My 15 week old chi puppy has one ear sticking up and one...

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Answer by chimama
Submitted on 3/29/2004
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It's normal. Chihuahua ears are as unique as the dogs themselves, they tend to do what they want for a while until they learn what's acceptable and what isn't. If both ears are up and one or both suddenly droop, that is probably in response to the process of losing baby teeth and the adult teeth coming in. Suddenly one day they're down, and suddenly one day they're up. Once they come back up, they should stay that way. If by the age of six months or so, one or both ears has never been up, the odds are they won't ever be, and you will have a floppy eared chihuahua. All that means is that you can't show them and shouldn't breed them, but then I'm a firm believer in only breeding genetically clean dogs when done by an experienced breeder. Your dog won't care if his/her ears are up or down, and neither should you, what matters is that you have a wonderful life together. If people ask you why her ear(s) are down, you can say that she's a very rare animal, a floppy eared chihuahua. Most people will be impressed, those of us who know better will likely just smile and wink.

Answer by chimama
Submitted on 6/30/2004
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The ears may not stick up because the muscles never developed, or temporarily due to losing their baby teeth. Having their ears cropped so they stand up wouldn't work, because if the muscles aren't there, the muscles aren't there. Also, cropping the ears would make them look like Dobermans, when a chihuahua'sears are by definition bat-winged looking. Lastly, any vet that would maim a poor defenseless chihuahua should have their license revoked! RANT MODE ON: My personal opinion, but if you want a chihuahua with ears that stand up, make sure you buy an adult. We all take the risk, however slight, that our dogs or our human children won't look exactly like we want to when they grow up. That doesn't mean we should take them in for surgery, that means we should love them for who they are, not what they look like. :RANT MODE OFF

Answer by bremsech
Submitted on 7/10/2005
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My daughter brought home Champ an approx 6 week old Chihuahua, some girl she knew purchased him from an unlicensed breeder (duh) and wasn't allowed to keep him. It became obvious that he was way too young to be taken away from his mother when he got sick. Took him to the vet, put him on antibiotics and nursed him back to health and he is active and fine now and about 11-12 weeks old. My question is, his ears have been up and down a couple times and currently they are bent backwards and have been for about a week now. We don't care whether they are up or down, but should we be concerned about them bending backwards, they aren't just flopped back the tip (appox 1/2 inch) are bent pretty flat against the back of his ear? Is he possibly not getting enough nutrients? We are feeding him 4 times a day a mixture of dry and canned Science Diet puppy food. Any advice is welcome.

Answer by Jim From NY
Submitted on 1/3/2006
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You may find the information below helpful: This is a breeder's trick to train Chihuahua ears to stay up. (This is for puppy ears only. Adult ears that flop will not benefit from this.) Tear off a strip of masking tape about 6" long. Fold the edge of the tape over on itself at an angle. Continue folding the tape over on itself so that you create a triangle of tape. Tear another piece of tape about 3-4" long, depending on the size of your dog's ear. You can also use vet wrap for this. Place the triangle on the inside of the dog's ear with the one point of the triangle pointing up, matching the point of the ear. Make sure it doesn't go into the ear canal. Place it low enough, however, so the top of the ear will not be top heavy. Take the other tape strip and wrap it around the ear, attaching the first end of the strip to the tape triangle. Once again, wrap low enough that the ear is not top heavy. The tape should almost be sitting on the top of the head. Leave the tape in place for one week. Then unwrap the ear (mineral oil or vaseline will help the tape come loose easier). Check the ear. If it's standing up, the tape has done it's job. If not, tape the ear once again using all new tape and wait another week. Usually ears will be standing by this time, although a few stubborn ears can take 3 weeks. The dog may bat at the ear for a day, but will soon not notice the tape at all. If the tape seems to be bothersome after a day or more, check to make sure that you haven't taped too far down that tape is in the ear canal.

Answer by AlyssaR
Submitted on 7/24/2006
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I have a 4 & 1/2 month Long Hair Chihuahua girl that has had a rough time getting her ears up because of all the hair on them. One thing you can do is tape them with sports tape like I have. Just leave it on as long as you'd like and removing shouldn't hurt them unless they are longhaired and you didn't shave their ears. What I do is cut the sharp ends off a toothpick and cut a strip of the Sports Tape long enough to wrap around the entire ear. Then you securely stick the toothpick to the tape (so it doesn't slide down into your dogs ear!) and then put the toothpick & tape onto the inside of your dogs ear. The toothpick will offer stability and the tape will hold it tight. Make sure not to wrap the tape so tight that the ears are folded inward. I always put on an extra layer of tape around the first just to help keep it on as they will try to scratch it off. The Sports tape is ventilated with wholes so that is the only type I use and recommend using. It may take several weeks of taping to get the ears to stay up. You just need to make sure that their ears are in the position you want them to stay in whenever the cartilage decides to harden (after teething, stress, heat, etc.) If you need any more info or pics of taped ears feel free to email me at: roxykjones@yahoo.com P.S. You NEVER would crop a Chihuahuas ears they should stand on their own and if they don't then you will just have a floppy eared Chihuahua.

