Is my 5-month-old English Bulldog puppy too old for ear cropping?

Ears are usually cropped between 8-12 weeks. Some vets won't do it because it is an unnecessary procedure. Surgically changing the conformation of a dog's ears is expensive, painful, and is not always successful. If you aren't going to show him in confirmation shows, there's no reason to put your puppy through ear cropping. Please consult with your veterinarian before putting your puppy through this elective procedure.

The ideal age for ear cropping varies by breed. In general, Dobermans and danes are cropped between 7 and 9 weeks of age. Boxers are cropped between 9 and 12 weeks. Pit Bulls are done between 3 and 4 months of age. Smaller breeds like min pins and Miniature Schnauzers are cropped older -- around 4 months of age. In the USA, ear cropping is a personal choice of the dog owner; in some countries the practice is banned. Cropping is an elective surgery with no medical benefit. Its only purpose is cosmetic.

Ear cropping is not something I, or many other veterinarians recommend, because it is a painful procedure with potentially serious complications that provides no medical benefit. Ear cropping is only for aesthetics, which has led to the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) to have the position that it is an unneeded and cruel procedure. Below is a link to more information about ear cropping. https://www.vetinfo.com/dog-ear-cropping-procedures.html Given the strong opposition to ear cropping, it will be difficult to find a vet to do it. If you do find a vet to do it, then you can expect to pay anywhere from $300-$600 for the procedure. I hope that helps and all is well with the puppies.

Lycan appears to have a severe ear infection. I recommend making an appointment to see your veterinarian as soon as possible. He/she will likely show you how to clean his ears and send home an ear cleaner that is less irritating than the product you have to clean the ears daily for 7-10 days as well as a steroid/antibiotic/antifungal ointment to be applied daily or twice daily for 7-10 days. There are also other ear infection treatment options where you do not have to treat the ears yourself daily at home that is you can ask your vet about (Osurnia, Otipacks). I do not recommend ear cropping as it is unnecessarily painful for cosmetic reasons. Good luck!

Lulu is so adorable! Ear taping is when you actually tape the ears up into position to help them stand up straight. Ear cropping is a surgical procedure (for cosmetic purposes) to get the ears to stay straight up. Typically as dogs age their ears stand up the older they get. Sometimes you will have a dog whose ear may not stand up the way someone will want. If Lulu is just a family dog and just for you and your family to enjoy I wouldn't recommend either procedure since there is no medical reason for doing either of them. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello, if the surgery is done well, with proper pain management, then there will be no noticeable changes to his behavior, height or health. Make sure the surgeon that does the ears has a good track record & has lots of referrals. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Please please do not have someone who isn't a vet clip Shell's ears! This will be EXTREMELY painful for her, and the stress and pain of this could potentially lead to a miscarriage. In addition, this person will not have access to safe pain medication or anesthesia. This type of procedure should only be done under anesthesia with a vet. I cannot stress enough how painful this procedure is to a dog, and to have it done to Shell by a lay person would be cruel. I very strongly urge you not to have this done at all by a lay person, and only have it done after she has had her puppies and weaned them.