Do's and Don'ts after Ear crop

[MJR]

Hello everyone,
I just had Mufasa's ears done Yesterday and he is home and doing well. I have never had the type of dog breed that needed an ear crop so I don't have any experience to rely on after the fact. I have read through many online posts but would like feedback as to caring for Mufasa post op. He is eating and drinking fine and has resumed regular movements. My questions are mostly based on proper care for his ears and when I can start to use foam to help support them. He has a vet recheck in 2 weeks when he will be 14 weeks old. I know this is a critical time so I want to make sure I'm doing everything correctly. He didn't care for his cone so I purchased a doughnut collar and put socks with athletic tape around his rear legs. We will see if this works. Any advice is greatly welcome.
-Matt

 

[MJR]

One more thing- His left ear is "falling" a lot more then the right one. The right ear looks more like what I expected-slightly erect. I will post before and after pics when I can.

 

[coreyc]

So the vet did not post them after the crop ? With my vet he post after the crop stitches come out in ten days then he reposted them I took the post out five days later that was it post some pic's when you can

 

[MJR]

No. It is a short crop and he said he likes the stiches to dissolve before he tapes them. That's 2 weeks from not which is why I am concerned . I don't want to wait to long and have an issue later. I will post pics today.

 

[MJR]

 

[MJR]

I think the right ear looks like I expected, but the left is "falling" slightly. When I put my fingers around the ears, they are both even and stand up straight. I'm just not sure if they need to be taped or when I should use foam and place it in the ear for support. I don't want to wait 2 weeks and then realize it's to late.

 

[MJR]

This is from the front. The left seems to fall a bit more. Should I be concerned?

 

[coreyc]

Can you take a close up it's hard to tell in those pic's

 

[MJR]

Here is a close up.

 

[Leonidas' keeper]

I'm having almost the same issue with my girls ears. She had hers done on 6/18/2013 and they were taped with a small form inside(that only lasted one night at home, her stiches were still in). They stood up great at frist.. then she got an infection in the right ear and now it wont stand. I have been taping them up every few days with tampons and cloth tape... and the vet is worthless , all they want is to put her back under to retape her ear.. I am really worried that hers may never stand..

 

[Leonidas' keeper]

When she first came home from her ear crop appointment.

 

[Leonidas' keeper]

and her ears just the other day when I was re-taping.

 

[cblond1121]

I recommend letting our pups's ears heal (stitches removed) before you even begin to worry. Once cheeno's stitches were out, we only taped them for two days but continued to massage the ears in an upward motion to stimulate blood flow to the tips. He looked funny at first but his ears looked great now. It takes time.

 

[christinephill]

If it's a short enough (but not to short) crop (corso crop) then it should stand up naturally. I was concerned with our puppy's ears at first. The right was bending downwards and the left was bending towards the head. We started massaging the ears alittle and taped them all of one day. By 3 months old they are perfectly normal. Don't worry too much!

 

[MJR]

If it's a short enough (but not to short) crop (corso crop) then it should stand up naturally. I was concerned with our puppy's ears at first. The right was bending downwards and the left was bending towards the head. We started massaging the ears alittle and taped them all of one day. By 3 months old they are perfectly normal. Don't worry too much!

Thanks. That is exactly how Mufasa's ears are now. I will keep an eye on them and use the moleskin for support.

 

[Campbell Corso]

Don't worry(too much) and massage, massage, massage. Our girl's ears went through a both down, one down, two up, one down and both up again phase in just over 6 weeks. All the while we were worried will they or won't they. My only practical hint for you would be to keep massaging for awhile even after both are up. We stopped right after both went up and when we started again it was only a week or two before it went back up. Our breeder told us it took one of their dogs till they were 5 or 6 months old before both stood on their own. They'll get there.

 

[MJR]

Don't worry(too much) and massage, massage, massage. Our girl's ears went through a both down, one down, two up, one down and both up again phase in just over 6 weeks. All the while we were worried will they or won't they. My only practical hint for you would be to keep massaging for awhile even after both are up. We stopped right after both went up and when we started again it was only a week or two before it went back up. Our breeder told us it took one of their dogs till they were 5 or 6 months old before both stood on their own. They'll get there.

When should I start to massage the ears? It has only been 3 days since the surgery and his stiches haven't dissolved yet.

 

[Campbell Corso]

She had them done while at the breeders. I'm sure they started before we got her which was two weeks after. Sorry, I don't know how soon after. It was before the stitches came out because we had that done. I will email and ask for you.

 

[Campbell Corso]

Hi,
Sorry for the delay but I got an answer for you. You can start 1 week after was the answer. Just keep at it. Good Luck!