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Question by naomiww
Submitted on 3/25/2004
Related FAQ: rec.pets.dogs: Chihuahuas Breed-FAQ
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My 15 week old chi puppy has one ear sticking up and one flopping down. Is this normal or should they both begin to stick up at the same time?

Answer by Monkey
Submitted on 4/26/2004
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My chihuahua is 10 months old. About two weeks ago I had him fixed and had his remaining 3 baby teeth pulled since they didnt fall out on their own. Anyways....This morning i came back from vacation and picked him up and one of his ears is floppy! Now I dont think it was that way this morning because he was acting normal. Now he is acting like there is something on his ear and shaking his head around I assume because his ear is flopping and it feels strange to him. Does this mean anything? Could this suggest a sickness or anything or is it normal for ears to randomly flop for awhile? It is normal temperature and he has just been playing like normal.

Answer by Kristi
Submitted on 6/24/2004
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What causes a Chi's ears to not stick up and is it okay to get them cropped so that they will stick up even though you do not plan to show them?

Answer by TWINKLE
Submitted on 9/8/2004
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HI, MY DOG HAVE 5 MONTHS AND ONE OF HIS EARS IS UP BUT THE OTHER HAVE ONLY THE EDGE OF THE EAR DOWN. IT WILL GO UP? IT DOES MEAN SHE IS MIX?

Answer by Anna
Submitted on 9/11/2004
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I have an 11 month old Chihuahua, her years are 90 % of the time down, she puts them straight up when she is alarmed or excited by a noise.... most people I run into say she looks so cute with them down cause she looks like a grown up puppy... no one has asked me yet if there is something wrong with her or her ears.

Answer by chimama
Submitted on 5/7/2004
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Perhaps he has an infection or has gotten something caught in his ear. I would take him to the vet and have it checked out. The surgery might have caused a temporary droop, although that's not one of the usual reasons that chihuahua ears droop. Because his teeth were pulled might explain it. My older chi had her retained baby teeth pulled too, but she never had her ears droop at any time, while my younger dog did have one ear flop when she was losing her baby teeth, it popped back up on its own many weeks later.

Answer by gail
Submitted on 10/6/2004
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i have a male chihuahua that is 3 months old,his ears are not up yet,is that normal.one ear was almost up and the next day it was down.i want have any problem breeding him with my female when the time comes,i don't want to put neither of my chihuahuas in danger.the ears don't matter to me cause i love him the way he is.

Answer by LB
Submitted on 11/3/2004
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Its normal for a chi's ears to have one up and one down at some point in a dogs life they will all put one ear up and one ear down

Answer by ZOEsMama
Submitted on 1/15/2005
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Thank you chimama for the nice way to make the floppy eared chi's feel better. My little Zoe is a deer head, with floppy ears. She's white with carmel colored spots, and a darling black nose and eyes. She is the MOST beautiful dog I have ever seen in my life, and I love her just the way she is. http://ww2.datazap.net/ftp/mrswhite88224/Steph%27s%20Pictures/2004%209-17%20dogs/DSCF0117.JPG

Answer by shawn
Submitted on 1/18/2005
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what can i do to make my chi ears stick up can i rap them up or something

Answer by Cristal
Submitted on 2/3/2005
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It is early February and my chi is scratchy himself until he bleeds. I took him to the vet and she ran test but couldn't find anything. She decided that it was because i didn't use dog shampoo,so i got him oatmeal shampoo. That doesn't seem to be working either.I only bath him once a month and we used dawn on are other chi their whole lives and it never botherd them. Has this ever happend to any one else? What should i do?

Answer by Cindy
Submitted on 2/13/2005
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This page has answered my question...My chi snoopy ears where starting to be erect but then they just drooped down. He has been teething so, I think it must be because of him teething. Thanks this page has been very helpful :-)

Answer by bluchi
Submitted on 3/25/2005
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I have a 10 month old chihuahua with floppy ears and I too have been a little stressed out with this fact but like the other person said puppies are like children, you shouldn't care what they look like, it's the compaionship they provide that counts and chihuahuas are very sweet loving animals- whether their ears are up or down:)

Answer by amy paic
Submitted on 4/22/2005
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both of my chihuahuas ears are not standing up they are now 10 weeks and the breeder said to tape them whitch i have been doing for the past 3 weeks and i take the tape of and still they dont stand up could i do anything else

Answer by Levi
Submitted on 4/28/2005
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How do you know when your chihuahua has or hasn't lost all of its puppy teeth. my baby has just started losing his (2 at the moment) he is 5months old, when do they stop losing them??

Answer by bob from Louisisna
Submitted on 1/18/2006
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WE HAVE A 4 MONTH OLD CHI; ONE EAR IS UPRIGHT AND THE OTHER IS ABOUT 60 PERCENT UPRIGHT BUT THE REMAINING 40 PERCENT DROOPS. A BREEDER SUGGESTED TAPING THE TOP OF THE EAR THAT DROPS. aNY THOUGHTS SHOULD I TAPE OR WAIT A LITTLE LONGER ? iF TAPE HOW?

