tipsonstrips

“TIPS FOR STRIPS” EAR POSTING USING BREATHE RIGHT NASAL STRIPS
Judy, TJ’s Black Boxer Darlings

PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO READ THIS INFORMATION ENTIRELY AND FOLLOW EXACTLY FOR BEST RESULTS. IF AFTER READING THIS INFORMATION, YOU FEEL YOU DON’T HAVE THE TIME, UNDERSTANDING OR PATIENCE, PLEASE DON’T ATTEMPT THIS PROCEDURE. CONTACT A REPUTABLE VETERINARIAN OR BREEDER WITH EXPERIENCE IN EAR POSTING.

THIS PARTICULAR INFORMATION APPLIES TO EAR CROPS THAT ARE SHORTER AND WIDER THAN THE STANDARD SHOW CUT SIMILAR TO THE GERMAN CUT. IF YOUR LENGTH IS EQUIVALENT TO THE SHOW CUT, THIS METHOD IS PROBABLY NOT FOR YOU.

I HAVE HAD TREMENDOUS SUCCESS WITH THIS METHOD PROFESSIONALLY AS WELL AS PERSONALLY. I PREFER THIS OVER THE TRADITIONAL EXTENSIVE POSTING WITH POSTS, FOAM AND TAPE. THE STRIP METHOD ALLOWS THE EARS TO HEAL WITHOUT HAVING TONS OF BACTERIA TRAPPED WITHIN THE TAPE, STITCHES, FLAPS OF THE EAR OR THE EAR CANAL. I’VE ALWAYS HATED THE THOUGHT OF NEWLY CROPPED EARS TRYING TO HEAL UNDER THE TONS OF MOIST BACTERIA FILLED TAPE. IT CAN BE A REAL NIGHTMARE WITH INFECTIONS ETC. USING THE BREATHE RIGHT STRIPS IT ALLOWS THE EARS TO HEAL EXTREMELY FAST, STAND UP IMMEDIATELY AND ALLOWS THE PUPPY TO STILL HAVE THE USE OF HIS EARS TO STRENGTHEN THEM TO STAND AND ALSO ALLOWS YOU TO SEE THE AWSOME DISPLAY OF BODY LANGUAGE THAT ONLY A BOXERS EARS CAN PROVIDE. USING THIS METHOD, YOU BEGIN POSTING THE DAY AFTER THE SURGERY.
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SUPPLIES NEEDED:

CONTAINER OF BABY WIPES
CAN OF “TUF SKIN” ADHESIVE BY CRAMER **
If you can't find it locally, go to :   http://www.ithacasports.com/tufskin.html
BOX OF 30 COUNT BREATHE RIGHT BRAND NASAL STRIPS- SIZE LARGE-CLEAR- UNMEDICATED. *
SMALL CUTTING BOARD TO WORK ON.
TOOTHPICKS if necessary
RULER

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*Note: I’ll save you the trouble, money and frustration with trying to use an alternative brand of strips and adhesive.. .   It’s very simple… They do not work.

STEP ONE.   Clean the inside of your puppy’s ear with baby wipes. If the ears are newly cropped be careful NOT to take the scabs off around the stitches. Try and remove all the dried debries out of your boxers ears. YOU ARE CLEANING THE INSIDE OF THE EAR IN PREPARATION OF APPLYING THE STRIPS. DO NOT PUT OINTMENT OF ANY KIND ON YOUR DOGS EARS. You want them clean and dry.

     STEP TWO:   REMOVE 4 BREATHE RIGHT STRIPS FROM THEIR PAPER OUTER COVERINGS. (YOU WILL BE USING 2 STRIPS PER EAR.) Each strip has two areas that I will refer to in my instructions. The "wings" are the area at each corner that extend out. The "spine" of the strip is a clear but visible support stripe that runs through vertically down the middle of the strip.

STEP THREE: You are now going to practice overlaping two strips to extend the length to accommodate your puppy’s ear. Practice with the white paper backing on the strips.   Approx Length should be around 3 ˝ inches for puppies 10 wks of age. Hold the two strips together overlapped in the middle for one continuous spine.   Insert in your puppies ear to get a general idea of the length needed to post. The breathe right strips need to be down inside the ear (covering the bumpy parts) and extend just above the tip of the ear. Continue to hold the strips to that exact length until you measure it. Note the size for future postings.

