I’m sure if you own a Doberman, you’ve asked yourself whether it’s worth having their ears cropped or not. It’s a normal procedure for most Dobermans to go through, which helps shape their ears and have it stand erect. After all, it’s the Doberman’s ears that have them identify them as Dobermans.
While you can crop their ears from a reputable center, some opt to do it at home. However, you need to know how to crop Doberman ears at home properly and with caution. If you’re planning to do so, then read on as I show you the proper tips on how.
How to Crop Doberman Ears At Home
You crop a Doberman’s ears when they’re around seven to nine weeks old. I don’t recommend you do so after nine weeks, as their ears have already flattened out. Also, a veterinarian with experience should do the process rather than on your own at home.
BUT, if you do want to do it at home, follow these tips before, during, and after the cropping:
1. Choose The Cropping Style and Prepare Equipment
For starters, you have to first figure out how you want to crop your dog’s ears, as there are various styles. For Dobermans, the long crop is suggested to have their ears stand tall and erect.
Once you have the style figured out and learn how to crop it according to the chosen look, it’s time to prepare your equipment. Cropping their ears isn’t just about using sharp objects, you’ll require a complete surgical kit which has been sanitized well to prevent infections. Do this before the entire procedure for you and your dog’s safety.
Besides that, prepare your safety equipment such as gloves and a mask. Also, you will need to have anesthesia or sedation, as this will be a painful procedure. That’s why it’s highly recommended that you head on to your local and reputable vet instead.
2. Doing The Cropping Procedure Itself
Once you have already prepared everything, prep your dog and lie him on a soft and stable surface. Sedate your dog and mark his ears to know where to cut and then begin the procedure.
You’ll start the incision from the top of his ear, ending close to his head. Make sure to do this very slowly and smoothly to avoid making grave mistakes that can injure your dog’s ear in the long run.
Once you have successfully cropped his ears according to the style you wanted, it’s time to suture and disinfect the wound. You can use an inverted paper cup or aluminum rack afterward, which can help maintain its standing position. This will have to stay on for at least three weeks.
Expect a lot of pain and bleeding after the sedation starts to wean off, so pain medication for dogs is required.
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3. Aftercare Tips For Health and Safety
Now that your dog has successfully had his ears cropped, be sure to follow these aftercare tips:
- Make sure that you keep their ears clean, especially the wounded and bandaged area. You’ll need to clean the area twice a day with Neosporin and peroxide.
- If you see scabs forming, then you’ll need to remove them immediately, as they prevent your dog’s ears from standing erectly after healing. Soak the ears with warm water before removing them to lessen the pain as you take the scabs off.
- You can speed up the healing process by giving your dog the nutritious food they need for a better immune system to speed up recovery
- If you notice any infections, then call the veterinarian immediately to get the necessary antibiotics and treatment for your dog
Please be warned that there are cons to cropping your Doberman’s ears. While it’s functional and stylish, this process is painful for your puppy during and after their ears being cropped! They are even more susceptible to infections and the like because of it.
So do think of it carefully before choosing to crop their ears. And if you do choose to do so, take proper care and monitor their ears and overall health, taking them to the veterinarian as needed.
If you want to learn more about cropping Doberman ears, check out this helpful video:
Wrapping It Up
As much as possible, I highly recommend that you have a veterinarian crop your Doberman’s ears if it’s even needed at all. But as long as you’re experienced and know how to do it safely, you’ll be able to save the trip to the vet. Just make sure you care for them even after the cropping process, too!
I hope this article on how to crop Doberman ears at home helped you out. So if you want to begin the process, make sure you’re stocked with the proper equipment and knowledge now.