The Zim Family Cocker Spaniel Forum

Hi everyone,

We adopted a cocker mix several months ago and he's amazing. He's a great dog and our personalities match perfectly.

Anyway, we've been having a huge problem with ear drops. He hates water to begin with, but now whenever he gets a bath he is so afraid of the coming ear drops, that he gets completely terrified.

Yesterday this issue really came to a head. He was more scared of the ear drops than ever. He was cowering in the bathroom and crying. We had to hold him pretty firmly and intensely to get the ear drops in, so that he wouldn't get an ear infection. He was fine after they were in, but since The Ear Drop Incident, he's been very nervous and tense. He didn't want to eat his food this morning and I ended up having to hand feed him. He even brought chewed his food in the other room away from us.

I think he was abused in his past (poor pup) and that compounds his cocker sensitivity. Anyway I was wondering 2 things:

1. If anyone has any ear drop tips for the ear drop terrified dog! He's fine with our fingers in his ears, so no ear infections yet (knock on wood), but the ear drops just are the scariest thing in the world.

2. If anyone has any good trust building to do with dogs! This Ear Drop Incident has really seemed to shaken his trust in us. He's still being affectionate, but he's noticeably nervous and tense.

Thanks so much! I really appreciate any help anyone can give us!

Usually the ear drops are cold. If you are just using preventative, you might try keeping that on top of the dryer (as I do) while running a load just prior to using it. I don't keep it there all the time, just when I'm getting ready to do her ears. Others have kept it above a TV, etc. You could also put the bottle in warm water until it warms up. I find Sadie is more amenable to the warm drops than the cold ones.

Also, be sure you are just squeezing the liquid in and not letting the bottle make those slurpy/squeeky sounds - that's really loud in their ears.

Good luck.

Hi Liv. Welcome to the forum!

I second MJ's solution AND what I have done in the past with a nervous dog is to saturate the cotton ball with the ear drops/cleaner and then just stick the cotton ball in the ear and squeeze once it is in there. No scary sounds, no cold liquid. Massage the ear canal, let him shake his head, and then use another cotton ball or square to clean out the remaining liquid.

You might also just gently massage his ears while you're watching TV or otherwise petting him, and maybe feed him a REALLY tasty treat at the same time - something he only gets with an ear massage, like a little piece of hot dog or chicken - so he comes to associate an ear massage with something really good.

What's your dog's name? We would love to see some pictures, too. Keep us posted on how things progress.

On top of the fridge will often keep the drops a bit warmer too...I agree I would give him a tasty treat immediately after cleaning his ears.

Warm up the ear drops and go slowly. Reward for good behaivor and please stay on the site and show us the pictures.