Ear cropping is, for the most part, a cosmetic surgery generally done on several dog breeds including the Great Dane, boxer, Doberman, and types of terriers. Some people don't recognize a breed without ear cropping such as the Doberman, which is known for its high, pointed ears. Not all veterinarians perform this procedure. The ASPCA requested removal of cropped ears from breed standards in 1895. The American Veterinary Medical Association and several veterinary associations in Canada and the UK also oppose the practice. One may have to research a bit to find an approved doctor to perform the procedure.
Things You'll Need
- Phone directory and/or Internet
Instructions
Research for Optimal Care
Call 411 for information and ask for a few veterinarians near you. Call each one to ask if they do ear cropping. If you reach one that doesn't, ask if they can recommend a doctor who does. Get a few recommendations so you can shop around for the best price.
Go online to sites such as www.1800petmeds.com/vet_directory.jsp or www.yext.com/vets/ which can help search for doctors by ZIP code. Put "Veterinarian" or "Ear Cropping" in a search engine such as Google or Yahoo!
Ask your current veterinarian for references. If he has worked with you for your pets and has established trust with you, he should be able to recommend a few different doctors. Most veterinarians in a local area are familiar with each other and are happy to recommend a peer if they don't perform a certain procedure themselves.
Be sure you research the veterinarians you find that will do the procedure. Check their license and credentials to be sure they are up to date. Ask if you can see photos of previous ear cropping on breeds similar to yours so you can verify skill in performing the procedure.
Speak to owners that had the procedure done to their pets. Try to talk to two or more and get their impressions on price, quality and if there were any issues post-surgery.