Ear cropping is a surgical process electively performed on certain breeds of dogs for cosmetic reasons. The procedure, usually done very early in the dog's life, requires full anesthesia and has the ears cut in such a way that instead of laying down against the head they stand straight up in a pointed fashion. Many owners are against such an invasive surgical procedure, but fortunately there are alternatives that produce the same effects.
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Gluing
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Recently there have become available a number of glue-like products that help train the ears to stand on their own over time. The glue is a temporary adhesive that is applied in strategic spots behind and around the ear. The ear is then positioned into a standing position as it would be after surgical cropping. After a set period of time, special non-toxic adhesive remover is used to peel away the glue. This will re-train the muscles and cartilage of the ear to stand upright on their own. It is a more time-intensive process than standard surgical measures, but it is completely painless and non-invasive as well and as such is viewed as a more humane method.
Taping
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Taping works in almost exactly the same way as gluing but it doesn't require the specialized chemicals that gluing does. Instead taping can be accomplished using a common medical adhesive tape found at most drugstores. This form of tape is very sticky on one side but also slightly elastic in nature. This allows it to be stretched tight before application, in essence giving extra pull and hold where it is adhered. With an appropriate sized piece of tape torn off, use it behind and in front of the ear to position the ear in place and secure it that way. Then use an additional piece of tape to wrap completely around the base of the ear, stretching it somewhat tight but not so much that it squeezes the ear in on itself. This will help train the ear to remain in that position in the same way that glue would. Since the tape is designed for medical use, after time it can be easily removed without pain or trouble.
Precautions
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Even with these nonsurgical and non-invasive methods there are still issues of safety to take into consideration. Especially with the gluing method, you will want to take caution to not get any product inside the dog's ears. Even though the adhesive is designed to go around the ear and is supposedly safe, it is best to exercise all caution anyway. Rinse around the ear with hydrogen peroxide to avoid infection and sterilize the area both before and after application of any of these methods. Most importantly, it is always smart to consult a veterinarian before undertaking any of these tasks at home.
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