Huskies have characteristic large pointy ears, but when do husky ears stand up after being floppy at birth?
Your husky’s ears should stand up by the time they are 6 months old. If your husky is older than this and shows no signs of their ears standing up you should contact your veterinarian.
Keep reading to learn all about husky ears standing up, when it happens and what you need to do.
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Do Husky Ears Stand Up Naturally?
While each husky is different, generally a husky’s ear-standing process starts when your puppy is 6 weeks old.
Their ears are typically completely perked before or by the time they are 6 months old, and this happens naturally.
Methods to make this quicker such as taping should be avoided, but more on this later.
Why Does It Take So Long?
The reason why it can take some time for their ears to stand up is that the bones and cartilage in their ears are in the process of growing. This is supposed to be a gradual process.
If your husky’s ears have not perked up or started to stand up by the time they are 6 months old, you should book an appointment with their vet.
The vet will check your Husky’s ears for any underlying problems with the bones or cartilage by giving them a physical exam.
Do Husky Puppies Have Floppy Ears?
Husky puppies will have floppy ears for up to 6 months until they stand up.
Their floppy ears can stand up briefly if your husky is listening vigilantly to something or intrigued by something, but they will go back to being floppy until they have fully developed.
What Factors Contribute To Making A Husky’s Ears Stand Up?
While there are several factors that contribute to your husky’s ear growth, diet is one of the most essential factors that will help or hinder their ear standing.
As with all living things, diet is a big part of maintaining health. Your husky puppy is no different, and they require an appropriate diet to keep them fit, healthy, and ready for action.
Making sure your husky’s diet is rich in nutrients will be critical for proper ear growth.
There are a couple of key nutrients that are vital for husky puppy growth:
- Protein – Protein is vital for optimal growth and muscle development.
- Fat – A source of essential fatty acids.
- Calcium – Calcium has several benefits for puppies such as overall growth, maintaining healthy bones and much more.
Signs Your Husky’s Ears Are Starting To Stand Up
If your puppy’s ears perk up when they get excited or curious but then relax when the moment has passed, this is a good sign that their ears will stand up permanently by the time they are 6 months old if not sooner.
You should check your puppy’s ears regularly to see if they are starting to feel firmer over time.
When a husky’s ears stand up, they will feel less soft and become stiffer over time.
How Do I Take Care Of My Husky’s Ears?
Whether you’re waiting for your husky’s ears to stand up or they are already perfectly pointy, there are steps you can take to ensure that their ears stay clean and healthy from puppyhood through their adulthood.
If you take your puppy swimming or give them a nice bath (sparingly, of course), make sure to dry their ears thoroughly.
Excessive moisture left behind in the ear can lead to an unpleasant and painful ear infection.
Clip overgrown hair inside of your dog’s ears. The hair in their ears can hold onto dirt and bacteria so keeping the hair short will help to prevent ear infections.
If your puppy isn’t a fan of haircuts make sure to take them to a professional groomer instead to avoid injuries to yourself and your puppy.
If your husky’s ears seem more prone to become dirty easily, you should clean their ears once a month. Read our husky ear cleaning guide for steps on how to do this.
If you notice any of the following, you should take your husky to the vet for an exam:
- A foul or unusual smell coming from inside your puppy’s ears.
- Gunk-like buildup in their ears. The gunk may be light brown, dark brown, or dark red in color and have a tar-like consistency.
- Aggressively shaking their heads.
- Rubbing the sides of their head on the floor or other surfaces.
- Excessively scratching or pawing at one or both ears.
- Crying or growling when you touch their ears.
These are all potential signs that your dog is developing or has an ear infection.
Treating an ear infection requires a visit to your dog’s vet as medicine may be needed to properly treat it.
Things To Avoid When Your Husky Is Young
The two main things to avoid while your husky’s ears are standing up are taping and touching the area too much:
- Avoid vigorously massaging your dog’s ears as doing so may actually interrupt the process of their ears standing up. Their ear cartilage is softer and more susceptible to breakage than bones so keep those ear rubs light and gentle.
- While some people opt to tape up their husky’s ears in order to make their ears stand up faster, there is no way to know for sure if taping will work. Taping their ears can lead to your puppy being physically uncomfortable and also weaken their cartilage over time instead.
The best thing to do is to simply let their ears develop on their own.
What If Your Husky’s Ears Aren’t Standing Up?
If your husky has reached 6 months or older and there are still no signs of their ears standing up you need to get in touch with your veterinarian.
They will be able to assess their ears and determine what is wrong. Sometimes this can be due to infection or physical damage, but it is crucial to get a professional involved.
Summing It Up
Once you have decided on whether or not you should potty train your husky outside or opt for an indoor dog potty, you may start to wonder about the smaller things such as when your husky will be sporting their signature pointy ears.
With proper diet, consistent physical observation, and cleaning of your husky’s ears, you can be sure that your puppy will have perfectly perky ears in no time.
