Why an Alaskan Malamute’s Ears Won’t Stand Up, and What to Do
📝 Summary
A Malamute's ears should stand by about 4 months. If they stay down, the usual causes are ear mites (causing vestibular signs like a head tilt), calcium deficiency (poor cartilage/bone growth), or a hereditary 'soft ear' that can't be cured and shouldn't be bred. Treat mites with ear cleaner and a miticide, fix calcium with diet and sunshine, and you can also brace the ear with foam and lash glue for about two months.
1 Why Malamute Ears Stay Down and How to Fix It
Why the Ears Won’t Stand
1. Ear Mites
If a Malamute that used to hold its ears up suddenly drops them and can’t recover, ear mites may have caused vestibular disorder — wobbly walking, a tilted head, and floppy ears.
2. Calcium Deficiency
Long-term calcium shortage stops the ear cartilage and bones from developing, so past the right age the ears stay limp.
3. Genetics
A hereditary ‘soft ear’ condition can also keep ears down; it can’t be cured, and affected dogs shouldn’t be bred.
What to Do
1. Treat Ear Mites
For mite-related drop, first clean the ear canal and outer ear of hair and wax with ear powder and cotton swabs, then apply a pet ear-mite solution and let the dog shake it out. Once mites are gone, the ears rise again.
2. Fix Calcium Deficiency
For calcium lack, adjust the diet to a calcium-rich dog food or supplement, and add sunshine time to improve absorption so the ears stand sooner.
You can also cut a foam tube to ear size and tape it inside the ear with lash glue for about two months; just don’t block the ear canal.
The above covers why a Malamute’s ears may not stand and how to help. If you have other concerns, consult a veterinarian.
+ Related Articles
Want to learn more about pet health?
Explore our pet health channel for more science-based care guides
Read More Articles →