What You Need To Know About Cropping Your Bulldog's Ears

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What You Need To Know About Cropping Your Bulldog's Ears

14 October 2015
 Categories: , Blog


If you're the owner of a bully breed, you may be interested in having your dog's ears cropped. There are several things to know before you decide to undergo this surgery so you can make the best choice for you and your dog.

The Ear Cropping Process

Ear cropping surgery is a procedure used to alter the size and shape of your bulldog's ears. Typically, this procedure is performed on puppies, though a vet, like Animal Clinic of Bensonhurst, may perform it on older dogs. The surgery is performed under anesthesia and is done either for medical or aesthetic reasons.

Styles Of Bulldog Ear Cropping

Before you go in to the vet, you'll want to decide on a cropping style. There are three main styles to choose from, each varying in length.

The battle crop is a style of ear cropping that is incredibly short. This ear cropping style removes most of the floppy tissue from your dog's ears, leaving the ears almost entirely exposed. However, this short style could leave your dog's ears vulnerable to insects and inclement weather. If your dog is mostly an indoor dog, then this would be an appropriate cut.

The show crop is the longest style of bulldog ear cropping. It leaves majority of the ear intact, and gives your dog a look of alertness. This is a popular choice for cropping because the dog's ears won't be as vulnerable. 

The short crop is the happy medium between the show and battle cropping styles. With this cropping style, more of the external tissue of the ear is left intact. This crop makes your bulldog's ears look similar to a cat's ears.

After-Surgery Care

The ear cropping process is a simple surgery typically performed with few complications. After a small holding period for your dog to wake up from the anesthesia, you'll be sent home with some antibiotics and pain medications. As your dog heals you will have to make sure they don't open their stitches. You will have to also watch your dog for any signs of infection, though the antibiotics should prevent most infections from occurring. If your pooch shows signs of picking at their ears, your vet may send you home with a cone to keep your pup from hurting itself as it heals.

After a week or so, your vet will probably have you come back in to have any stitches or staples removed. Your vet will also check to make sure your dog's ears are healing correctly during this time. If necessary, you will be advised to continue having your dog wear a cone until its ears have healed completely.