Ears are a very defining part of a husky, because of their triangular shape and perfectly erect conformation. Most husky parents don’t know that before they become such a distinctive feature, they go through a period during which they are floppy and soft.
Husky ears will start to stand up around 6 – 8 weeks of age. There is no strict timeline, and there can be cases where the ears start to stand up only when the puppy is 10 weeks or more. It all depends on the genetic inheritance and the food you are giving to your puppy. For some huskies, the teething period can determine a delay in getting their ears to stay up properly.
If you are concerned for your husky’s ears, you most likely shouldn’t be. They will eventually look like a perfect triangle, just as you want them to, but it may take some time. In this article, we will see if there is anything that can be done to accelerate this process. We will also tell you in which cases it may be a good idea to take your puppy to the vet and have him checked.
Reasons Why Your Puppy Has Floppy Ears
As we already said, most huskies can get their ears to stand up when they are between 6 and 10 months old. There can be cases where it can take even longer for a puppy to get its ears in an erect position. As a general rule, you shouldn’t be concerned if your husky still has floppy ears. It just means you have to be patient and wait a bit longer. In some rare cases, there can be conditions that prevent the ears to stand up. These are:
1. Genetic Heritage
If one of the parents (or even grandparents) of your pup had floppy ears, this could have been passed on to the next generations. Usually, proper breeders will not mate a husky with floppy ears. This situation can occur only if your husky comes from a shelter or any place where its background cannot be traced.
If you think this could be the case with your puppy, there is nothing you can or should do. If the floppy ears are a genetic heritage you just have to accept it and love your pooch even more. It will be something that will make your dog unique and possibly even cuter.
2. Cartilage
Another reason why a puppy could have floppy ears is because of its cartilage. She could have weak cartilage and for this reason, the ears cannot stand up. The external part of a dog’s ear is made 100% from cartilage that is usually quite tough.
Weak cartilage can be a hereditary condition or it can be caused by some kind of trauma. Even playing too rough with other puppies or even with humans can cause the cartilage to weaken. If you think this is the case for your puppy, take her to the vet because there are supplements that can reinforce this membrane.
3. Teething
The teething process for a puppy can be very stressful and have an impact on its ears developing properly. This period usually goes from when a puppy is 3 months old until he is about 6 months old. Puppies usually suffer a lot when they start to develop their adult set of teeth. Gums will be red and bleeding most of the time. Puppies will chew anything they find to alleviate the pain they are feeling.
During this phase, all of the muscles of the jaw and the ones of the ears will be very stressed. For this reason, it is very common to see floppy ears in huskies when they are going through teething. If your pooch is still going through this phase, you should worry about the ears. It is highly probable that her ears will stand up as soon as she finishes this process.
What Can I Do To Make My Husky’s Ears Stand Up?
The best thing to do if your puppy’s ears aren’t standing up is to wait until they do. This is an issue that most of the time gets resolved by itself. If you want to make this process easier for your husky, there are some things you can do. These are:
1. Be Delicate With Her Ears
Since trauma is one of the main causes of weak cartilage, you should avoid playing with your puppy’s ears. They are quite fragile and cannot take too much rubbing and patting. Even though it is not easy to avoid touching their adorable ears, you should avoid any strain on them until the puppy is at least 6 months old.
2. Chew Toys
These can be very useful to your puppy. Having something to chew will alleviate the suffering caused by teething and will also make the muscles of the neck and jaw much stronger. Since these muscles play an important role in the process of “puppy ear standing”, it is recommended that they are properly developed.
Another good aspect of giving your puppy chew toys is that they will probably stop eating away half of your furniture. Just always get quality chew toys that will not harm in any way your pooch.
3. Diet
Diet is an important factor in your puppy’s general health and even for her ears standing up. Feeding your dog with premium food is essential if you want her to live a long and healthy life. Food that has a good balance of proteins, vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats will help your puppy grow properly and develop the right amount of muscle.
If you are not sure if your puppy is eating the right food, check with your vet. Huskies often need specific nutrients like omega 3 and 5 to be included in their diet.
Is It Cruel To Tape A Dog’s Ears?
Some people try to resolve the floppy ears on their puppy, by putting some tape on them to keep them straight. This is not at all a good idea if you want your puppy’s ears to be in the right position. More often than not, puppies with ears tapped will have them crooked when they get to be adults. This is due to the fact that they have been tapped in the wrong position and once the muscles are completely developed they will just stay that way.
Conclusion
If you are concerned because your puppy has floppy ears, don’t be. Most of the time the ears will fix themselves and they will look fine when your husky is an adult. Puppies usually will have their ears up when they are between 6 and 10 weeks old. It is not rare, though, to find puppies that need a bit more time to have their ears in a perfect triangle. Especially if your puppy is having a bad time with teething, this could have an impact on the muscles of the jaw that are the ones that hold the ears up. You should wait until the puppy has his adult set of teeth, before doing anything about his floppy ears.
There are some cases in which the ears of a puppy are not standing straight for a health condition. Most of the time it will have to do with weak cartilage or a hereditary factor. Providing your puppy with quality food is the most important thing if you want him to grow properly and have perfect ears. Don’t play rough with your puppy’s ears because the cartilage can weaken. Tapping your puppy’s ears is also not something you should do. You risk doing more damage than anything else. In nearly all cases, if you want your puppy’s ears to be straight there is one thing you need to do. Wait.
