My Dobe is 5 months old and I just got her ears cropped. Has anyone else ever cropped this late before and had success? Anything extra I could do to ensure that they remain erect? Thanks. <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

White medical tape on inner ear, then a post of some sort wrap tape on post sticky side out and attach to tape in inner ear then tape over.
p.s. why did you wait so long?

Hi, I breed Dobermans and I don't ever recommend cropping ears beyond the age of nine weeks (we do it at 8 wks). After that point the nervous and vascular systems are more mature and the cartilage is resistant to taking on a new shape. It's a LOT more difficult for the dog to cope with as they get older, and it takes longer to heal. We have a very specific way that we do the posting involving tongue-depressors but the explanation is too long to go into here and if it isn't done correctly can be damaging. We usually do a demo for new owners, and we have illistrated directions that we send with the pups. The only tape I would use is a Curity Kendall product that sticks to hair but is also ventilated. Without the benifit of a demo or detailed instructions, I would suggest using piping foam cut to the appropriate length and shape fixed to the inner ear with a skin adhesive. A dog as old as yours will have a harder time adjusting to having their ears taped. There are no guarantees that they'll stand at this point though. Do you mind if I ask why the breeder didn't do it themselves at the appropriate age?

As an addendum: YAY! Another Dobe person!! <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Hi Cat, i don't know anything about cropping but i was over a friends house today and his dobie is having problems with the ears standing and he puts in those nose strips that the football players wear and it supports them, i don't know exactly what they're called, hope this helps,

AL

Cat, I don't know about ear cropping either but the nose strips are called Breathe Right.

Huh? <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

 Quote:

Huh? <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Breathe-rite strips, you can find them in any rite aid or eckert drug store. The are tape with little metal strips built in. Ususally used for dogs with shorter crops though like C.C. and pitts. I dont know how well it would work with dobes since they have tall ears.

Yeah; I get what they are. My remark was more about how they would work <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> They don't seem like they would be strong enough or long enough to hold up a Dobe ear. Unless it's a really short crop? Nasal strips....one I hadn't heard yet <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Cat,

I have a 10 month old dobe and have had a rough time getting ones of his ears to stand. The breath right strips work well but you must first wrap them in tape and use surgical glue to insert them. If not the thin plastic inside the strip can become exposed and is very sharp if not covered by the tape. Good luck keep us updated on the progress. I am happy to see another dobe owner here.

Adam