Stone Mountain Veterinary | Stone Mountain Ear Cropping and Ear Implants | | Hidden Hills Animal Hospital |

Ear cropping is performed on some breeds of dogs for cosmetic purposes only. Boxers, Great Danes, Doberman Pinschers, Miniature Pinschers, Schnauzers, Bouviers des Flandres, and American Pit Bull and Staffordshire Terriers are among the more common breeds in which ear cropping is performed. We recommend that this surgery is done when your dog is 9 -13 weeks old. The procedure requires full anesthesia.

Pre-surgical and pre-anesthetic testing are performed to check general health. Vaccines must be up to date prior to surgery.

Here is a brief description of the procedure...

• Pre-anesthetic sedatives, pain medications, and preventive antibiotics are administered.
• Hair clipping and surgical prep of the ear flaps.
• Surgical scrubbing for a sterile technique.
• Careful measuring and drawing the cropped ear.
• Trimming the ear flaps.
• Careful suturing to avoid crushing or unnecessary inflammation to the underlying cartilage.
• Careful monitoring is done until the patient had recovered and is fully awake.
• Post-op topical and systemic medication and antibiotics to minimize itching, pain, inflammation, and infection until the ear edges are well healed are administered.
• Suture removal is done in about 10 - 14 days.
• Once the ear edges are healed, occasionally some combination of forms, glue, and bandages to "train" the ears are necessary.
• Most dogs tolerate all this well and continue to eat and play and adore their owners. Most heal quickly without side effects or problems.