Dog ears stay cropped, meaning they require consistent taping (posting) for weeks to months (sometimes up to a year or more) after cropping surgery, depending on breed, crop length, and individual cartilage, with smaller breeds or shorter crops finishing faster than larger breeds like Dobermans, which need extensive, dedicated posting to develop proper standing cartilage from puppyhood until they stand reliably straight and firm, often requiring months of regular re-taping every few days.
The typical cut off date ranges from 12 - 16 weeks. Some veterinarians may also refuse to crop a dog's ears at a certain weight. The typical cut off weight ranges from 15 - 20 pounds. Other veterinarians have no cut off date and will perform the ear cropping procedure at any age, or weight.
While advocates say ear cropping in dogs maintains breed standards, critics point to potential pain and complications, including risk of infection and extended recovery time. Many veterinary associations consider it medically unnecessary.
Ear cropping is not without its risks and complications. The surgical procedure can lead to infections, scarring, and even distorted ear shapes if not done correctly. The process is painful and can cause significant discomfort for the dog, both during the surgery and throughout the healing period.
Some pups may take as much as two months to completely heal. However, the 'hump' of healing usually takes about 7-10 days. Once Fido gets his stitches out, it gets a lot easier! However, even after that, you'll need to be sure to properly tape and post your pet's ears until they are standing up on their own.
It has also been suggested that cropping avoids later ear injury15 or improves hearing, but no evidence is available to support these claims either. Ear cropping is a cosmetic procedure with potential negative outcomes for the animal.
Home after-care and proper postings are an essential part of achieving the desired posture that gives cropped ears their regal appearance. For the first two to three weeks after surgery, it is important that the dog wears a protective collar at all times to prevent him from scratching at his healing ears.
Those who support the practice claim ear cropping can prevent ear infections and avoid sustaining injuries from other animals or dogs. However, this is completely untrue. Cropping doesn't benefit the dog in any way and can actually be detrimental to their health, behaviour and welfare.
Ear Cropping starts at $495 | Good Care Animal Clinic.
Modern practices
[D]ogs have their ears partly amputated—'cropped' is the benign word people like to use—for no other reason than to make them look fierce. This is primarily a German tradition, born out of the military origins and uses of breeds like Great Danes, Boxers, Doberman Pinschers, and Schnauzers.
Ear cropping is illegal in all Australian states and territories. Ear cropping is a surgical procedure involving partial or full removal of the external ear flaps for cosmetic purposes. Breeders of certain dog breeds once routinely cropped the ears of young puppies, using shears, scissors or razor blades.
While a procedure such as this should only ever be performed by a licensed veterinarian under general anesthesia, it's not unheard of for unscrupulous breeders to crop ears at home without pain control. Most ear cropping is performed to achieve a specific appearance and is extremely uncommon in mixed-breed dogs.
Dark Brown or Reddish-Brown
Dark brown earwax may simply be a build-up of healthy wax. Your dog's ear may just need cleaning. Gently wipe away the dirt and debris with a warm, damp cloth and dry afterward. Yeast infections (candida or Malassezia spp) commonly cause earwax to turn greasy, dark brown or reddish-brown.
Ear cropping surgery for dogs is ideally performed when your puppy is between 10 and 12 weeks of age. The surgical process involves shaping the dog's ears to stand up, and requires the use of general anesthesia.
The veterinary perspective
Across a range of countries, routine tail docking of dogs is considered unacceptable by most veterinarians (83% to 92%) and the general public (68% to 88%).
What has been determined in recent years is that ripping this hair out can cause microscopic tears in the ear canal. If bacteria are present it's possible for it to cause an ear infection in an injured ear. There are veterinarians who no longer recommend every dog that grows hair in the ear canal have it plucked out.
How long does the ear cropping procedure take? The duration of the ear cropping procedure typically takes about 1 to 2 hours. This includes the surgical process and the necessary monitoring to ensure your pet's safety and comfort throughout the procedure.
2. Anesthesia and Surgical Technique. Ear cropping is performed under general anesthesia to ensure the dog feels no pain during the procedure. The veterinarian carefully removes and reshapes the ear based on the chosen crop style (short, medium, or long).
The answer to this question will depend very much on the breed of the dog. In general, however, with few exceptions, no puppy will ever be cropped at our office after 5 months of age. In general, Dobermans and Great Danes are cropped between 8 and 10 weeks of age. Boxers are cropped between 10 and 12 weeks.
Ear Cropping Recovery Timeline
Although healing varies by breed and individual, here's a general idea: Day 1 to 3: Pain highest, swelling present, sutures intact. Day 4 to 10: Healing tissue forms, bandages may be checked or changed. Day 10 to 14: Sutures usually removed if healing progresses well.
The AVMA opposes ear cropping and tail docking of dogs when done solely for cosmetic purposes. The AVMA encourages the elimination of ear cropping and tail docking from breed standards.
Historically, tail docking was thought to prevent rabies, strengthen the back, increase the animal's speed, and prevent injuries when ratting, fighting, and baiting. Tail docking is done in modern times either for prophylactic, therapeutic, cosmetic purposes, and/or to prevent injury.
Postings should NEVER exceed 7 days for any reason! recommend that you leave them off for 24 hours, even if they have not been on the full three days. This is because the process of the tape peeling off the ear irritates the skin and can predispose your puppy to skin infections.
TECA BO surgery will not involve the removal of the hearing organ. However, by removing the ear canal, your veterinary surgeon will also reduce your pet's hearing sensitivity. While they will still be able to hear sounds, they may manifest as more muffled than before – similar to as if your dog were underwater.
Pull up on the floppy portion of the ear (this is the "pinna") and begin placing your tape on the ear beginning at the bottom or base of the ear (ie: the "bell"). Again, you will want to apply the tape in such that there is a 50% overlap as you work up the ear, sticky side of the tape against the ear.