Pit bull Ear Cropping

Ear cropping is a surgical procedure, which is aimed at removing a portion of the dog's ears. This is mainly done on some specific dog breeds, like, Pit bulls, Doberman, Great Dane, Min pin, Boxer, Pinschers, American Staffordshire terriers, Bull terriers, Schnauzer, etc. This is because, dogs belonging to these breeds have long and floppy ears and this surgery is performed to alter their looks. This procedure is also known as ear trimming, docking or otoplasty.

What is the Purpose of Ear Cropping?
Ear cropping in dogs is a controversial practice that is believed to be originated in ancient Rome. During an ear cropping procedure, a portion of the dog's ears is removed surgically, so that the cartilage stands erect. Initially, this practice was intended to prevent injury to dogs that are used for working, hunting and fighting. In case of fighting and hunting dogs, floppy ears can be easily bitten off by the opponent or can interfere with their task, whereas in working dogs, such ears are more prone to vermin bites, which can lead to fatal ear infection in dogs. It was also believed that ear cropping makes the animal look more ferocious and alert. This practice of ear cropping has been going on for centuries, but recently, it has become more controversial. Nowadays, ear cropping is done mainly for cosmetic purposes and no practical reasons can be attributed to it. A basic understanding about the various aspects of pit bull ear cropping will help you make a decision, whether to get the ears of your pit bull cropped or not.

Ear Cropping in Pit bulls
Now you know that ear cropping is done on specific dog breeds and pit bulls are one among them. There are various factors that have to be considered, before planning ear cropping for your pit bull. They include, age, health condition, gender, breed, etc. The right pit bull ear cropping age is between nine to twelve weeks. As the dog grows, the cartilage in its ears become more thicker, making the procedure more painful. It is also said that ear cropping after twelve weeks of age may not be successful in getting an upright ear. Nine to twelve months is perfect, as the cartilage can be trained to stand erect.

Another important factor is the health of the dog, at the time of the surgery. The dog must be healthy enough to bear the stress of anesthesia and surgery. He must be given timely vaccinations, must be de-wormed and should be in really good health. Once the dog is ready for surgery, a suitable ear cropping style is decided. There are various ear cropping styles and even the choice of style is based on the age, sex, health and breed of the animal. Some of the common pit bull ear cropping styles are battle crop, show crop, long crop, etc. Now, let us take a look at pit bull ear cropping procedure and aftercare.

Pit bull Ear Cropping Procedure
The surgery must be done by a good veterinary surgeon, who has expertise in this procedure. The puppy should not eat anything, for twelve hours before the surgery. This is very important as the food or water can lead to vomiting, when the puppy is sedated. The surgery starts with marking the portion of the ear to be cut. Ears will be cut from the top to the bottom and end near the head. The cut edges will be sutured and the ears will be disinfected. The next step is to attach an aluminum rack or inverted paper cup, around the head of the puppy, so that the ears get some support. This helps the ears to achieve that upright look. The puppy has to stay in the hospital for two or more days. The ears will bleed for some days and the puppy may also try to get the brace removed. You may keep the puppy in the hospital or else, take him home (if you can provide with the right aftercare).

Pit bull Ear Cropping Care
The rack has to be kept intact on the puppy's head for a minimum of 21 days or as per the doctor's instructions. In some cases, the rack must be retained for two to three months. If it gets removed, take the puppy to the doctor and fix the rack again. The surgical site has to be cleaned twice a day and if there is any lesion, antibiotic ointment can be applied. Usually, suture removal will be done during the seventh day of the surgery. Any delay in suture removal may result in scarring of the ears. In short, the owner has to take utmost care of the puppy, in order to make the surgery a success. So, if you are sure of such commitment from your part, only then proceed with pit bull ear cropping. Pit bull ear cropping prices depend on the surgeon you choose, the dog breed and the ear cropping style. You can make an inquiry with your veterinarian about pit bull ear cropping cost.

In short, pit bull ear cropping is neither mandatory nor is it necessary for registration of the dog with the concerned authority. It is also a misconception that ear cropping prevents dog ear problems. It is mainly done for cosmetic purposes and is intended to bring a ferocious look in the dog, which would otherwise (with ears) look more cute. Pit bull ear cropping surgery is not unavoidable and in fact, it is banned in most of the European countries and other parts of the world. It is your choice whether to make your dog go through this painful ordeal or not. If you decide to go ahead, be ready to take care of the puppy, so that it does not develop any complication associated with this surgery. The most common ones are immune suppression, moist dermatitis, scarring, ear infection, etc.