually introducing new ingredients.
- In case of refusal to eat in case of whims and finickyness, it is worth starting to feed the dog strictly at the same time, and with each refusal to eat, the bowl of food should be removed. With a healthy short-term hunger, the dog will eat whatever is offered to him.
- You do not need to leave food all day or all night after feeding to avoid souring food, why the dog will also refuse it.
- No need to compensate for missed feeds increased number meals at the next meal.
- Increases appetite for active walks before feeding.
- On the recommendation of a doctor, you can stimulate your appetite with special veterinary drugs(Enervita, Gamavit, Aminovit, etc.) or decoctions of herbs (wormwood and dandelion).
- If the dog is poisoned and does not eat anything, it should start with a starvation diet and classical detoxification therapy, followed by a gradual restoration of appetite.
- With an individual reaction to some medications consultation with a doctor is required on the issue of discontinuing the drug, which provokes a decrease in appetite or replacing it with a more gentle one.
An attentive owner will always notice that something is wrong with his dog and will understand if these changes are temporary, or if things are much more serious. Competent observation of the pet, the ability to notice nuances and timely delivery of the animal to the veterinarian is the key to a quick cure and return to the dog's previous lifestyle.
Alex wrote:
Urgently need help! Caucasian 7 years old refused hind legs... And they refused in an instant. Yesterday everything was fine, but now it drags its hind legs behind it. Eats practically nothing. Not a single veterinarian agrees to come because the dog has not been vaccinated. There is no way to take to the clinic either, since the collar was never worn. How can you help?
Veterinary School for Dog Lovers Geriatrics and Gamavit
Good day.
Dr. Gordeeva with you
Geriatrics and gamavitis.
Dog, bitch, 8 years old, wobbly gait, gets up very hard after sleep, moves little, gets tired quickly. We can see the same symptoms in males of all breeds. This is where geriatrics begins. At the age of 7 years and older, and in some breeds sooner or later, but in all dogs, without exception, there comes a moment when the body gives signals about the dysfunction of organs and systems. When examining dogs after 7 years of age, we reveal heart failure varying degrees and of various kinds, here and edema in the limbs and abdomen, it is varying degrees of edema and congestion in the lungs, which is expressed by a cough without an inflammatory process. Dogs drink a lot and, most importantly, the hind legs become weak and do not want to walk. This is the main complaint of dog owners after 7 years. We will not forget pyometra in bitches at this age, because most often it develops at this age. And in bitches giving birth more often by the age of 9. If treatment is not prescribed for this symptomatology, then the animal's condition worsens within a month and leads to death.
For 10 years I have been dealing with older dogs, since the dog has become a member of the family and the person wants her to live longer. This happened with a patient I know 5 years ago. The bitch's hind legs began to weaken, she stood up very badly, almost did not walk. There was no question of euthanasia at all. The owner wanted and still wants his dog to live. The problem was that I had been giving different treatments to other dogs before. And the most common mistake in this case is to make a diagnosis associated with inflammatory processes in the joints. In 80% of cases, no inflammatory processes was not observed. The blood was calm and only showed biochemical analysis increased performance ALT, AST, often amylases, low potassium and almost all other parameters were normal. Prescribing various pain relievers of different kinds, cardiac different directions the problems were not solved. And I decided to try Gamovite. I read the recommended dosages and decided to quadruple them. The first injection into a vein I made in the amount of 20 ml at once in a stream. Then she prescribed 10 ml under the skin every day for 10 days. After 5 days, my ward got up, and, confidently rearranging her legs, went. And now she is already 12 years old, she has no problems with limbs. By the way, the breed of this beauty is a Rottweiler. She is now receiving treatment every 3 months in the form of gamavit injections and emicidin injections. She gets vitamin tablets in between. Based on this, I concluded that in the period from 7 years of age and older, adrenal glands deteriorate in dogs. Weakening comes general condition organism and as a result nutrients poorly reach hind limbs and as a result poor nutrition muscles of the hind limbs, their tone and contractile activity weakens and the above symptoms appear. As soon as we inject gamavit, then all vitamins and minerals enter the bloodstream and this stimulates the adrenal glands and the whole organism as a whole.
A 10-year-old poodle came to us with a diagnosis of pneumonia, was treated outside the walls of our office with antibiotics, but there was no improvement in his general condition. On examination, shortness of breath, cough, heart failure in the pulmonary circulation. Lung inflammation was not found, but congestion in the lungs is pronounced and very similar to pulmonary edema. We prescribed a course of gamavit under the skin with an initial one-step injection of 10 ml, and then 5 ml once a day for 10 days. Emicidin was also prescribed at a dosage of 3 ml per day under the skin. Obvious improvements came on the 5th day. The dog began to eat and play. Stabilization of the general condition came on the 15th day. The cough was observed only in the morning, the discharge of sputum from the lungs was complete. This dog received gamavit for 2 years in the event of a clear deterioration in general condition. A total of 4-5 times a year with a course of 3 ml 1 time per day under the skin for 5 days. While maintaining this method of administration of gamavit, the dog lived to be 13 years old.
