Welcome to our Ear Cropping Information Center.  Here you can find everything you need to know for before and after your puppy has their ears cropped.  As a matter of style, certain breeds of dogs such as Dobermans, Great Danes, Boston Terriers, Boxers, Schnauzers, American Bullies, and Pit Bulls have their ears trimmed to make them stand erect.  You should know that it is optional/elective to have this procedure done, however most clients do elect to have the ears cropped for both health benefits and because of the breed standards.  What is interesting, and an important question to ponder; why are there no animals born in the wild that mature with floppy ears? “Floppy Ear Syndrome” is a phenomenon created and associated with the domestication of mammals by humans. There are no known advantages to an animal having a floppy ear, however, there are many distinct disadvantages to a dog having a floppy ear. As a veterinarian at a small animal clinic, most vets will see a tremendous number of small animal ear infections.

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The ear cropping procedure is an elective surgery that is debatably necessary for the dogs health. There are risks of anesthetic complications during the surgery as severe as death. There are also risks for post surgical complications such as post operative excessive bleeding, infection, and disfigurement due to abnormal healing. The aftercare is/can be a tremendous burden on the owner as far as requiring thorough cleaning of the ears several times daily following the surgery for the first 2 weeks. There are also 4-12 weeks of a posting procedure to be done by the owner after the ears are healed. To minimize complications, the crop should be done around 6-8 weeks of age in most cases. The older the puppy is, the more difficult the aftercare is because the puppy is stronger to fight being restrained for the appropriate daily aftercare. The puppy is also more active the older they are, and are less apt to lay around and rest while they’re healing. They become stronger which allows them to violently shake their head in response to the odd feeling and itching sensation during healing which can lead to excessive swelling and delayed healing. They are also more coordinated to use their feet to tear bandaging off, and to damage their incisions. For these reasons, I highly recommend to clients who haven’t yet purchased a puppy to find one the breeder has already had the ears done on to avoid these potential troubles. With this all being said, complications are extremely rare.  

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If you believe that the ear cropping procedure is right for your puppy, we are here to guide you from the pre surgical phase until your puppy's ears are healed, posted, and standing.  Below you can find a wealth of information to guide you no matter which phase in the ear cropping process you are in.  If after reading this information you still have questions, a member of our staff will be more than happy to assist. 

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So you have decided to crop your puppy's ears--now what?  The first thing you need to do is familiarize yourself with the type of ears crops there are, and which one you feel is right for your pet.  The crops we typically do for dogs vary between long crops, show crops, showable pet crops, and medium crops/short crops. The long crops and show crops are taller and more narrow at the base of the ear, and should be done under 10 weeks of age or under 20lbs (younger, around 6 weeks of age and 8 lbs heals the fastest with minimal months of aftercare). The showable pet crop is a touch shorter, and is the most often requested ear, with a slightly wider base/bell. This ear is easier to stand and often requires 6-8 weeks of postoperative taping/posting. The medium/short crop is much less often desired at the current moment, and our least favorite and/or requested. A short ear with often a very wide bell, is by far the easiest to stand but the least requested. You can view our portfolio with examples of the types of crops that are offered here at Croswell Veterinary Services.

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Now that you have acquainted yourself with the type of crops that are available, your next step is to understand the procedure.  This is a surgery, so the overall health of your pet prior to having surgery is extremely important.  Things to consider are genetic testing that has been done for breed specific health conditions that can affect your puppy during the procedure (example: VWD in Dobermans).  Has your pet been tested for worms or do they have fleas?  Both of these are very important to consider because they can increase bleeding during the procedure and can negatively impact the healing process.  The surgery itself is the easy part.  The real work begins after the crop is done.   

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So you have a crop surgery appointment, what are you needing to know? Please call us with any questions or concerns regarding this information. The location of the surgery is at Croswell Veterinary Services 120 north Howard Croswell, MI 48422. Phone services of ATT and Verizon work well in this area, other services may not. Please prepare accordingly. Please arrive on time. Your pet must be fasted (no food) for a minimum of 6 hours prior to the ear cropping procedure. Water is ok to give in moderation. Please bring a blanket for the puppy to lay on for the ride home, and a bath towel in case of drooling from excessive nausea following traveling and/or anesthesia. The appointment usually takes just a little over two hours, including the procedure which takes roughly 45 minutes to an hour. The puppy will be ready for you to take them home shortly after recovering from anesthesia. Payment is cash only, with no exceptions, and is rendered at the time of the service. The costs range between $250-500 depending on the breed, age, and size of the puppy. There are discounts for breeders that can be discussed for repeat services.   

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We require a consent form to be signed prior to you pets surgery.  You can view and print it from here to sign and bring with you, or you can sign a copy when you get to the clinic.  Its important to understand all risks about the ear cropping procedure prior to signing the consent form.  You can find the form here.