Answer by yvette
Submitted on 6/2/2005
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i just got my chihuahua puppy. His pictures previously showed erect ears on both sides...but when i received him, one ear flops. He's 3 months old now, can i tape his ears with low adhesive tape (ie scotch tape) to hold the ear up so that the muscles and cartilege might grow stronger? i'veread that at 5-6 months there's no hope, but he's 3 months now.

Answer by sunchi
Submitted on 6/27/2005
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I have a seven year old chihuahua. He is absolutely adorable. His ears flop and I wouldn't trade him or change him for all the money in the world. It is more endearing that he remain unique and ambiguous. Most people compliment his appearance and stumble over his origin w/ the face of a chi and the ears of a puppy.

Answer by hooligan
Submitted on 7/20/2005
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my 10 week old Chi came to me last week with ears sticking up, but one has recently flopped...it can't be due to losing baby teeth already can it? someone told me that you can teach your Chi to hold it up by flicking it's ear and giving a verbal command, but this sounds kinda mean and I question if it would work anyway...

Answer by T$
Submitted on 8/2/2005
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massaging your puppies floppy ears will greatly increase/improve blood flow, providing for healthier and stronger blood vessels which will help the ears stand up as an adult. Whenever your puppy is napping just gently massage the ears!

Answer by brookside124
Submitted on 9/3/2005
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This is interesting. I am a very new Chihuahua owner (the puppy is only 8 weeks old) and I was wondering when his ears may become erect. From these postings, I conclude that they never may become erect. However, that is okay by me. I was just wondering when it may happen, if it was to happen.

Answer by Ashley
Submitted on 9/7/2005
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I have a 12 mo old chi I am looking into breeding once before he is nuetered. He is AKC certified and all that jazz but I was wondering what his teeth should referably look like in order to be a premium stud?

Answer by Missy
Submitted on 9/13/2005
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Is it true that if you give your chiuhauha calcium pills it will make there ears stand?

Answer by mack
Submitted on 10/22/2005
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why is my old dog acting like a puppy AGAIN!

Answer by Cathy
Submitted on 11/2/2005
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When I had a chi puppy whose ears wouldn't stand up at several months of age, my vet suggested cutting a tampon in half and taping the ear around it to "train" it. I got medical tape and tried it. worked amazingly well. takes about a week or two of having a funny-looking chihuahua, but the results are worth it.

Answer by Elena
Submitted on 11/10/2005
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I bought chihuahua boy today! One his ear is down. He is a 9 weeks. Is it normal? Thank you, elena

Answer by ZsaZsa's girl
Submitted on 2/13/2006
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I would like to state that you should deffinately not crop your chi's ears. They are beautiful standing up but they are supposed to be big ears that stand up not short little stubby ones. I know that this probably isn't what you wanted to read if you were planning on showing your dog, but just keep in mind your chi will be gorgeous (as all chi's are) no matter which way the ears point. My 1 year old chi's ears both droop and quite frankly I wouldn't want her any other way. She looks absolutely adorable with her little floppy ears. :)

Answer by Liza
Submitted on 3/10/2006
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I would like to also know I have a dog who is at least 10 months old and my dad got two dogs from the same litter they are only less then 3 months but he thinks his might not be full breed becuase there ears are not standing up and I told him it might be they are still small but I can recall if my dogs where up at the time so i thought maybe someone could help me out.

Answer by MinniLover
Submitted on 3/15/2006
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ok I have recently my chihuahua ( 2months ) ears, that were once perfectly straight, have started to droop, infact within one day they totaly went down, I have called the vet and they told me to come in and get them bandaged up.... my question is, is there a point to this does it even work.... and if not what are the chances that her little ears are going to go back up???

Answer by doxy
Submitted on 5/1/2006
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when chihuahuas have ears that are up one day and droopy the next they need more calcium you can give 1/2 teaspoon of cottage cheese (4%milk fat)each day you shouldnt play or try to perk up ears you can damage them some flop ears are inheirted

Answer by Consuelo
Submitted on 6/25/2006
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How do i take my chihuahua temp.

Answer by john
Submitted on 7/16/2006
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Chihuahua ears are very sensitive. The cartilege in their ears can be broken, and cause their ears to flop. You should never ever allow anyone to "rumple" their ears while rubbing them--esp while they are puppies. This can cause them to have floppy ears.

Answer by Shawn
Submitted on 7/19/2006
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I have a male chihuahua that is about 11 months old and is very small, and he weighs about 2 1/2 lbs. We have had him since he was 9 weeks old. We just recently bought a girl chihuahua and shes 6 months old and she weighs about 3 lbs. His ears stick up and hers don't. When they have puppies what will their ears do? Is it possible that some puppies ears may stick up and some may not?

Answer by EMC2006
Submitted on 9/28/2006
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I want my 3 month old fawn colored male, Sherman, ears to perk up so people stop saying he looks like a mini golden retriever.. if they don't oh well, he's still adorable.

Answer by Susie
Submitted on 10/22/2006
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I happen to prefer the chihuahuas with the droopy ears and want to buy a teacup one that has the droopy ears with a light colored body or Merrels. susibassett@gtlakes.com

Answer by sousou
Submitted on 11/2/2006
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adult teeth does aChihuahua have?