Ear Infection Blues

I took Sobe to the groomers a couple of weekends ago and a week later, he ended up with an ear infection.  Rick thinks it's because I don't plug cottonballs in his ears during baths but I think it may have been the groomer!  Well, point is, Sobe has an ear infection and the vet gave us these drops to put in his ear twice a day.  The first night I gave him the drops, he had no clue what was happening and gave a squeak after I was done.  It was pretty effortless!  Next morning, it became a 10 minute struggle where Sobe squirmed and kicked.  I held him like a football under my arm and dug the bottle under his ear and administered the drops.  Keep in mind Sobe has floppy ears that don't stay up.  I fold his ear open but with each squirm, it will flop back down to cover up his ear canal.  I missed many times and he has ointment on his fur and around his head.  Poor thing looks like a grease ball.  By the third day, Sobe knew what's up.  He sees me grab the bottle of drops, buckles down and does not let me pick him up.  You'd be surprised how quickly they learn especially if it's something they hate!  From that third day on, it was a constant 20 minute struggle of kicking, wriggling, barking and snapping morning and night!  Rick has a bad case of humanizing Sobe and doesn't want any part of the "traumatizing" experience because Sobe will associate it with him.  So I wonder what Sobe thinks of me!  His crazy mommy grabbing him and relentlessly flipping his ear open twice a day!  It's already been two weeks of this and Sobe and I both hate it.  We would both be exhausted by the time I'm done with the last drop! 

Finally this weekend, I had Rick's friend, Aaron, help me hold Sobe down while I gave him the drops.  The whole ordeal was under a minute as opposed to 20 minutes of struggling!  Not like Sobe really has a chance to struggle under Aaron's headlock.  I'd like to add in that while Aaron and I were being the "bad guys", Rick called Sobe over to him afterwards cooing, "That's ok Sobe! I love you!"  Need I say more?

Eventually I was able to convince Rick that it's much better for Sobe to get through it as quickly as possible instead of prolonging a bad experience.  The last couple of times, Rick put Sobe on his side and held him still while I put in the medicine.  There was even less struggle this time!  Rick doesn't have to be the bad guy now and I hope Sobe will finally see a glimmer of halo over my head.