Many clients have questions about various aspects of ear
cropping. We've provided helpful information below that explains
choices you will need to make before your pet’s upcoming surgery.
Q: Should I have my puppy’s ears cropped?
This is a personal decision. Ear cropping is not right for
every dog and it is not the right choice for every person who owns a dog. We
recommend a consult appointment with our veterinarian if you are unsure about
whether or not to go forth with the procedure. There is a tremendous amount of
aftercare involved to make sure the ears stand properly, and an owner who is
not committed to being diligent about the aftercare should probably not crop
their pet. A consult appointment will give you the opportunity to discuss the
pros and cons of ear cropping and will help you to make the best decision for
your new puppy.
Q: At what age should I crop my puppy?
The ideal age depends on the breed and texture of ear
cartilage. In general, we recommend this procedure at 9 – 12 weeks for better
results. Dr. Saini has done ear cropping on puppies ages 8 to 16 weeks.
Q: Will I need to make an appointment to get my puppy’s
ears cropped?
Yes, all surgical procedures are by appointment only. We
strongly recommend a pre-surgical exam and consultation. During this time, the
doctor will discuss the ear cropping procedure in detail including size and
shape of desired crop, risks, post operative care and pain control. There will
be no charge for the pre-surgical exam and consultation. The ear
cropping surgery appointments are scheduled on certain days of the week. We ask
that the owner drops off the puppy in the morning and pick-up him or her up in
the afternoon.
Q: How soon after the surgery will I have to comeback
for a recheck?
For a positive outcome, sutures and bandages are left on the
ears until the edges are healed completely. You will need to come back to our
clinic for suture and bandage removal 2 weeks after the surgery.
Q: How long will it take for the ears to stand?
Most pit bulls, miniature pinschers, and miniature
schnauzers require only 1 – 2 taping appointments and the ears will stand.
Other breeds like doberman pinschers, danes, and boxers require 2 – 4 months of
proper taping until the ears will stand. We recommend the taping of ears at 7
days interval. We prefer that clients return to us for all posting and taping
appointments. It is important to us that the aftercare is handled properly so
that the outcome of the cropping is the best possible.
Q: Can you do a “custom crop” to make the ears look the
way I want?
If you are looking for a particular look, we recommend an
ear crop consultation. Ear crops are designed to compliment a dog’s look and
are based on an individual dog’s head and ear length, purpose of the pet (show
or companion) and the breed specific standards.
Q: What are the pre-surgery requirements at Animal
Medical Clinic?
All puppies should have at least 2 DHPP vaccines and 2
dewormings and should be free from any external parasites (fleas and
ticks).
Thanks so much for sharing this information! I just got a dog, and when I took him in for a check up, the vet suggested that I look into having his ears cropped. I was a little worried at first, because I would much rather not. However, I've found that there are practical purposes! Like you mentioned, it's practical for dogs to have shorter ears and tails for protection reasons. When you look at it that way, it seems to be much better.
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What's the cost on surgery?
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