Doberman Ear Cropping
What To Expect From Doberman Ear Cropping
If you have just purchased a Doberman puppy, you should start to look into Doberman ear cropping. It was thought that this procedure was beneficial to the Doberman because it increases ventilation to the ear area. It also cuts down on ear infections because the cropped ears are less likely to trap and hold in water. There may be a certain amount of truth when it comes to these things. But the main reason for Doberman ear cropping, is to get the dog ready to perform in dog shows.
Before you make an appointment with the veterinarian, there are a few things to know about Doberman ear cropping. In most dog competitions, it really makes no difference if the dog’s ears are cropped. The quality of the dog does not depend on the ears and many Doberman dogs have actually won competitions, without having their ears cropped. But this choice is entirely up to you. Doberman ear cropping is basically a cosmetic procedure that enhances the look of the dog. If you prefer this look, you should start searching for qualified veterinarians.
You should not take the dog to a regular veterinarian. He should have many years of experience in Doberman ear cropping and he should also specialize in this procedure. Ear cropping is not like spay or neutering procedure because it is a cosmetic surgery that requires an artistic touch. If you have absolutely no idea how to choose an appropriate veterinarian, you can ask your local kennel club for help. They can advise you on who to see and what to expect from the surgery.
There are 3 different surgical procedures you can choose from when it comes to Doberman ear cropping. They are the military crop, the medium crop and the show crop. The military crop means that the dog will have smaller cut ears with a larger base. This surgery is considered the easiest because the pup can quickly heal from it and it does not take a long time for the ears to stand up by themselves. The medium crop means that the ears will be a bit longer than the military crop and base will not be as wide. This surgery can take a bit longer to fully heal. The show crop means that the base is a bit wide but the ears stand taller than the other types of cropping. This procedure can take a bit longer to heal and the ears will have to be trained to fully stand up on their own.
Doberman ear cropping has to be done when the pup is between 7 to 8 weeks old. The surgery itself takes around 30 minutes to perform. The pup will be given anesthesia, so you cannot feed the pup 12 hours before the surgery. After the surgery is complete the veterinarian will tape and cup the ears, to start training them to stand up for themselves. 7 to 10 days after surgery, the tape and cup will be removed and the stitches will also be removed. The veterinarian will again tape the ears back up. You should pay close attention to the ears during this time and make sure there are no signs of infection. They include a foul smelling ear or pus and discharge coming from the ears. You can use peroxide or aloe Vera ointment to clean the edges of the ear.
It can take up to 4 or 5 months for the ears to fully heal and stand up on their own. But occasionally, the tips of the ear might droop downward or curl, even after the taping procedure. This indicates a botched ear cropping and this is usually a result of a poor Doberman ear cropping surgery. This is why it is so important to choose the right vet for the job.