How Old Do Pitbulls Have to Be to Get Their Ears Docked?

Ear cropping, also known as ear trimming or cosmetic otoplasty, is a controversial practice wherein a dog's natural ears are cut to stand a certain way on its head. Not all veterinarians perform this procedure and doing it does not guarantee that the ears will look the way you expect them too. Most pitbull breeders leave the ears of their pups natural, and let the owner decide if cropping is something he wants for the dog.

  1. Purpose

    • Cropping the ears of pitbull puppies is done for purely cosmetic purposes unless there is a grievous injury. Those who wish to show their pitbulls have the ears cropped to meet breed standards, while others do it because they prefer the look of cropped ears to natural. There are several shapes that are utilized, with some being taller or longer than others.

    Age

    • The age a pitbull can have its ears cropped depends on the veterinarian doing the procedure. Some will perform the operation on dogs as young as nine weeks old, while others wait until they are 16 weeks or older. Most agree that it is best if done when the ears start taking on their natural shape, but before the cartilage has firmed up into its adult form.

    Process

    • Ear cropping is done by cutting the ears into the chosen shape and then healing them in such a way that they stay in that shape. This is a major surgery that requires the use of anesthesia as well as a complex and long period of after care. Post-cutting, the ears must be sutured and wrapped in a type of harness on the puppy's head. The ears must be cleaned regularly and watched closely for any complications, including moist dermatitis, ear infections and scarring problems.

    Legalities

    • While the United States has no federal laws against having a dog's ears cropped, some states and cities do have bans on such procedures, and only licensed veterinarians can perform them legally. The procedures are illegal in some other countries, including Ireland, Australia and parts of the U.K.