PetSugar

All Ears: 12 Common Shapes For Furry Lobes

PetSugar — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 04:31:38 PDT

Click through and see if you can spot the ear that most looks like those found on your own dog!

Keep Your Dirty Paws Away From Doggie Ears!

Morgan Ashley Parker — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 15:45:58 PDT

Staying clean is key, especially for doggies with droopy ears since dirt and bacteria can get trapped inside, multiply, and cause an infected disaster. Yuck. Oftentimes, a bad odor will clue you in to an ear issue, and always check with a vet to make sure the problem isn't serious before settling on a solution. Regardless of how you squirt and swab ears down, don't forget to do these three things before you get started:

Clean under your nails. Time to dig out any dirt and grime from under your nails with a file and make sure there are no jagged edges that could hurt your pooch.

Continue with the tips and

Wash your hands. Of course you'd think to wash your hands after, but scrub your hands under running water before you get started with an antibacterial, fragrance-free soap.
Do not apply anything else. Refrain from adding perfume or lotion when you're done, and, if you had it on before, make sure it's totally gone.

(Remember, if you have questions to be answered, simply post to the Pet Peeves group - we're all here to help!)

I Need Your Help . . . Ear Protection From Rain?

PetSugar — Fri, 21 May 2010 06:00:50 PDT

Rainy days go away! Not only does the wet stuff totally annoy some pets, it can be harmful, too. Check out this message about a three-year-old blue American Pitbull:

We rescued Diva at seven months old, and she had already had her ears clipped. It was a chop job to say the least - the problem now is that she is getting gunk in her ears when we walk, especially in the rain. I am looking for something to protect her ears and not block her hearing.

To see my advice, and offer your own,

First off, I'd check with a vet to confirm that build up isn't coming from an infection. To keep ears clean, pick up a safe cleanser with Almond or Macadamia nut oils to repel water and soften stubborn wax. Anyone else have any suggestions to make walk time less sticky and less waterlogged?

(Remember if you have questions to be answered, either send me a private message or simply post to the Pet Peeves group - we're all here to help!)

This Side Effect of Growing Makes Pointy Puppy Ears Fall Down

PetSugar — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 13:05:05 PDT

One of my favorite things about lil North - this is not him, but that was - was his flippy floppy ears. While they drooped forward when he was very small, they stood up for a few puppy months before one, and occasionally both, suddenly started flopping backwards. While I didn't care if they never stood back up again, and wouldn't tape them, I didn't know this was totally normal!

Do you know why some pups have droopy ears that stand up, then droop and stand up again? It's not for the reason I thought but find out if you'll be surprised and

.

As it turns out pups with natural, uncropped ears commonly display this change while teething! Next time you're chewing something, pay attention to what you feel near your temples. The pulsating that happens as you bite down happens in a pup, too. This means the muscles in that area are constantly working, and the strain can cause ear muscles to weaken and lose their shape as a dog teethes. After he's done, they should stand back up as an adult (if they were standing in the first place) but that's the reason for a stop and drop. In North's case, my Boston Terrier has perfect-albeit-huge pricked ears that twitch at the slightest sound but don't droop ever now. Have any of you witnessed this change in your own pooches?

Fireworks and Your Delicate Ears

FitSugar — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 03:31:20 PDT

I'm ready to celebrate the Fourth of July, but must admit I am not a fan of the noise that accompanies fireworks - lovely as they may be. Those booming sounds can really damage the delicate structures in your ears; once they're damaged, they never regenerate and can't be repaired. This condition is known as noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). The loss is permanent and may cause impaired hearing or total loss of hearing down the road.

