Figure 3. An American pit bull terrier with short-cropped ears.
Packová and Takáčová [ 1 ] state that postoperative aftercare can last 10 – 14 days, but the dog ' s ears may be raised and kept upright with the use of bandages, splints or tape for 2 – 3 months or until the desired effect has been achieved. Shorter crops, especially the battle crop, can leave the ear canal more exposed to dirt and insects [ 11 ], meaning there could be a greater likelihood of ear infections occurring. However, all styles of ear crop carry similar risks to those of any surgical procedure, such as wound breakdown, swelling, infection, bleeding, nerve damage, pain and discomfort, as well as the desired ear shape not being achieved [ 9, 12, 13 ] and anaesthetic complications including death. Modern surgical techniques such as laser surgery are considered the best option for the health of dogs undergoing ear cropping as it can be done more accurately, with less tissue damage and bleeding, and also removes nerve endings, which reduces the pain felt after surgery [ 1 ].
In an attempt to save on costs, some breeders and owners have been known to attempt ear cropping at home [ 14 ]. Depending on the person ' s country of residence, such actions could be considered illegal, as it is unlikely the person would be qualified and / or have access to general anaesthetic or analgesic agents. Similarly, they would be unlikely to know how to respond to complications, such as bleeding of the ears, which can often occur [ 14 ]. Mota-Rojas et al. [ 15 ] state that ear cropping is an act of veterinary surgery, as it requires a general anaesthetic alongside good surgical skills.
Reasons for ear cropping
Historically, ear cropping was carried out with the intention of reducing injuries sustained during hunting or fighting; however, there is no evidence to support that it achieved this outcome [ 3 ]. It was also considered to reduce the incidence of otitis externa, a type of ear infection [ 3 ]. Otitis externa has multiple aetiological factors that influence its development but it is primarily a microbial infection [ 16 ]. Clinical signs can include exudates, erythema, pruritus and oedema [ 16 ].
Figure 4. A doberman pinscher with show-cropped ears.
At the time of writing( June 2023), in the USA, where ear cropping remains legal in some states, the cost is estimated at between $ 150 and $ 600 [ 12 ]( around £ 111 –£ 445). As ear cropping is a surgical procedure, it must be performed by a veterinary surgeon( VS) [ 1 ]. The surgery can take 35 – 40 minutes, with the ears being prepared for surgery and then measured to give an indication of where each ear is to be cut. After cutting, the cut wounds are sutured and cleaned. Postoperative care is provided in the form of antibiotics and pain-relief medication, with frequent postoperative check-ups, which can include disinfecting and bandaging or splinting the ears regularly [ 1 ].
Rosser [ 17 ] found inconclusive evidence whether dogs with hanging ears, along with hairy and stenotic ear canals, are more predisposed to the condition, and proposed that it is more likely to be associated with concurrent primary causes such as parasites or foreign bodies. Cropping for the purpose of reducing the incidence of otitis externa therefore does not appear to be justified on medical grounds. Ear cropping is now regarded by many as being for cosmetic appearances only and to have no benefits for dogs [ 3 ].
However, according to the American Kennel Club( AKC) in the USA [ 18 ], cropped ears are still considered part of the breed-specific standards for breeds such as the great dane, giant schnauzer, standard schnauzer( Figure 5, page 21), cane corso, boxer, German pinscher and doberman pinscher( Figure 6, page 21).
20 Veterinary Nursing Journal