Member

Posts: 47
From:Chattanooga, TN, USA
Registered: Mar 2004

posted 03-21-2004 07:15 PM         

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First off, let me say that I have no plans to have my dogs' ears cropped anytime in the near future, by a vet or anyone else. But, once I've learned more about the breed, breeding in general, etc, I'd like to know the proper, humane way to crop ears, because I *MIGHT* do the ear croppings myself one day. I watched a local breeder crop a pups ears a few weeks ago, but the way she did it seemed so cruel. She simply held the pup down and cut his ears. Granted, I saw the pup again yesterday, and his ears look perfect, but it just seems cruel to me to do it that way. So, I'd like to know what the proper way is. And I don't mean how to get them to look right; I mean, like should you give them any anasthetic. If so, should it be a local anasthetic or general? Or do you just do it like she did? The pup yelped like crazy while she was doing it, but no more than a minute later, he was fine. Until she put the stitches in. But again, after she was done with the stitches, he acted fine again. Any and all opinions are welcome.

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Amanda Spencer
www.geocities.com/spencerpits

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Member

Posts: 43
From:Phoenix, AZ, USA
Registered: Feb 2004

posted 03-21-2004 08:49 PM         

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When I worked as a vet tech, all crops and docks were done with a general ansthetic. I wondered about breeders who sell their dogs for $250 or so with ears cropped since this operation by a vet usually runs $300 plus here. So that only means that B.Y.B. are using inhumane purposes to crop puppies ears. Post-op is very painful and there's a great risk of infection afterwards. A good vet will give the proper anti-biotics to ward off infection. Ear cropping is a personal preferrence only done by a vet, perferrable when the dog is a puppy. The pain would be just the same as if someone cut off our ears. I chose not to crop my pits ears only because I know how the operation is done and the problems associated with it.

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Member

Posts: 47
From:Chattanooga, TN, USA
Registered: Mar 2004

posted 03-21-2004 08:54 PM         

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Thank you for your response. I got exactly what I wanted - a response from someone knowledgable about this particular subject. Thanks again!

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Amanda Spencer
www.geocities.com/spencerpits

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Member

Posts: 28
From:Denison, Tx
Registered: Feb 2004

posted 03-22-2004 07:37 AM         

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We have all of our pups ears cropped at the age of three to seven days, when their memory (according to our vet) is only a few seconds. The cost is very inexpensive ($15). They cry for a few seconds, and then the ears are cauterized (sp?) to prevent infection. Our vet has told us that we can do it ourselves, since she has taken us back to show us how (and charged us 100 dollars to do so!) but I agree that it should only be done by a vet. Even though we have the sterlization tools neccessary to prevent infection, it's a chance that I don't have to take. You need to do more research, talk to your vet.
If you continue to want to do the procedure, I think that you should watch a vet do it a couple of times before you decide to do it yourself. And I would only recommend (if you choose to do so) doing it at that young of an age, where you don't have to deal with anesthesia, that could cause serious damange, and even death, if you are not knowledgeable.

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Member

Posts: 70
From:Paducah, Ky USA
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 03-22-2004 10:09 AM         

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I have never heard of getting a pups ears cropped at 3-7 days old their ears are so small and aren't they still growing? How on earth would you be able to crop properly?
Any vet I have ever talked to or anything I have read on ear cropping has said the proper age is 7-12 weeks? Although I have heard of dogs being much older and getting them done.
And $15 for a vet to crop ears WOW! I checked around in my area and the cheapest I found was $100 and the vet seemed very shady.

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Posts: 48
From:
Registered: Oct 2003

posted 03-22-2004 11:18 AM         

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yeah, my vet will only do ears on a 12 weeek or older pup, and will only do them up to 16 weeks. Unless the ears have a great ear set, then he will go untill about 20 months. But no higher then that. Honestly I would hate to see the ears of a dog that had them cropped at 3-7 days. there ears are so tiny. Anyway my vet carged me 225 and it was well worth it. He uses laser surgery. Justice's ears never seemed to bother him, and they healed real quick.

Joe

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Member

Posts: 47
From:Chattanooga, TN, USA
Registered: Mar 2004

posted 03-22-2004 01:38 PM         

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So, I guess my question is - is there a proper way to do home cropping? Again, please don't flame me, as I don't plan on even thinking about trying this until I've learned a lot more.

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Amanda Spencer
www.geocities.com/spencerpits

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Member

Posts: 28
From:Denison, Tx
Registered: Feb 2004

posted 03-23-2004 07:06 AM         

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Here's a pic of a dog whose ears were cropped at three days old. Most of the small dogs that have their ears done is done that way. I have two vets in my ares that does it. They clip ears, tails and dewclaws of the schnauzers all at the same time. And about a year and a half ago, we had our first pit done. It turned out real nice.

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Posts: 150
From:Western Pennsylvania, USA
Registered: Dec 2003

posted 03-23-2004 10:23 AM         

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Oh geez. I can't see the picture of these ears! I want to see the picture. Can you post the link?

I can see the concept of doing this at 3 - 7 days. If you know what your doing, it would take not more than a couple minutes I would imagine. At this age their nervous system is not fully developed. This is the age also to dock tails. I have not done ears, but I have docked tails with a straight edge razor blade. Nothing to it.

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Member

Posts: 944
From:Columbus, Tx ,USA
Registered: Dec 2003

posted 03-24-2004 05:45 AM         

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I've heard of ears, tails and dewclaws done at this age as well. Their nerves aren't fully developed, and the pups won't remember it.

I still wouldn't consider trying to do this at home nomatter how much I knew.... Unless I went to school, and got my degree, and knew EVERYTHING the vet knows....What if something happens and goes wrong??
The vet will turn you in for animal abuse if something goes wrong. Are you set up for something like that?
I'm not trying to bash you, but put an idea into your head to ponder.

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