CockersOnline Forum
Cocker Specific Discussion => Grooming => Topic started by: luna_babe on July 23, 2002, 09:11:24 AM
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Hi All,
As we all know cocker spaniels get their ears in everything and trying to keep them clean is a nightmere. I was just wondering if any of you had some tips for keeping them clean and also how much cleaning is health?
I worry about cleaning Oscar too much as it is not healthy, but on the flip side I worry about him getting them dirty and getting an ear infection.
An advice would be appreciated
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Can just answer on my own findings, So i cannot say this is the way to do it. But we have had no problems. We give his ears a wipe after all meals just the tips. We also clean his ears with cotton wool once a day this is just a quick clean on the inside of the ear takes about 5 secounds an ear. Then weekly when he has had a bath we use some special wet tisues to give his ears a little more cleaning but never deep inside hie ear. Just a little more thourough than the normal daily clean, at this time we give his ears a good look over.
Thats all we do... i shall kepp an eye on the thread to see if i am doing it right :)
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I wish all owners were as diligent as you, Barry :) I frequently have Cockers in for grooming with dirty, smelly ears that haven't had a cleaning for months :(
Can't add much to your routine except to say that in addition, I use an old-fashioned ear powder called "Thornit", just a pinch every week or so. This helps to prevent any ear trouble & keeps ears clean & fresh (it also works very well as a treatment should there be a problem with excess wax, ear mites, minor infection etc) You can buy this online from http://www.championpets.freeserve.co.uk/ears.htm (http://www.championpets.freeserve.co.uk/ears.htm)
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prevention is better than cure - peg Oscars ears together on tiop of his head when he's eating :D
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I've heard about pegging ears before, but surely clothes pegs are too tight and would hurt the ears? Is there anything else you can use?
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Hi All,
I have a handy hint for keeping ears back at meal times........ towelling hair bands. They are just perfect for a cockers ears. Mine all know (even my 5 month old cool dude puppy - Otis 8)) that they don't have their dinner until the bands have gone in. I have done this from as soon as the ears were big enough to stay back, and although you do get them shaken out (so obviously their not too tight) occasionally I find it saves a lot of time in the long run. Better than cleaning up bits of food debris out of 8 ears! :P
It might take a bit of getting used to for an older dog but I find they soon forget about them when the bowl is put in front of them.
Hope this helps :D
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OK I am going to try the hairband idea.......... hahaha!!!! I'm gonna get you Oscar! ;D
I have tried a dish with a lip round the top so his ears fell down the sides of it, but he couldn't get his food from under the lip...... poor dog :-
Thanks for the advice!
Rowena
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you can get proper bowls designed for dogs with long ears from your local pet store. The rim is about 2+ cms wide all the way around, and it is designed to stop your cocker's ears from getting in the food/drink.
Of course, it doesnt work when your cocker insists on jumping into the food/drink feet first... Daisy really needs a course in table manners ::)
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Although Fudge isn't a full bred cocker he's got quite dangly ears, I just use one of the high sided spaniel bowls when he starts eating his ears automatically flop over the sides of the bowl, plus I feed him dried food 90% of the time. The pegging of the ears takes me back 20 + years, my mums friend used to do it to her black cocker Jeanie!!
To Michelle ;)At long last we meet ;D
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I use the high sided bowls too & they seem to work well for my lot - haven't had to resort to pegs yet anyway :)
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Hi All,
Okay I've got some photo's of the dog's eating their dinner with ears tied back somewhere :o & when I can work how to scan them in (I never have got the hang of the scanner I reckon its got gremlins in it! >:() I will post them up for you all to have a good laugh at my beautiful babes expense. But as they say 'He who laughs last' etc.
Gilly,amazing how we have stayed so similar, even posing for a photo in exactly the same way ;D lol
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For the inside of the ear I use a product which is homeopathic and called Thornit. It is a very clean medical smell and I use it more as a prevention once a month. It is about £6 for a small bottle which lasts quite a while.
As for the outside - I just brush and comb as often as possible. Contact me if you need more information as this cannot be bought in stores or at vets.
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I wish all owners were as diligent as you, Barry :) I frequently have Cockers in for grooming with dirty, smelly ears that haven't had a cleaning for months :(
Can't add much to your routine except to say that in addition, I use an old-fashioned ear powder called "Thornit", just a pinch every week or so. This helps to prevent any ear trouble & keeps ears clean & fresh (it also works very well as a treatment should there be a problem with excess wax, ear mites, minor infection etc) You can buy this online from http://www.championpets.freeserve.co.uk/ears.htm (http://www.championpets.freeserve.co.uk/ears.htm)
See above for the link to buy Thornit
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I try and clean Jenna's ears with the ear wipes but it is a thankless task, she really doesnt like it and I have real problems wiping them.
I usually have to bribe her and give her something tasty to chew on, that way my hands get a rest from those teeth.
Anybody elses dog naughty when they are being groomed or do I just have a little tinker on my hands. ;D
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It's normal for puppies to play up when you initially start grooming them but I wouldn't opt for the "bribery" approach - inadvertently you are rewarding her for being naughty. Do you groom her/wipe her ears on a table/raised surface? Hope you're not struggling with her on the floor anyway :) Try only rewarding her when you have finished the grooming session - you are the one in control, you decide when the session is over & when she has a reward. Never stop what you are doing because she doesn't like it & always say "No" very firmly if she nips at you (you really have to mean it, a gentle "no" won't do it!) Remember to practise the grooming routine every day (10 mins or so) & with time you'll have a puppy who will happily accept being groomed!
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thanks for the advice Jane, yes I was struggling on the floor with her. I'll have to dig out an old table and try her on that.
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You''ll find it a lot easier on a table - it'll give you better control, though you might find your pup tries to jump off to begin with (it's when an extra pair of hands would come in v useful :) ) Keep at it though & you will in this little battle!
Jane
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Hi Joanne,
Following on from Jane's ever useful advice :) you could try putting a rubber car mat on the table for Jenna to stand on, or if you don't have a spare one of those a bath mat or dampened towel will also give her something to grip on and should stop her from sliding around. Hopefully making it easier for you to clean her ears.
Its amazing what a 'firm' voice can achieve, which won't be difficult after being nibbled if Jenna's teeth are anything like Otis's 8). He's very good at being groomed but he has 're-designed' my skirting board in the kitchen whilst he's been teething ;D. So it's back to being in the cage when I'm out. As they say 2 steps forward and 1 step back, but overall he is very good and he'll get there in the end :D
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A very good tip for a none slip surface. :D I was wondering how Jenna would stop slipping around on our table. ;D I will let you know how I get on. :-
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Sorry - forgot to mention the non-slip surface - v important!
Jane