How to Rack a Great Dane's Ears
Ear cropping refers to a medical procedure where the ear of a puppy is cut and stitched into an erect and pointed shape. Great-Dane-Dog-World.com notes that before the development of anesthesia, cropped ears tended to be short and often uneven. It wasn't until puppies could be fully sedated that veterinarians were able to really dedicate the time necessary to produce a sharp and polished end result.
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Instructions
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Make sure your puppy is the appropriate age. It is best to have the procedure performed between the ages of 6 and 8 weeks. The reason for this, according to GreatDane-Dog-World.com is that the ear is much thinner on a puppy and consequently easier to cut and manipulate. In addition to ensuring your puppy is the appropriate age, you must also make sure it is in good physical condition, without sickness or injury.
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Choose who will perform the procedure. This is one of the most important aspects of cropping your puppy's ears, since the experience and expertise of the veterinarian have a large impact on the end result. When choosing a veterinarian, ask for photographs of their previous work before scheduling an appointment. One way to locate a veterinarian who crops ears is by searching the Veterinarian Directory (see Resources).
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Do not feed your puppy for 12 hours before its scheduled surgery. This can lead to vomiting, which can be dangerous during or after the procedure, while your puppy is sedated. When you bring your puppy to the vet, the dog will be sedated, after which the vet will mark its ears where he will be cutting. The ear is then cut starting at the top of the ear and ending close to his head. The incisions are then sutured and disinfected. Afterward your puppy will be fitted with an aluminum rack. This will be harnessed to your puppy's head to ensure its ears stand up and are protected from injury.
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Follow the vet's instructions exactly. After bringing your puppy home you will be in charge of its aftercare. Some vets recommend leaving your puppy with the vet for a few days after the procedure. This is to allow your puppy to be closely monitored, as well as to give it the opportunity to get used to wearing the aluminum braces that will keep its ears standing while they heal.
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Be prepared. The ears, which are thin and vascular, have the tendency to bleed, especially when bumped or jostled, which they surely will be by your puppy when it tries to remove this foreign head-gear. Never fear, eventually your puppy will become more comfortable with the apparatus. Leave the rack on for up to 21 days. Twice per day you need to disinfect its ears with diluted betadine. The longer you can go before re-wrapping its ears the better. The vet will change the bandages one week after the procedure, when he removes your puppy's stitches.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit dog image by AGphotographer from Fotolia.com
