Hello,

Wasn't sure whether this fit in the Medical category, or the Training category

Gus has an ear infection (does it ever end with this guy?!? haha)! He lets me clean and wipe his ears no problem. But the second he sees that bottle of ear drops, he RUNS! I've tried treats, I've tried pretending to wipe his ear and then squeezing some in there. But now, he just doesn't trust me Even with treats, he won't come. He'll sit there and look really upset like i'm tricking him (which i guess i kind of am).

I thought about trying to do it while he's eating since he is very focused on eating when it's mealtime. But i really don't want to break his trust. Even after the ear drops, he's too afraid to come to me afterwards.

So anyone else have this problem and anyone have any tips on how they got their husky to calm down and accept ear drops?

Is there a special chewy he loves that takes a while to eat?

My Anya HATES eye drops, but we stuff a hollow bone with peanut butter and have her lay down before we give it to her. Then while she eats we put the drops in. She doesn't move a muscle, just eats her bone.

We only give it to her at eye drop time. It's gotten to the point that when I say "eye drop time!!" She comes running and flops at my feet in anticipation

I will try that tonight! He does really enjoy a bullystick. But even with those, he'll sit just out of arms reach, and stare at it with this really confused and upset look on his face. It's like he's trying to figure out whether the ear drops are worth the treat. I don't think it's worth it to him. Poor guy. Makes me sad to see him so upset.

I would try instead of getting the drops out and coming to find him- that you give him a few treats from the stash, leash him or hold him while you get the drops out, medicate him and before you release him give him a few more. Personally for things that my dogs dislike I use PB globs to win them over before/after. It occupys them more and is higher value. To my dogs it is anyway.

Try a spoonful of peanut butter. It has solved Anya's fears-eye drops, bath time, the scary dryer.,,

Try giving him a near-empty jar of peanut butter!  Put a few big globs of PB on the side of the jar inside, too.  I do that when I have to trim their nails.  Works like a charm.

For what it's worth, I had the same issue with Juneau and the ear drops. The PB won her over.

I don't know why i didn't think of a Kong full of peanut butter.  that usually wins him over, and he can't just swallow it like he does his other treats!

I'll try that tonight.  He's been having some tummy and soft stool problems, so I try and cut down on the treats as much as possible.  But I think I would rather tackle and solve the ear infection first.  It's more important to me to gain his trust with his ears for any future problems he might have.  

And good call on the leash!  I've been grabbing his collar, which i don't think he likes.  The great thing is that he doesn't growl or bite or snap at all.  Doesn't even lift a lip when i come at him with ear drops.  He'll whine when i pin him down, but that is the worst of it.  Hopefully tonight, I won't have to pin him down  

I just got impatient with him, and didn't think of treats because of his belly problems.  But now I've lost his trust! AAH!  Starting over tonight though for sure!  Thank you!

In addition to going to him and treats as distraction. Never pin a animal down. If you must hold it should be more of very gentle light hug. Using more force upsets all my pets.

I agree. My pinning is more of a tight hug. He's really squirmy because he's already so anxious. I've been touching his ears all night, and have my peanut butter kong ready for later! I froze it with the hope that it will buy me a little more time :p