![]() It’s usually floppy-eared breeds like Beagles that need regular cleaning with topical solutions due to the “closed” nature of their ears, which makes them more prone to trapping dirt.Īll dogs have self-cleaning mechanisms in their ears. Typically, dogs with upright ears such as German Shepherds don’t need regular ear care. If your German Shepherd’s ears flop suddenly, you should consider your ear care routine. It can also lead to smelliness and infection. Poor hygieneĪs we mentioned above, poor ear hygiene can lead to drooping of the ears. If your German Shepherd’s ears have flopped suddenly after years of being up-right, it could, again, be related to poor hygiene or even a case of ear mites. Why have my German Shepherd’s ears flopped suddenly? When this occurs throughout a German Shepherd’s puppyhood, it can prevent the bones and muscles in their ears from developing properly, and they can flop permanently as a result. Similar to malnutrition, this is common in dogs that come from a background of neglect or homelessness.Ī build-up of wax, debris, or dirt can make the ears heavy and cause them to droop. Poor hygiene during puppyhoodĪnother possible explanation for your German Shepherd’s floppy ears is an absence of hygiene in the past. Both conditions require urgent veterinary attention, and treatments will likely include special diets and supplements. Malnutrition, in general, can also be deadly and should be obviously identifiable by looking at a dog’s body in terms of weight – or lack thereof. ![]() If severe, nutrient deficiencies can be deadly. Other symptoms of calcium and vitamin D deficiencies include muscle spasms and joint issues. This is especially common in rescue dogs that come from puppy farms, homelessness, and neglectful backgrounds. If a dog was deficient in vitamin D and/or calcium as a pup, their ears may not develop properly, and they could flop permanently as a result. Vitamin D is also needed to keep bones healthy and strong. So, in order to sell “show-quality” pups, some breeders will try to breed German Shepherds with ears as large and pointy as possible, but sometimes, their ears get too big to hold themselves up, and so they end up flopping.Īs mentioned above, calcium is needed to develop and strengthen the cartilage in the ears in order for them to stand up. Judges of dog shows and competitions also often look for large ears in the breed. The American Kennel Club’s breed standard for German Shepherds states that their ears should be “moderately pointed, in proportion to the skull, open toward the front, and carried erect when at attention, the ideal carriage being one in which the center lines of the ears, viewed from the front, are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the ground”. BreedingĪ German Shepherd’s ears can also be floppy due to their breeder’s practices. It is rare, but just like coat length, eye color, and coat color, a dog’s ear shape is also affected by their genetics. Although most German Shepherds have up-right ears, some can have floppy or semi-pricked ones. If your German Shepherd’s ears have always been floppy, it could just be their genetics. Their ears will return back to their original shape as soon as their hormones calm down. This is totally normal, and don’t worry, it’s only temporary. They might be up-right one day, then floppy the next, or even change throughout the day depending on their mood. ![]() You may even notice that their ears look different every day during this period. So, their bodies may draw calcium out of other areas, such as the ears, weakening their skeletal structure and making them flop. It starts at around three weeks old and ends at 4-6 months of age, although it can take longer.ĭuring teething, a puppy’s mouth can require extra calcium to support the growth. Teething is a period that all infant mammals go through, in which their baby or milk teeth fall out and their adult teeth grow in. Several young puppies experience floppy ears during teething. To start off, let’s explore some of the most common reasons for floppy ears during (or since) puppyhood in German Shepherds. Why your German Shepherd’s ears are floppy could depend on a few things – have they always been floppy, or have they suddenly flopped? Are they both floppy – or is only one of them drooping whilst the other stands up normally? Why are my German Shepherd’s ears floppy?
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