NIHL can be caused by one exposure to a loud noise such as an explosion, or by regular exposure over an extended period of time. If you continuously experience sounds over 85 decibels (dB) then a hearing aid may be in your future. Check out how some common sounds compare:

Rustling leaves: 10 dB
A whisper: 20 dB
Humming of a fridge: 40 dB
A conversation: 60 dB
Busy street traffic: 70 dB
Vacuum cleaner: 80 dB
Lawn mower: 90 dB
A large orchestra: 98 dB

To see how fireworks measure up

Fireworks for spectators 800 feet away: 88 to 126 dB
Fireworks for spectators 10 feet away: 155 dB
Front row of a rock concert: 110 dB
Military jet takeoff: 140 dB
Motorcycles, firecrackers, small firearms: 120 to 150 dB

So when it comes to ear safety, it's best to enjoy a fireworks display from far away. If you're serious about preventing ear damage, pick up some foam or silicone earplugs. They sell them at most drug stores for less than $5. I know they're not exactly the most fashionable things to sport, but I'd rather wear these for 20 minutes than hearing aids for the rest of my life.

Mommy Dearest: Can I Clean My Baby's Ears With a Q-Tip?

LilSugar — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 08:00:51 PST

Mommy Dearest,

I've been noticing a little earwax in my 3-month-old daughter's ears. Is it OK to clean it out with a Q-Tip?

- Wax Woes

To see the response from Mommy Dearest,

Wax Woes,

I know it's tempting to grab a cotton swab and clean out your lil one's ears, but you should avoid the temptation. Inserting something into a child's (or adult's) ear canal could do more harm than good by easily puncturing the eardrum - even if you're super careful. Plus, according to WebMD, earwax is nature's protection for the ear canal, and there's no reason for you to try to get rid of it, especially since you could end up packing it against her eardrum instead of removing it. To clean the outer part of your baby's ears, just use a washcloth moistened with warm water. If you're still worried about buildup, talk to your daughter's pediatrician.

Submit a question for this feature at the Mommy Dearest Group on TeamSugar.

Source

Just a Reminder: Keep Those Ears Clean!

PetSugar — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 07:00:12 PDT

With the weather out here in California constantly changing from hot, to windy, to cold, and back again, I noticed that North's ears tend to get dirtier faster (especially with us hitting the beach more often in the Summer months). I like to clean his ears about once a week or so with Fuzzyard Organic Ear Cleanser ($22) that contains Aloe Vera to soothe, and a mixture of Almond and Macadamia nut oils to soften stubborn wax.

But, if you aren't keen on the liquid solutions, I learned that Samson uses Earthbath Ear Wipes ($9) that come in a jar of 25. Since they are all natural, they don't sting or burn, and LilPeaPod tells me they work great! If your pet is a swimmer, it's especially important to keep an eye out for ear infections, and cleaning regularly will help stave off any problems. What do you use to keep your pet's ears clean?

Love Fireworks? Invest in Earplugs

FitSugar — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 11:00:00 PDT

Fourth of July means fireworks! I don't want to rain on your parade (since the Fourth is often celebrated with parades, too), but the loud pops and bangs of fireworks can cause serious hearing damage.

When the delicate structures in your ear called hair cells - sensory cells located in your inner ears responsible for converting sound energy into electrical signals - are damaged, they never regenerate and cannot be repaired. This condition is known as noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). The loss is permanent and may cause impaired hearing or total loss of hearing down the road.

NIHL can be cause by one exposure to a loud noise such as an explosion, or by regular exposure over an extended period of time. If you continuously experience sounds over 85 decibels then a hearing aid may be in your future. Check out how some common sounds compare:

Rustling leaves: 10 dB
A whisper: 20 dB
Humming of a fridge: 40 dB
A conversation: 60 dB
Busy street traffic: 70 dB
Vacuum cleaner: 80 dB
Lawn mower: 90 dB
A large orchestra: 98 dB

To see how fireworks compare

So when it comes to ears safety, watching a public display from afar is your best bet. If you're serious about preventing ear damage, pick up some foam or silicone ear plugs. They sell them at most drug stores for less than $5. I know they're not exactly the most fashionable thing to sport, but I'd rather wear these for 20 minutes than lose my sense of hearing forever.

Source

Pet Peeves: My Dog Has Dirty Ears

PetSugar — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 17:06:09 PDT

Q: I have an English Cocker Spaniel at home, and, as this breed is notorious for ear problems, I was hoping you had some tips about how to clean the dog's ears safely and effectively. I usually take her to the groomers, but I was not very pleased with her grooming last time. Help!

