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BPO Medical Forum => Treatment & Preventative Meds => : MommyOfSchnauzers October 19, 2005, 10:54:47 PM

: Ear Taping Tips Anyone?
: MommyOfSchnauzers October 19, 2005, 10:54:47 PM
I have a 3 1/2 month old Giant Schnauzer.  We had her ears cropped September 27th.  One of her ears is standing perfectly erect.  The other is not.  I have taped it, the vet has taped it... she always gets it off in a matter of no time.  Any tips or tricks out there that I can try?  help!  please!!!
: Re: Ear Taping Tips Anyone?
: Nina October 19, 2005, 11:13:07 PM
hmm sorry no idea's here, but I am sure that someone might have some.  Hmm maybe distract her with some toys, or chew toys.


Nina
: Re: Ear Taping Tips Anyone?
: Newf Lover October 19, 2005, 11:30:39 PM
Gel and Hairspray?  Straws and Duct Tape?  Pipe Cleaners?  ;D  J/K!  No idea on that one... ??? 
: Re: Ear Taping Tips Anyone?
: Anky October 19, 2005, 11:39:56 PM
Yeah what are you using now?  Breathe right strips work for long show crops, and I know people who use tampon tubes as well. 
: Re: Ear Taping Tips Anyone?
: Anky October 20, 2005, 12:00:07 AM
Jenn,  Luckily the boys don't know what they are.  Tee Hee Hee.


Mommy of Schnauzers.
I just re read your post.  I don't know much about Schnauzer crops (Like how long they are or how big the bell is, what shape, ect), but I know with Danes, they have phases where their ears will stand for a bit then flop again, so keeping them taped is really important.  (It's why I'll never have a cropped Dane, I'm terrified of a failed crop)  But typically I don't know of many dogs who's ears will stand after only 6 weeks.  Just letting you know because I have a friend who had a show puppy who's ears stood at 5 months so she stopped taping.  At 7 months they flopped and at 3 years the dog is still in tapes, she only comes out for shows.  The vet said that if she hadn't stopped taping they probably would have been done at 8 months.  You might have to create a "Contraption" to keep the ears up.  I've seen some wild ones.  I'll look for some pics if you'd like.

Ang
: Re: Ear Taping Tips Anyone?
: greek4 October 20, 2005, 02:59:29 AM
I wish I could help you but Rocco will let me throw a towel on his head and not move an inch until I take it off.
: Re: Ear Taping Tips Anyone?
: ZooCrew October 20, 2005, 03:05:23 AM
My vet back home used tampon tubes.  I had no idea what they were for at first, and was quite surprised to see a box of tampons in amongst the syringe boxes for a male vet.  I had some pretty crazy thoughts come to mind until I found out what they were for.   ;D  ;D
: Re: Ear Taping Tips Anyone?
: lins_saving_grace October 20, 2005, 03:12:16 AM
hehehe ... Kizmet is a tampon boy.  I wanted to use mole foam with him, but he tore it out too easy.  The tampons worked pretty well for us.  Along with some of that non-skin-stick bandage tape.
you know Grace Grace loves her tampons.  :)  man I could have screamed when she swallowed that thing.
: Re: Ear Taping Tips Anyone?
: Tulsas' Dad October 20, 2005, 04:31:33 AM
You people are 'Killing' me! I haven't laughed this hard since Farley had his encounter with the 'Dolphin'!
I know that the 'Ear Crop' enhances a dogs 'show appearance', but I love those 'Floppy Ears' when they run!
If you're not going to show your dog, and it's a family companion, why put it through that stress?
It's not what they look like, it's how they love and respect you.
A dogs body language speaks volumes about how it is interpreted by non dog owners.
When its' ears are up it signals alert! Even when it is resting. Non dog people interpret this as a sign of latent aggression. Right or Wrong, that's how they see it. Certain breeds don't need the ear crop to look intimidating, GSD's, Akitas, and Huskies come to mind. People are afraid to approach these breeds because of their look, their attentiveness. Even though they're wagging their tails, and are welcoming the attention, non dog people feel uncomfortable.
So...I guess what I'm trying to say here is, crop for show, because you have to, your dog is not going to know the difference if it is a family companion, and it will not diminish the love it feels for you, and think of the money you will save to buy treats and toys!
So let those ears flop around, it adds so much expression to a dogs persona, and endears them that much more to us.
John
: Re: Ear Taping Tips Anyone?
: Anky October 20, 2005, 06:03:33 AM
You people are 'Killing' me! I haven't laughed this hard since Farley had his encounter with the 'Dolphin'!
I know that the 'Ear Crop' enhances a dogs 'show appearance', but I love those 'Floppy Ears' when they run!
If you're not going to show your dog, and it's a family companion, why put it through that stress?
It's not what they look like, it's how they love and respect you.
A dogs body language speaks volumes about how it is interpreted by non dog owners.
When its' ears are up it signals alert! Even when it is resting. Non dog people interpret this as a sign of latent aggression. Right or Wrong, that's how they see it. Certain breeds don't need the ear crop to look intimidating, GSD's, Akitas, and Huskies come to mind. People are afraid to approach these breeds because of their look, their attentiveness. Even though they're wagging their tails, and are welcoming the attention, non dog people feel uncomfortable.
So...I guess what I'm trying to say here is, crop for show, because you have to, your dog is not going to know the difference if it is a family companion, and it will not diminish the love it feels for you, and think of the money you will save to buy treats and toys!
So let those ears flop around, it adds so much expression to a dogs persona, and endears them that much more to us.
John