STEP FOUR Now that you know how long the strips need to be when overlapped for a proper fit, it's time to remove the white protective covering on each strip.   Working one strip at a time, after removing the white paper covering, lay the strip sticky side UP on your working area. Place the strips at least 2 inches apart. The hardest part of the whole procedure is trying to get the strips from sticking to your fingers.    After you’re done swearing at the strips for sticking to your fingers… you will learn very quickly that the only way to hold the strips is in the middle of the outside edge, without touching the sticky side. Now that your reading this with at least two sets of strips attached to your fingers, or an occasional elbow, try using a toothpick to work them off your fingers and on your working area until you master the handling the strips.

STEP FIVE: You are now ready to spray your strips with Tuf Skin.    Using short sprays, hold the can at a 180 degree angle (ABOVE THE STRIPS). Make sure the entire strips are coated with the spray.   If you spray them at a 90 degree angle (from the side) , your strips may turn over or blow into another strip. You may not even notice it until you go to use the strips and one or more are glued to your work area upsidedown.   Again, with practice you'll learn what angle to hold the can so the strips don't move together. Allow to dry approx 1 to 2 minutes (strips will be sticky to touch.. strips that are too wet to use won't stick to your fingers.. allow to dry for another minute or so. (this again depends on how much spray you added to the strips)

STEP SIX Now You are ready to overlap two of the 4 sprayed strips to make one at the correct length with the sticky side on both strips UP. Make sure the spine of both strips is one continuous line. Place the puppy on your lap looking directly at the ear. Holding the strip in the middle with one hand, (now you can hold on to the sticky side with your thumb) hold the tip of the ear upward with the other hand (your not pulling the stitches, hold just below the tip to straighten the ear and open the ear canal for insertion) and insert the strip downinside the ear but still visible. Without pressing it against the ear, gauge yourself to make sure that the top will be just above the tip of the ear. If it isn't, then adjust the strip before you press it against the ear. If it is, press the strip against the ear in the middle and work your way down inside the ear. (The bottom wings inside the ear are for support and yes you will be coming some of the bumpy part of the inside of the ear) Once it is in place, work your way to the top pressing firmly against the inside of the ear.     Now that it is in the correct position, fold the top wings around the tip of the ear. If it is in the correct position, there should not be any of the tip of the ear exposed. (This is very important to keep the tips from going inward) Keep applying pressure until the strip is visibly attached and in the proper position. You should be able to do with procedure without any discomfort to the puppy.
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Strips should be changed daily until the stitches are removed. After that, each strip, if attached properly, should last at least 3 days. However if you are that good and they do last that long, you must remove them and apply new strips regardless every three days to avoid any chance of bacteria setting in. Once the ears are healed totally and no scabs remain, then leaving them on for a longer length of time will be appropriate.
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If your puppy has stitches in. they need to be removed between 7-12 days after your surgery. (follow instructions from you vet) This method starts the day after the cropping procedure..   Keep other canine, feline and curious human members of your family from licking and chewing and playing, bending or picking at the stitched ears
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You must continue to use this method religiously, do not skip a day. ( take them off.. put immediately back on ) Using this method usually takes approximately 4-6 weeks of continuous posting 24/7 depending on the positioning of the ears before they are cropped (did your little boxer indeed look like the flying nun???) and the age of the puppy when the ears were done, as well as the cut itself. If you are using this method with one of our Boxers, the ears will be standing fairly well by the time you bring your puppy home, however you will need to continue using the strips for several weeks.
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If the situation should arise that your ears are standing perfect for you but the tips just aren’t right. Use the following method: with Ľ inch breathable medical white tape. Tear off a piece approx one inch. Put Ľ inch over the tip. (DO NOT BEND THE TIP) carefully put over the tip keeping it straight and put the large piece left on the outside of the ear. This will give it just enough support and weight to keep the ear from going inward. If by some chance the ear is tipping out, use this method putting the larger part in the inside of the ear.
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I’m sure by the end of week one you will all be pros at this!!!!!…If at any time you are asked by your co-workers what’s dangling off your elbows, (the misplaced strips) just blame it on your snoring husband !! :)) Good luck with your boxers, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

I’m always available for my little Boxer Darlings.
Sincerely and Best Regards
Judy

practice with two strips that have the white backing still attached to accomodate the length of your puppies ears.