How to Set a Dog's Ears

You have a dog that is of a pricked-ear breed; however your puppy's ears have not taken a proper set. You're concerned that your pup's ears will not be correct for the breed standard. How do you remedy this? One way is to wrap your dog's ears. By wrapping your puppy's ears around a soft post, her ears will quickly stiffen and the cartilage will strengthen so that they stand up correctly.

Things You'll Need

  • Mild otic solution
  • Measuring tape
  • Sterile bandage pads
  • Bandage tape
  • Vet wrap
  • Bandage scissors
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Instructions

    • 1

      Gently clean your dog's ears with a mild otic solution made for dogs, and allow them to dry.

    • 2

      Measure the inside of your puppy's ears from the wide base of the ear, where the ear canal branches out from the outer ear, to the tip of the outer ear.

    • 3

      Cut two sterile bandage pads to the length you just measured.

    • 4

      Roll up one sterile bandage pad so that it will fit inside your pup's ear. Tape it together with bandage tape.

    • 5

      Roll the other bandage pad and tape it in place so it stays rolled.

    • 6

      Place one bandage in an ear. Be sure it goes to the bottom of the fold of the ear so it sits perpendicular to the inner ear canal.

    • 7

      Wrap your puppy's ear around the bandage and wrap Vetwrap around your puppy's ear from bottom to top. Tear off the Vetwrap.

    • 8

      Wrap the other ear in the same fashion.

    • 9

      After three days, remove the Vetwrap and apply new. Continue in this pattern for perhaps several weeks until the cartilage stands upright on its own.