How to Tape Dogs Ears After Cropping

Ear cropping is a cosmetic surgical procedure that involves removing part of each ear.After cropping, the desired effect is for the ears to stand upright. However, after the surgery, it is usually necessary to tape the ears in an upright position to train them to stand as desired. This procedure is also referred to as placing forms on the dog's ears.

If the ears are not taped properly after the ear crop surgery, the ears may not stand in an upright position, an effect that some pet owners find unappealing.

Things You'll Need

  • Tampons
  • Porous tape
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut a tampon to a length that will extend from the ear canal to the top of the ear. The tampon should sit inside of the ear canal. This will serve as the base of the form that will be taped to the dog's ear.

    • 2

      Place tape around the outside of the tampon so the tampon is completely enclosed. Then reverse the tape so the sticky side is facing outward and wrap the tape around the tampon so it forms a sheath around the circumference of the tampon. Place a small piece of tape at either end of the tampon to keep the sheath from sliding off of the tampon. This will create a sticky surface on the outside of the tampon that will adhere to the skin of the ear.

    • 3

      Repeat Steps 1 and 2 to prepare a tampon for the opposite ear.

    • 4

      Place the taped tampon inside the ear canal. Place a piece of tape from the back of the ear extending over the top of the ear and continuing down onto the tampon on the inside of the ear so the tampon is held in place by the tape.

    • 5

      Gently fold the ear around the tampon and tape the ear in a circular pattern extending all the way around the ear, starting from the bottom of the ear and ending at the top.

    • 6

      Repeat Steps 4 and 5 on the opposite ear.

    • 7

      Holding the ears in an upright position, place a piece of tape running under the neck and extending from the top of one ear to the top of the other ear. This will make the forms more difficult for the dog to remove by shaking his head.

    • 8

      Position the ears in an upright position and place tape running from ear to ear in a figure-8 pattern across the top of the head.

    • 9

      Remove the forms and retape the ears every three to four days until the ears are standing. If the dog removes the forms prematurely, retape the ears immediately.