Taking care of your Shiba Inu ears should become one of the most important hygiene routines in your pet’s life. Since these pooches have naturally pointy ears, they’re prone to get dirty more often. Dust, dirt, plant pieces, and seasonal pollen represent the greatest enemies of your Shiba’s ears. That’s why we decided to provide you with useful tips on how to clean them and what are the main facts you need to know.
Are Shiba Inu ears cropped?
Shiba Inus have so-called naturally cropped ears. Their ears stand up when they’re approximately 7 or 8 weeks old. Although it rarely occurs, some pooches may need more time to get fully erect ears. In case your Shiba Inu still didn’t get the desirable ear form, then you can speed up the process and perform tapping. However, you shouldn’t do it on your own before consulting a veterinarian.
We also need to note that it’s nothing unusual to see your Shiba Inu puppy’s ears alternately raised and flopped. It occurs due to constant changes in calcium levels in their bodies. Puppies who deal with the painful teething phase need more calcium for teeth growth. Therefore, it would be of great help to add calcium supplements, eggshell powder, and yogurt into your Shiba Inu diet. Puppies need to eat a diet rich in calcium and phosphorus in the first months, especially during the period of growth and bone development.
How often to clean Shiba Inu Ears?
Although there is no general rule, it’s desirable to daily check your dog’s ears for plant pieces, insects, and other elements stuck inside. Dogs with pointy ears are on a higher tendency to suffer from ear infections, so it’s essential to regularly perform cleaning.
To clean your Shiba Inu ears, we recommend you buy a vet-approved ear solution. Some Shibas may suffer from allergies, so it would the best to find a mild and hypoallergenic formula for cleaning their ears. The general rule for all dogs is to clean their ears with an ear-cleaning solution weekly. Squeeze the formula inside of the dog’s ear, fill the ear canal, and massage gently at the base for about 30 seconds. The squishing sound should be the sign that the debris decomposed. Allow the dog to shake his head to release the dirt and solution from his ears. Since this is a quite messy routine, we recommend you to perform it outdoors.
Since most dogs don’t get thrilled with an ear cleaning routine, our recommendation is to start from an early age. Puppies easier accept habits and routines, so they won’t get anxious or afraid in the future. To help your dog get used to this routine, it would be of great help to use treats or toys to distract his attention. Don’t forget to praise your Shiba with affection as well because that’s how he will figure out he’s done something good.
Is hydrogen peroxide safe for cleaning Shiba Inu ears?
Even though 3% hydrogen peroxide is safe to use for human ear cleaning, it’s not safe for our dogs. It’s because the peroxide can overclean the ears and cause inflammation and itchiness. Noe that our four-legged friends have gentler ears, so you shouldn’t use human products on them.
How do I know if my Shiba Inu developed an ear infection?
As we already mentioned, Shiba Inus can deal with seasonal allergies. Therefore, if your pet excessively scratches his ears, shakes his head, and rubs the ears onto the floor, then you gotta search for the reason. Yellow and brown discharge and bad odor are almost always the signs of an ear infection. Therefore, if your dog behaves unusual and whines and howls when you touch his ears, it’s the sign to immediately take him to the vet.
