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My 10-month-old GSD has floppy ears. How can I make them stand?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | German Shepherd | Female | unspayed | 9 months and 21 days old

2 of my dogs (male and female GSD) are about 10 months now and their ears won’t stand, i tried giving them vitamin b shots first time it was okay then it was impossible to give them shots again they won’t let me do it, anyway am give them multivitamins and calcium oral now for over 2 weeks now but nothing changed my question is can i give the injectable solution orally and if not what should i do to get their ears up? Ps: both their parents have really pointed ears.

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Joy Fuhrman, DVM, MBA, CPA

Answered By Joy Fuhrman, DVM, MBA, CPA

Veterinarian

Published on October 1st, 2017

Typically, if a GSD's ears have not stood up by 6-8 months it is likely that they will not stand up at all. There are however, some taping methods that can assist the ears to stand up. You should talk to your veterinarian before taping the ears because it may make your puppies prone to developing ear infections. The amount of cartilage in a puppy's ears is determined at birth. Oral or injectable supplements will not affect the amount of cartilage in the ears.
Vote Icon1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Answered By Rodrigo Roca, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Hello, its likely that the vitamins and added calcium will not help their ears stand. Unfortunately, some GSDs do not develop this desired trait and likely wont. What you can try to do is to bandage their ears in a standing position to see if this helps.

    I would not use the injectible vitamin B orally. Both calcium and Vitamin B can be found in well balanced diets and there is no need to supplement them unless your dogs have a deficiency.

    Best of luck and hope this helps

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    0Pet Parents found this answer helpful

  • Answered By Megan, DVM, CVA

    Veterinarian

    Published on June 15th, 2017

    BLU is so cute! Some GSD puppies take several months for their ears to stand all the way up and some never stand all the way up. I had a patients who ears didn't stand all the way up until he was 8-10 months old. So you can continue to wait if you would like. You could also look into different taping methods to help encourage them to stand. Just make sure you don't put the tape on their too tight and change it regularly. Sometimes their ears are just so big and some do not have enough cartilage to make them stand up completely. I hope this helps. I think he will be adorable no matter what!

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Vet Q & A
My German Shepherd's ears are still flopped. Will they ever stand up?
Unfortunately there isn't anything you can do to make her ears go up, and stay up. Some GSDs have erect ears, and others don't. To me, it seems that her nervous system and muscles are working fine if the ears go up when she hears something, so I wouldn't worry about this, and would just embrace it as part of who she is.
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Why are my 2-month-old German Shepherd puppy's ears still floppy?
The ears will not have developed completely before the age of approximately 18 months. Until then they will stand up and flop many times. At the age of 2 months ears of a German Shepherd dog naturally flop, ie do not stand up. Your dog is normal and his ears should start to stand up in a few months.
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Vet Q & A
My GSD puppy's ear flopped at 5 months. Will it stand up again after teething?
Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It takes time for the cartilage in the ear to strengthen and stand up permanently. I wouldn’t be concerned at this time about his ears as he is still young and growing. It is also normal for his baby teeth to fall out- and all should have fallen out by 6 months. It sounds like Noble is right on track! Kisses to Noble!
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Vet Q & A
My GSD puppy's ear is floppy. Will biting damage her cartilage?
As much as you can keep the other dog from chewing on her ears, do so, but it's not the end of the world. Their ears will go up and down as they're teething and growing, so they may tip up and down for a couple months more until they stand for good. Congratulations on your new baby, she's absolutely beautiful!
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Vet Q & A
Can I tape my 6-month German Shepherd's ears to make them stand?
Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear that about Elliw (Ellie?). She may be a little too old now to work on those ears but you could still consult with your vet to see what they think. People have used all kinds of supports and tape to get ears to stand. Consult with your vet. Maybe seek out a veterinarian who trims ears and is more familiar with the management of the ears after surgery. They may have some better ideas for supporting the ears. I wish you the best of luck.
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Food & Nutrition
My GSD puppy's ears are floppy. Should I give calcium or B12?
That could be completely normal. B12 and Calcium are not needed unless specifically recommended by your veterinarian for specific conditions, instead I would recommend a good quality commercial balanced diet like Royal Canin or Hills. Nothing broken anyway, do not worry!
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Health & Wellness
How to make puppy ears stand up? Is taping them safe or effective?
Hello. No, this may not be safe or necessary. This really only applies to breeds that have normally erect ears that may need a little help, like German Shepherds. If your dog does not have the underlying cartilage to hold the ear up, all the tape in the world will not help. Plus, if you tape incorrectly you could wind up damaging the skin & cartilage resulting in infection or a mis-shaped ear. It is best to have your pup examined by your veterinarian to see if this is possible, & if it is, show you how to properly wrap. But I always feel that what mother nature gave my dog is the most beautiful of all. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.
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