Solely cosmetic, dog ear cropping is a surgical procedure that makes a dog's ears stand upright on their own. Boxers are a breed of dog in which this procedure commonly takes place. A puppy, 8 to 12 weeks old, will have this done prior to major body growth or maturity. Often, several dog breeds used for showing are required to have cropped ears or may be disqualified or judged poorly.
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Making the Decision
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Because a puppy may have a lot of pain during and after the procedure, and may have ill side effects from post-operative pain medication, it is an important decision whether or not ear cropping is necessary in a puppy. If you choose to have your puppy's ears cropped, some preoperative tests are required. Blood and fecal exams must be completed and test well. Some breeds (a veterinarian can determine this and advise you) will require a clotting test. These tests are required for all surgeries, even the cosmetic surgeries.
Anesthesia
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Different breeds and ages of puppies will react differently to anesthesia, but it is required for this procedure to prevent pain for the animal and to make sure the veterinarian is not injured during the processl. Muscles need to be relaxed because a portion of the ear will be removed, so the dog must be under anesthesia. The puppy will be given an oral anesthetic, then will be given an anesthetic gas during the procedure. Be sure to ask your veterinarian plenty of questions and give as much health information about your dog as possible because anesthesia can be damaging to the normal acts of the dog's heart and can cause it pain or be fatal.
After Anesthesia
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Once the anesthesia takes effect, a veterinarian or assistant disinfects the ear. The veterinarian makes an incision from the base of the ear at the center of the ear, up to the tip of the ear. The outer half of the ear is then removed, leaving a triangular-shaped piece of ear. The same procedure is done on both ears. Special bandages are placed on the ears to hold them upright during post-operative healing. The procedure will take approximately 45 minutes to one hour. The veterinarian who does the procedure will give specific care directions for you to handle your puppy after the surgery, as well as when the bandages should be removed and how.
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