A: Cleaning ears is extra important for dogs like spaniels, hounds, or other breeds with long, floppy ears. Buy an ear cleansing solution from your local pet store (like Veterinarian's Best Ear Relief Wash & Dry). For droopy-eared pooches, first hold the ear up and back. Either soak a cotton swab with the liquid or squirt the solution into your pet's ear (per the instructions on the bottle). After cleansing, massage the dog's head directly under his ears for about 30 seconds to allow the solution to penetrate.

Allow the dog to shake out the excess liquid. Be careful not to let go of your pup's head before you massage it in so he doesn't shake it out before it can work! If your pup's ears have wax or debris, next use a soft cloth to wipe them out. Never insert a cloth down the ear canal! Finally, hold your pet's ears back to allow them to dry and consider applying an ear drying cream or powder to speed the process. Remember, talk in a soothing voice to your pet during this time and, if during any part, he seems troubled, schedule an appointment with a vet or groomer. This way, you can get an expert tutorial.

Source

Game of Thrones "The Prince of Winterfell": What We're Still Talking About

Becky Kirsch — Mon, 21 May 2012 11:39:38 PDT

It's hard to believe that there are only two episodes of Game of Thrones left, and this week feels like the calm before the storm. As Robb, Theon, Tyrion, and Stannis prepare for some serious battles, the ladies in all of their lives start making some moves of their own.

Catelyn takes family matters into her own hands, Talisa finally seals the deal with Robb, and Osha's keeping a secret. As the tease for next week's episode reminds us, war is on the horizon, but let's get into this week's biggest moments when you

Catelyn sets Jaime free. Catelyn makes a decision of the heart and sends Jaime back to King's Landing under Brienne's watch. Naturally, Robb is none too pleased to hear about this, and calls his mom a traitor for negotiating with the Lannisters. So even if Jaime makes it all the way home (which I'm doubtful of, since he's weaseled his way out of the Starks' grip before), what's going to happen when Arya is nowhere to be found?
Robb and Talisa sitting in a tree. Robb's got a lot on his plate right now, what with Theon leading Occupy Winterfell and his mother freeing Jaime and all, but he's still got his flirtation with Talisa to keep him going. Their relationship gets taken to the next level after a deep conversation about life and death, and Robb adorably admits that he doesn't want to marry the Frey girl he's betrothed to. Talisa returns the sentiment and - after what feels like many minutes of trying to unlace Robb's shirt - they get busy on the floor tent. I love seeing Robb as the vulnerable teenager he really is under his kingly demeanor, but I have a bad feeling that his relationship with Talisa is not long for this world.
Bran and Rickon live (of course)! I wasn't really expecting Bran and Rickon to be the poor charred bodies that Theon proudly displays in the center of Winterfell, but I still breathed a sigh of relief when we see that they're safe. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for the local farm boys who ultimately suffered Theon's wrath. Theon gets an earful from Yara, who essentially calls him a moron for killing the Stark boys, and he doesn't fight back - so does this mean he doesn't know who he actually ordered to death?
Arya and Jaqen go full alliance. With only one death order left under her belt, Arya starts getting clever with her pact with Jaqen. To get even more help from him, she asks that he help her escape - if not, she'll order his suicide. Since Jaqen knows that he's beat, he agrees and takes down the guards so that Arya, Gendry, and Hot Pie can flee Harrenhal. But where will they go from here? And is this the last we'll see of Jaqen?
Cersei gets the upper hand (and then immediately loses it). During a standard round of sibling banter with Cersei and Tyrion, Cersei starts acting obviously smug about something. Tyrion bites and she tells him that she's learned about the whore he's been hiding, and she threatens to kill her if anything should happen to Joffrey in battle. Tyrion starts to sweat, but then - twist! - Cersei's apprehended the wrong woman, and Shae is still safe.

What'd you think of the episode? And with war brewing, who do you think will make it through the rest of the season?

Photo courtesy of HBO