If you have Pitbull with ear infections, you might want to consider ear cropping to reduce these infections. Apart from reducing infections, this procedure has some other benefits, including improving hygiene, improving the ability to detect the sound, keeping the standard appearance, and so on.
Ear cropping is described as a surgical procedure by modifying the ears of the dog. The part of the ear that is cut is ear pinna or the floppy part. After cutting that part, they will be re-shapes until they turn into erect ears.
As an invasive surgical procedure, ear cropping is better to be done by the experienced and licensed vet. You are recommended to go to the nearby vet if you want to crop the ears of your Pitbull. For those who are currently living in Georgia, then it is better for you to go to the one located in Georgia. How much does it cost to crop the ears of your dog in Georgia?
There are two recommended places to choose from if you are living in Georgia. The first one is Dogwood Animal Hospital. It is located at 2050 Sugarloaf Parkway, Lawrenceville, Georgia 30045. The hospital offers professional ear cropping services for dogs between the ages of 8 to 12 weeks. Every doctor and every care team is the best one who always wants to make sure that the process is safe and goes successfully. Before the procedure, the dog will go through pre-surgical screening and pre-anesthetic testing which are important to make sure that the dog is ready to undergo the procedure. If you want your dog to have a specific style, you can bring the photo of the style and they will try their best to grant your wish.
The second option is Gordon Animal Clinic. This one is located at 2686 Dennard Hardy Rd Gordon, Georgia 310311. At this clinic, the procedure is performed by Dr. Dennard. DVM. He is a well-known vet that has more than 35 years of experience.
How much does it cost to crop the ears of your dog in Georgia? There is no specific information about the price of ear cropping in Georgia. The official website of Dogwood Animal Hospital also does not show the price. According to Bubbly Pet, the prices for Pitbull ear cropping ranges between $150 to $800. Actually, the price can be higher, depending on the veterinarian. As for the average price, it is around $250. The fee includes anesthesia, the procedure itself, aftercare medication, and any follow up visit. It is believed that the ear cropping price in Georgia is not that different compared to the other places in the United States.
Talking about the ear cropping, it is worth noting that just because you spend more money for the ear cropping does not mean the result will be better. It is the reason why it is important to first do your research and choose the one veterinarian who has the most experience.
If you think the price of ear cropping is high, then you might want to cut the ears of your Pitbull by yourself at home. First of all, make sure that the dog is at the right age, which is not below 7 weeks and not after 12 weeks. Besides, browsing the kind of style that might suit your dog is also important. Next, you can gather the stuffs needed such as scalpel or a sharp kitchen knife, a numbing agent, sterilized scissors, antiseptic (Neosporin or peroxide), bandage, ear forceps, marker, porous tape, and large drinking straws.
After making sure that everything is ready, it is time for you to do the procedure by following these following instructions:
- The first thing that you should do is to sterilize the equipment. You can put the cutting stuff like the scalpel and scissors in a pan with boiling water for a half hour. It is effective to eliminate microbes that could be transferred to the dog. For those who have bleach or isopropyl, it is better for you to use that instead and then rinse everything in boiling water before using them.
- After making sure that all the tools are sterilized, the next thing that you have to do is to give the dog the sedative. It is important to know the dose of sedative to inject on your dog. You can ask your vet about it. Please give it a few minutes after injecting it until the dog turns motionless on the table.
- You can use the marker to define the area that has to be ear cropped off. Feel free to draw as you want. You can use the scalpel or kitchen knife to trim the unwanted part of the ear. Do not forget to hold the ear with the forceps during the process.
- Once you get the result that you want, it is time for you to stitch your dog up and then bandage him.
- A week after the procedure, you will have to tape the ears to train them to be upright. Keep in mind that it is able to be done only after the wound has dried up. If you want to make a hard surface, you can wrap the porous tape over the large drinking straw a few times. More tap can be used to stick it into the ear and keep the ears vertical.
Your dog needs aftercare after undergoing the ear cropping. Here are some aftercare tips to remember:
- Keep the wounded or bandaged areas clean. You are recommended to clean them twice a day by using Neosporin and peroxide. Doing it is a must to prevent infections.
- Use a cone around the next to avoid injuries. The E-collars can be used to prevent the dog from scratching and messing the cropped ears that may lead to stress.
- Eliminate the scabs when they show up as they can prevent the ears of your dog from standing after healing. In order to minimize the pain when taking everything off, you can soak the ears of the dog in the warm water before doing so.
- Check your dog regularly and tell your vet if there is something strange. Even though a cone tape or rack is used on the ears of the dog, it is still possible for the dog to be uncomfortable and the dog may rub or hit the head against the objects, causing more pain. In this kind of case, reach out to the vet as soon as possible.
- Follow the instructions given by the vet. As you are not an expert and your knowledge might be lessened compared to the vet, please listen to them and do everything that is recommended by them to you. Let them know if there is a complication like bleeding or discharge from the ears of the dog. You will also have to tell them if there are any signs of severe pain, gapping of the wounds, excessive chewing or licking of the ears, diarrhea, vomiting, lack of appetite, or any other things.
