When Rolo was about 4.5 months old he got an ear infection for which the vet prescribed topical medication and an ear cleaner. His infected ear needed to be cleaned out and both ears irrigated with ear cleaner for 14 days, as well as the infected ear getting the medication. This happened twice a day. He absolutely hated it (not surprised). We tried to make is as positive an experience as possible, feeding him treats before, during and after the whole ordeal (for him and us). The vet then advised that he gets his ears cleaned with the ear cleaner once a month (more - if he swims or is spending lots of time exposed to water, each time he exposes his ears to water/rain/damp grass etc, effectively). We try to limit his ear cleaning to once a month (albeit, it might happen twice a month, if he paddles in his pool etc.). Has anyone found a way to do desensitise a puppy to this process or at least keep them calm during this process? He just loathes it so much that it makes him really anxious, zoomies ensue, he runs around tries to bite. I tried putting the solution onto the cotton wool rather than administering from the cleaner nozzle (which is not painful in itself) but that had a mixed outcome also. Finally he had to be lured in the utility room where he eats his food and was fed lots of kibble per ear (this would happen normally anyway, each time his ear is cleaned), and he then let me lift his ear, stroke them and finally clean them, at his pace,- as if he'd given in to the inevitable. There was no trying to bite, trying to escape etc. That was a step forward, but I was wondering if anyone had any similar experiences and what you did to get your puppy or dog (and yourself) over the hump, getting comfortable with what is effectively an invasive and unpleasant process?
If I have to do anything with my lab, who has had so much done to him in his short life that he shies away from anything, I use a Licki Mat. It gets smeared with peanut butter or banana and has suction pads so it sticks to a vertical surface like the freezer. I can then do most things apart from cutting toe nails! At the moment he has a hotspot on top of his head but he lets me bathe it with water and apply savlon with no fuss Might be worth a try as your dogs head would be at a good height to deal with the ears.
All I have to say to my lab is “Let me check your ears “ and he comes sits between my legs and lets me check them and apply ointment and rub it in , I rub behind his ear without doing anything and he loves it ,try just rubbing 1st and get him relaxed
