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Too Crop or not to crop??
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I see many discussions
online about ear cropping, many times these
discussions get quite heated. People seem to have VERY strong opinions on
the topic of ear cropping. If you have a puppy, and are debating on
whether to crop, or not, please read on.
 First,
if you feel you want to crop, please do NOT be dissuaded by those who
will insist that this is a cruel surgery. Please ask yourself would
breeders or people who obviously love their dogs do something
intentionally cruel? It IS a cosmetic surgery, but a veterinarian does
this, while the puppy is asleep. Please note that at this time, AKC
requires cropping if you choose to show your dog. If the dog is not
cropped, it is counted as a deviation from the standard and is judged to
the extent of the deviation.
This IS a cosmetic surgery, and is not
necessary to do if you simply have a boxer as a pet. It is personal
preference. If a knowledgeable vet does cropping, the healing process is
usually swift.
Some
things to be prepared for IF you choose to crop are as follows:
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When the surgery is over, your pup will return to normal usually
by the same evening. Mainly, you must watch to make sure that the pup
does not scratch at his stitches. (And possibly pull one!)
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During the first week, you must keep the sutures clean and free of
scabbing. This is not necessarily hard to do, and Neosporin can be used
to soften any scabs. Persistence is the main issue! Pups don't like to
hold still for anything!
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There are many methods of ear taping, and different vets prefer
different methods! Its best to take the advice
of vet and try the methods they suggest. If it doesn't seem to work for
you, there are other methods available to try with many tutorials
online.
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Actual ear taping can last anywhere from a month after surgery
up to when the pup is 8+ months old. It depends on the crop, the
quality of the dog’s ear leather, and your persistence in keeping the
ear taped!
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Do be prepared to have maintenance... cropping is NOT an instant
gratification. It takes lots of patience and persistence, and tape to
get these ears to stand properly. If you don’t feel you can deal with
frequent taping, it would be advised to not crop.
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Many people will debate that
a cropped ear is cleaner and easier to maintain, while others will argue
the opposite. Whether you choose to crop, or not, you still need to
maintain your dogs ear health by cleaning, and
checking for debris.
 Cropping
is not cruel, or a mutilation. It IS a cosmetic surgery, but a
veterinarian performs it under sterile and clean environments. Of course,
as with any surgery, there are risks.... any time you put your dog under
there are risks of problems. Just be sure you inform your vet NOT to use Acepromazine, which is a common drug used to put dogs
to sleep before surgery. It has been known to cause death in Boxers.
Whatever you decide, be comfortable with your
decision... neither argument is "right" or "wrong".
If you want to crop, and are prepared for the aftercare, then by all
means, ask your breeder to refer you to an experienced vet and be
persistent! If you choose to keep those floppy ears, enjoy them as well!
Whichever you choose, just be sure and practice regular ear cleaning, and
maintenance!!
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Read
the warning about Acepromazine!
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