17 mos old Dane

[BigBabyAmos]

Amos is a rescue who is now 17 months old. His ears are not cropped...he is having ear infections (no matter how many times I clean it wont go away) and the tip of one ear will not heal.

Can the ears be cropped at his age to let air in, and is there ANY chance of getting them to even PARTCIALLY stand with agressive tape training? I do not want him to look butchered.

Please understand I do not wish to cause this dog any more trauma in his life. If this is not the better thing for him then I will leave them alone and find another way.

Thank you in advance,

Baby Amos

[anne]

RE: 17 mos old Dane

You'd have to do a super-short crop, ala Pitbull (practically cutting off the entire outer ear). Even then there may not be any standing part of the ear. I would find another way if possible. I think at this age a crop would be traumatic.

[XcelDanes]

RE: 17 mos old Dane

At that age itd do no good,I also dont no a vet that will crop after
10 weeks old being ave.Ive heard few 12 weeks but we do at 7 weeks.

http://www.xceldanes.com/Casinoo.jpg

Lisa Mcintosh
www.xceldanes.com

[BigBabyAmos]

RE: 17 mos old Dane

Thank you for your opinion. I am just concerned for his health. I'm worried that if I cannot get the tip of his ear to heal it may become infected and the end will have to be removed. And I know that ear infections are a NASTY and possibly painful thing.

Does anyone else have any thoughts??

[Victoria]

RE: 17 mos old Dane

Cropping at this age is not recommended. It may not do a thing for chronic ear infections either. What meds has the vet put him on for it? Is it yeast? mites? bacterial? It could also be food-allergy related. What food is he on?

As for the ear tip healing, once he quits shaking his head so much from the inner ear infection, the tip should heal.

I have a shepherd with chronic ear problems. Having erect ears doesn't mean healthier ears in some cases.

Good luck!


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[BigBabyAmos]

RE: 17 mos old Dane

He is recommending thorough cleaning which I am keeping up with. I cleaned them just before I posted in fact. The vet did suggest taping his ears above his head, which we have not tried yet because we have 6 other dogs that will tear anything off his head in a heartbeat (which my solution is "dont let him out with anyone other than the mini Schnauzer cause she's the shortest") however I have a hard time getting my mother to understand some things...

I'll just have to keep up with the cleaning process and make sure I dry them out well after bathing.

Thanks for the help!

[Javas Mom]

RE: 17 mos old Dane

Try equal parts Apple Cider Vinegar (organic), alcohol and water. Use a cotton pad to swab out the ear then pour some down the canal and massage. Do this several times a day, and do it outside so when he shakes it doesn't get on the walls!

What are you feeding him?

-Ericka
**Java (Dane, 3 years)**Mickey (Dane, 2 years)**Charlie (Cockatiel, 5 yrs)**Angel (Cockatiel, age unknown)

Disclaimer: The words written here are opinion of the poster ONLY. They are not directed toward any one person, dog or imaginary friend.

[kwhit]

RE: 17 mos old Dane

Like Victoria stated, sometimes ear infections are caused, or made worse by, the dog's diet or underlying food sesitivities. Might want to check into that. My friend's dog's ears improved dramatically when she put him on a raw diet.

Karen and her Crew

"So many get reformed through religion, I got reformed through dogs." Lina Basquette

[Mom x 2]

RE: 17 mos old Dane

Ear cropping wouldn't be recommended, but there are a couple of other surgeries that I know of.

One is an ear resection:

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body...resection.html

And the other is a total ear canal ablation:

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body...resection.html

I only have experience with the ear resection and only with two dogs. Both were vastly improved after surgery though.

I think it would have to be a pretty severe case to warrent this type of surgery, but it's something to talk with your Vet about.

Cindy

[coyoteakitas]

RE: 17 mos old Dane

I agree with the above post. Both an ear canal resection or total ear ablatian are very successful surgeries. In your case it sounds as if an ear canal resection would be the treatment of choice. This procedure is commonly called a "zepp" procedure after the vet who invented it. I know of multiple dogs who have had this surgery and no longer have chronic ear problems and are now very comfortable.
Tori
Russ and Victoria Collins,

Onyx(mantle), Axel(harl), Mozart (merliquin, has wobblers and deaf),Miranda(sphnyx cat), Dennis(gray squirrel), and alot of fish!

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