How to Get Papillon Ears Up and Firm
Papillons are small-framed dogs, usually weighing between seven and 10 pounds. They are known for their large, butterfly-like ears, which have fringe-like hair on the bottom and sometimes on the top. There's a subtype of papillon called "Phalènes"; they are papillons whose ears are permanently down. In Europe, Phalènes are classified as their own "breed," but in the United States they're considered to be papillons.
Instructions
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Consider the age of the dog. Some papillons' ears do not perk up until they're 3 to 4 months old; this is mostly because the muscles in the ear aren't fully developed.
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Massage the crease toward the bottom of each ear to increase circulation. Stimulating blood flow to the ears may help with the development of the cartilage that holds your papillon's ears up.
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Mix some calcium-rich foods, such as yogurt or cottage cheese, in with your dog's food. During the teething process, a papillon's ears may droop; increasing the calcium otherwise diverted to growing teeth may improve the look of its ears.
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Tips & Warnings
Although these are suggested methods for perking up a papillon's ears, there's no hard evidence that they'll work.
References
Resources
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