Skip to content

What's that in your ear, Kipawa?

Basenji Talk
  • For the last couple of days, Kipawa has been sneezing. But it was much worse yesterday, so I got him to the vet pronto. Around 8 p.m. I got a call back.

    Vet: "We cleaned out so much sand out of his ears".
    Me: "Yeah. One of the dog parks we go to has lots of sand".
    Vet: "When was the last time you were there"?
    Me: "Almost 2 weeks ago, and I clean his ears when we get back".
    Vet: "Those ears of his are like a catcher's mitt"!
    Me: "They are that"!
    Vet: "We also got out something really interesting. Both Dr. Thrasher (2nd vet) and I (our regular vet) saw something white. We both looked at each other and said "it couldn't be"!
    Me: "What was it"?
    Vet: "A seashell".
    Me: "HUH"?

    So, the shell was taken out. :)

    I guess at some point in his young life Kipawa heard the ditty "… sells sea shells by the seashore", and he wanted to bring in a little extra cash to pay for his kibble.

    I'm curious now - what is the oddest thing pulled out of your basenjis? Any orifice.

  • OMG that is way too funny. Well that makes the rule of three….you were sick, hubby was sick and well Kipawa was sneezing...you should be all done now! Maybe Kipawa thought he could hear the ocean if he got the shell in his ear? I have no odd orifice/B stories, but that is the first I have heard of a dog with a shell in his ear!

  • <<<>>>>
    Me neither!
    Ears always trouble me especially when the dogs are out in windy weather or when the grass is in seed.

  • Well, maybe Kipawa should read Jonesy's blog of his favorite things, http://drsophiayin.com/blog/entry/dog-product-review-jonesys-favorite-things

    The Outfox Field Guard might not prevent all the sand but would at least keep him from anymore seashells in his ears.

  • That blog has lots of cool doggy things in it! I am liking the ball drop cookie thing.

  • I'm glad the shell was removed safely and that Kipawa is ok.
    so far not had anything odd stuck in/on the Basenjis.
    However on Christmas eve my parents papillon was playing with his soft toy and suddenly decided to destroy it.
    Christmas day night he woke my mum up by retching and heaving, eventualy she heard something drop on the floor. It was a large plastic eye from the toy. He had a lucky escape for sure

  • Oh my gosh, so THAT'S what that mesh face mask is all about!
    And Kipawa, that sounds like it could have been a potentially scary incident! I'm glad everything was okay. I told my partner and it made him cringe and shriek. Apparently he has a huge phobia of anything getting lodged in his ears.

  • omg. glad Kipawa was ok!! that is insane!
    maybe you need to buy him ear covers? he he

  • LOL did they think the shell caused the sneezing? All I can think is it was causing drainage due to pressure and am not sure that makes sense.

  • Something pressing on or 'tickling' the inner ear could certainly cause the urge to sneeze, hopefully that's all.

    Never had strange things in dog's orifices, but when my son was a toddler and put stuff in his ears, the pediatrician showed me a shadow box on his office wall where he kept the more 'unusual' things removed from kids noses and ears.

    Hope this is the last of your troubles!

  • hi Debra - they actually thought the voluminous amount of sand had more to do with it. The sneezing was a totally dry sneeze - no liquid or what I call 'sniggets' coming out.

    I think the shell was just an added aggravation, albeit a much larger (in size) one. Yes, I understand what you mean by causing pressure (I think). I'm thinking of when I get water in my ears and how I stomp my feet or do anything to get my ears feeling 'balanced' again.

    It seems the ear flushing did the trick. I have only had a two tiny tiny sneezes from him since I got him home, and I would almost think that was from irritation from the procedure.

    I looked at the Foxtail mesh mask that was suggested. Not sure if that would work for us (gut feeling). My sister is very inventive and creative. Perhaps we can come up with something that can work.

  • What about putting cotton balls in his ears before going out to the beach or dog park or whatever? I have heard of this being done before and then all you do is pull them out afterwards and dispose of them? Apparently if your dog is a 'head out the window doing 60' type you are supposed to do this because if you don't your dog can do deaf because of the wind noise.

Suggested Topics

  • What's your B's neck measure (trying to size a collar)?

    Basenji Talk
    4
    0 Votes
    4 Posts
    14k Views
    TimesthemythT
    You can find a lot of puppy collars at thrift shops for pretty cheap - would never pay full price for one. I'm getting mine at 14 weeks and was told that 8-12 inches was what was being used - then at 4- 6 months graduate to 10-14 inch collar.
  • It's Official…

    Basenji Talk
    27
    0 Votes
    27 Posts
    13k Views
    TMartinT
    No problems, lets me learn for future reference which is always a good thing :) Kaia is still petite. I haven't weighed her in about 2 weeks or so, she had been hovering just a smidge under 18 lbs, she may have finally gone over that now. That's why I was hoping to put off until July, wanted to make sure she had plenty of time to grow because we weren't too sure if she grows slowly or if she'll just stay petite. But I look back on her first pictures with us and wonder when she got so big!
  • Here's the skinny

    Basenji Talk
    14
    0 Votes
    14 Posts
    6k Views
    C
    Thanks all, great info!
  • Through a Dog's Ear

    Basenji Talk
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    4k Views
    Buddys PalB
    I really believe this helps. Uzie does have separation anxiety and just about 10 min before I leave, I put on a station from Directv that has easy listening. I enjoy it when I am home and do notice that all three of my pups do seem to settle down on their beds and enjoy it! I thank you for posting the link, my girlfriend needs this for her aging Silky who gets so worked up during a storm that he defecates all through the house…..
  • Soup's On

    Basenji Talk
    13
    0 Votes
    13 Posts
    3k Views
    CraighC
    @Lenora: She had got up from her nap, gone into the bedroom and knocked the ironing board over on her head, all in the space of less than a minute! LOL. Bella almost beaned herself during Christmas. She jumped up on the hearth and tried to pull down one of the stockings. It was held up by a very heavy wrought iron stocking holder. I heard it hit the floor and came into find her with the stocking in her mouth. It must have just missed her by an inch or so. She had gone for 3 weeks with no interest in the stockings. Don't know why they managed to get her attention that particular day. I sure hope she calms down at least a little bit when she's older. :eek:
  • Who's that behind me?

    Basenji Talk
    9
    0 Votes
    9 Posts
    2k Views
    BDawgB
    My dogs do this all the time. Well, Lexi does anyway- she's the only one who can fit/balance on the back of the sofa. ;) ha! And she'll tap your head in a heartbeat if there's something you have that she wants! lol