American Cocker Spaniel 10 years old, diagnosed with heart failure, atrophy of the muscular mass of the hind limbs, unsteady gait, intermittent claudication in all 4 limbs, stands up hard, depression is observed. Prescribed: gamavit intravenously 10 ml at a time, in a stream and 5 ml once a day under the skin for 10 days. An improvement in general condition was observed on day 7. Gamavit was prescribed prophylactically 2 times a year. Gamavite improves the quality of life. The dog becomes cheerful, cheerful, plays like a puppy and can withstand little physical activity. The condition of the skin and coat is improved. Cocker lived with us until he was 15 and died of old age. With the help of gamavit, our patients have lived to a very old age, and their quality of life is high. Agile, playful, with good skin and coat. If by their old age they still have to die, then they die without torment, without convulsions, quickly and quietly, which is very important, since the owners of dogs cannot endure the death throes of their old favorites.
Have you noticed that the German Shepherd has weak legs? Do not immediately panic, even if this is your first experience of keeping dogs. Hind limb weakness is usually the norm in puppies. Missing at five months muscle mass, which explains the lack of power in the paws. The bones have grown, and the ligaments are not yet strong enough to support the puppy's large weight. But this is not the only reason. In this article, we will talk about what may be associated with the weakness of the paws in both an adult German shepherd dog and a puppy.
When purchasing a puppy, it is worth mentally preparing in advance for the fact that in the future he may have health problems. One of the first difficulties you may encounter is a paw problem.
In addition to the usual age-related manifestation of this trouble, there are other reasons. They can be divided into groups:
- elbow joint;
- dysplasia of the hip joint;
- tumors;
- spinal injury;
- injury.
Let's consider each cause of weakness in the paws in detail.
Elbow dysplasia
Impaired bone development in elbow joint which is inherited. Because of this, puppies begin to limp on the front limb at six months. Fleeing from pain, the dog may deliberately not step on the paw, but during the trot it still limps.
Symptoms of lameness can appear as early as four months, exacerbated by little exercise.
Hip dysplasia
Hereditary disease is a violation of the development of the hip joint. As a rule, at birth the puppy looks absolutely healthy, the first symptoms begin to appear in six months.
The disease begins to provoke overweight, non-compliance with the diet, lack of vitamins D2, D3, as well as increased physical activity on the limbs.
The disease begins with mild discomfort. Gradually, the shepherd begins to limp not on its hind legs, and then completely stops getting up on them.
Tumors
A dark growth can be found on the bone of the front limb of a German Shepherd after six years of age. Because of him, the dog begins to limp and refuse to walk.
If the lump quickly passed, then it was most likely inflammation. It is necessary to worry in case of slow and prolonged tumor growth. If such a tumor is in one place, then it is benign. If observed fast growth bumps, then this malignant tumor that affects other parts of the body, tears apart the tissues of the body.
What to do: If the lump does not go away within three days, you should urgently see a doctor. Perhaps you will be on time and the tumor will be removed with the least possible consequences.
Spine injury
If your dog's hind legs fail, there is a chance of spinal cord injury. The German Shepherd begins to limp on the hind limbs, as paws begin to ache first. Gradually, the hind legs begin to give way, after which numbness sets in.
The puppy could get injured in childhood, during too active games, which led to compression of the spinal cord. Due to the resulting edema, due to poor oxygen supply, cells die off and thereby disrupt the functioning of the limbs.
If there is genetic inheritance then may develop the following types diseases:
- degenerative - metabolic disorders in the tissues of the spine;
- osteochondrosis - due to genetic disorder development, injuries, microcirculation blood goes damage intervertebral discs;
- tumors in the vertebrae, which can lead to a fracture of the spine;
- spondylosis - aging of the vertebrae. Tissues are gradually affected spinal column, because of which the dog first begins to squat on its hind legs, and later they refuse altogether.
What to do: Never do self-medication. At the first sign of lameness, you should immediately contact your veterinarian.
Trauma
A pet can get various injuries anywhere and anytime: during training or, during games, fights with other dogs.
With sprains or bruises, the dog begins to limp on the sore paw, and the bruised area may swell. The pet whines pitifully, indicating that it hurts. In this case, you can handle it yourself. In case of injury, apply a cold compress for half an hour and change it every two hours. Elastic bandage will help with stretching. In any case, do not allow the dog to actively move and play until the paw is normal.
You should behave in a completely different way in case of dislocations or fractures, since self-treatment is strictly prohibited. In both cases, the dog cannot stand on a limb at all.
In case of dislocation, the bone flies out of the joint and only an experienced doctor will be able to correctly set it in place.
If the fracture is open, then the bone sticks out from the outside, in case closed fracture a broken paw looks shorter than a healthy one.
Once you find a fracture, fix the limb, apply ice, and get the dog to the hospital as soon as possible.
Necessary prevention
To make your puppy grow healthy dog with a good musculoskeletal system, it is worth adhering to several rules:
- observe correct;
- add to food only the necessary in a reasonable amount;
- raise your puppy correctly, without overloading him with unnecessary physical activity.
Almost all puppies are born with perfect limbs, but problems may come in the future. As a responsible German Shepherd owner, it is your responsibility to take proper care of your dog. You should not only feed your puppy properly, but also make sure that he does not overeat. When the baby starts to stand up, being overweight can immediately ruin the joints.
Remember to keep an eye on the puppies' play area. The surface must be level and not slippery, free from obstacles and drafts. The puppy should not be given large physical activity... Also, do not bandage the dog's limbs, disrupting blood circulation.
Just let the puppy grow into normal conditions and everything will be fine with you.
Have you encountered a problem weak paws at your shepherd dog? What was the reason?
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