|
Ear cropping of the Doberman Pinscher is usually done at approximately 7 to
8 weeks of age. The operation requires anesthesia and the puppy must be kept
from eating for approximately 12 hours prior to surgery. Although the
procedure does require the puppy to be anesthetized, it may lessen your
fears about cropping to know that the operation takes only 30 min. and the
puppy is under anesthesia for only that time. The very first thing your
puppy will want to do after being cropped is eat ---- which shows you how
much the whole procedure actually bothers a young puppy!!
|
For the first 7
days after ear cropping, your pup will remain in his rack (or cup), with
sutures holding the edges closed. Between 7 and 10 days after cropping,
the sutures will be removed, the cup changed. Again, for 7 to 10 days
the pup will remain in his cup with the ears taped erect until all the
cut edges are healed. Having the puppy’s ears up in a cup makes it very
easy for you to keep the edges clean. Use peroxide to clean the edges of
the ears and then dust the edges with BFI Powder to help dry them out.
BFI Powder is also used for Athlete’s Foot and is readily available at
most drugstores. If this is not available, just use the juice of an Aloe
Leaf (or an ointment) to help heal the edges. |
 |
Although we often laugh at the prospect of seeing our Doberman Pups with
cups on their heads, it really is the easiest way to keep the ears upright
while they heal. Unfortunately, it is also usually very easy for the puppy
to remove the cup with regularity. Because it is so important that the
pup’s ears remain in the cup until they are completely healed, one must be
extremely vigilant during this period. The way in which you care for a
cropped ear has a huge impact on whether or not that ear will ever
stand properly.
Ears should not be taped until most of the scabs from the surgery have
healed. If there are only 1 or 2 scabs left, you can cover those with cotton
and a little antibiotic powder and then tape over them.
There is no set
amount of time it takes before a puppy’s ears will stand; the average time
for taping is approximately 4-5 months. Most pups have their ears up by the
age of 6 - 7 months. That said, it isn't unusual for some ears not to stand
until the pup is a year old. And some puppies have poor ear leather, which
means that the ears won't ever stand perfectly or the tips will curl inward.
These problems can also be the result of a poor ear crop.
There are many methods of aftercare. Doberman ear crops should only be done
under the guidance of an experienced Doberman vet/breeder/handler. Achieving
ears that stand properly requires time and commitment on the part of the
owner. Most agree that the ears should be taped for a week, then untapped
long enough to allow the ears to breathe and dry out, then taped back up
again. The longer the ears are left untapped, the longer it will take for
them to stand on their own. |