John,

Ear cropping is one of "THOSE" issues on dog boards.  Much like abortion, euthanasia or gun control is on other boards.  People believe very passionately on both sides of the fence.  In many cases people refuse to even post to a cropping/docking post because of the path it can, and usually does take.  All dogs that are cosmetically altered were done so for a reason in the past.  Be it cleanliness, saftey, ect.  This has been carried down to the dogs that we have today.  Many people still crop because they like it.  Something that is said over and over in Dane circles is that if it isn't cropped they don't think it looks like a Dane (Another story entirely but we're not going to get into that.)  That cropping of the ears prevets heomotomas (I know I spelled that wrong), the list goes on.  Equally as long are the people who're anti crop.  You obviously like the floppy ears, others do not. 

The reason that the topic is so hot is that when ever someone states that they disagree, it means the other person is wrong.  Some one could very easily take offense to what you posted, saying that you're insinuating that people should only crop their dog's ears if they're going to show (Which, incidentally is becoming less the case as natural dogs are finishing quicker than ever).   It's why for the most part I stay out of cropping posts, but I understand alot of people don't know, and I'm trying to head it off at the curve.  :) 


Ang
: Re: Ear Taping Tips Anyone?
: MommyOfSchnauzers October 20, 2005, 11:15:45 AM
Right now I have kind of made my own lil contraption.  You know those red plastic cups used at picnics etc?  I took one of those and cut the bottom out of it, then traced her ear on the cup with a marker.  I cut it out and then taped that form (so there are no exposed edges), and then taped it to her ears as a "splint".  I did sort of a figure 8 across the top of her head (with cloth medical tape) by the base of her ears to stabilize them.  So far, so good.  She hasn't been messing with them much tonight.  Hopefully this works.  If not, then I'll be going to buy tampons tomorrow. lol  I will try to get a pic tomorrow to post.  She's snoozin' already for the night.0
: Re: Ear Taping Tips Anyone?
: BabsT October 20, 2005, 08:24:47 PM
I have heard great things about the cup suggestions... My dogs have crops BUT with zero the whole flap is removed and with Misha most of it is removed...Good Luck
: Re: Ear Taping Tips Anyone?
: Tulsas' Dad October 21, 2005, 03:20:38 AM
I am sorry if I offended anyone with my previous post. :-*
That was not my intent.
And I agree with any physical manipulation to prevent 'Health Issues'! Spay and Neuter come to mind.
My concern is with the uneducated 'public at large' who perceive our dogs as aggressors because of their appearance.
We work too hard through training, and socializing our dogs to create an acceptable perception to the General Public.
If someone can't tell it's a Dane simply because of an ear crop, well, that signifies how far we have to go to educate the General Public.
Breed Specific Legislation is the wave of the future, and we, as lovers of Big Dogs do not need to add fuel to the fire by enhancing the appearance of our animals to satisfy our egos.
Again, I apologise for any feathers that I may have ruffled.
I've worked hard to make my dog 'acceptable' to the uneducated General Public.
John