Hahahahaha so exactly what I'm going through Hahahaha thick ear leather and long show lol ugh I hope we're done !
First Posting.. and so the Journey begins..
- Thread starter Prushanks
- Start date
bomary
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OMG. Got home from work and was getting Jaxie Boy ready to go to the park...checked ears....definite smell. Off to the vet. Today was his last effing dose of antibiotic from last week. I'm so bummed and sad for him. Panicking, typing, and driving...will update. Damn it!
Have them check for a yeast infection.
bomary
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Ok. Glad I saw this before we got there.
Ares had a yeast infection in his ears while posting lol was a pain to get rid of lol
Yes Albert developed it once too while I was posting but it's amazing how much better his ears stood after it cleared up. I'm guessing he was forcing it down because it didn't feel good or itched.
bomary
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SOOO...the vet thinks it's only external (abrasions like last time). He said he's not terribly concerned because Jax healed up so quickly from that. I was coming back to vet Wednesday anyway for him to help me post again (yes, I know I'm a wimp), so he said we'd just leave them and treat it with the topical anti fungal/antibiotic that of course I already have. On Wednesday we will take them out, clean them up and reassess. Thoughts? I CANNOT stand myself right now!
Try
not to worry. I'd still have him checked for a yeast infection lol
bomary
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I mentioned that and he said that it would be fine to wait till Wednesday...to see if the topical treatment (powder) helps. He said to really get the powder down in there as much as I can. I love my vet and I do trust him, but the smell worries me. I asked if we should just take the posts out and forget it. He said if it were his dog he wouldn't and that it's rare for a dog to have a crop with zero problems at some point in the process. He knows how particular and protective I am of my boy, so I don't feel like he would steer me wrong....
Again, UGH!
Again, UGH!
Well then just relax and try not to worry. When he gets his post out on Wednesday have them check and he's right we all have something happen at some point of this process lol
bomary
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I am a wimp...I took them down. I could smell his left ear, and he was acting miserable. If I rubbed behind it, he would just lay his head down in my hand and close his eyes. He was shaking his head and then putting his left ear up against me or a pillow...anything soft and warm. My sister was here (thank goodness). She is a nurse, so she had everything we needed to get the tape and posts off as comfortably as possible. She cleaned them really well, and then I put the prescription powder in them. I can tell he feels so much better. I think I might be done posting. I'll take a pic when he settles a bit. Right now he is just too happy to have them out to sit for a picture. I know that the way they are standing now is probably temporary, but I'm okay if they don't stand straight. It was a mistake for me to go to the vet I went to for the crop, and I just don't want him to hurt anymore. Three FU***** infections and he's only 5&1/2 mos. Poor kid. He's sleeping with me tonight!
Prushanks
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Listen... he's your baby and it doesn't matter what he looks like. I personally think he looks magnificent however his ears are.. the point is that you and he are comfortable and happy. You do whatever you need to as his Dobermomma. xo
You're not hurting him. Please continue to post his ears, he's to handsome for a crop and flop and you did commit to the aftercare when you decided to crop him. We have all gone through infections or some sort of bump in the road but it's temporary and they are non the wiser in the long run. I would continue till he was through with teething and remember breathe.
bomary
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Jax slept all night without whining and thrashing about to get comfortable. The night before we had to go sleep in "his room" (the living room") just for a change of scenery and to get his mind off of his ears. We had some snuggles that night, and he did end up sleeping in his crate in there, but last night he went right to his bedroom crate and conked out. We will go to his appointment tomorrow for the vet to take another look at his ears. At this point, I am not completely against re-posting, but it will take my vet convincing me that Jax will be very unlikely to get another infection. Maybe he has another method that gives the inside of the ear more air. I think my boy either has super-sensitive ears, or the original crop vet screwed us over with the "washing of her hands" of the whole situation once the crop was done.
Regardless, I will do what makes my baby comfortable and me more at peace. If that is a "crop and flop," so be it. In retrospect (and I'm sure this has a great deal...everything...to do with the crop vet), I wish I had left the ears natural. Natural ears are beautiful, and I just don't have the stomach for seeing my baby hurting. (I know experienced Doberman owners are able to avoid the pain, infections, etc., but I blame myself for my lack of knowledge and experience. Jax doesn't need to pay the price for that.)
I did "sign up" for this...after care, etc., and I am not a person who commits to something and then drops it. However, I did NOT sign up for watching my baby in pain and being miserable because of something I chose to do which didn't work out too well. If I end up not posting anymore, I don't think that makes me a quitter. At the worst, it might make me an over-anxious, over-protective Mom who did not realize the things that could go "wrong" with an ear crop. At best, it makes me a Mom who just wants a happy baby regardless of whether his ears are aesthetically pleasing to anyone in this world. His health, happiness, and comfort trump the position of his ears any day of the week!
Regardless, I will do what makes my baby comfortable and me more at peace. If that is a "crop and flop," so be it. In retrospect (and I'm sure this has a great deal...everything...to do with the crop vet), I wish I had left the ears natural. Natural ears are beautiful, and I just don't have the stomach for seeing my baby hurting. (I know experienced Doberman owners are able to avoid the pain, infections, etc., but I blame myself for my lack of knowledge and experience. Jax doesn't need to pay the price for that.)
I did "sign up" for this...after care, etc., and I am not a person who commits to something and then drops it. However, I did NOT sign up for watching my baby in pain and being miserable because of something I chose to do which didn't work out too well. If I end up not posting anymore, I don't think that makes me a quitter. At the worst, it might make me an over-anxious, over-protective Mom who did not realize the things that could go "wrong" with an ear crop. At best, it makes me a Mom who just wants a happy baby regardless of whether his ears are aesthetically pleasing to anyone in this world. His health, happiness, and comfort trump the position of his ears any day of the week!
Sorry you're going through this. He shouldn't have the pain or suffering so something is amiss there, but it would be hard to pinpoint what. Hang in there - things will get better. It sounds like you have a great vet so I'm sure he'll help you make the right decisions.
bomary
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Thank you. You're right, my vet is wonderful. I so wish I had gone to him for the crop instead of the "more experienced, artistic" cropper that I went to. I really do think this is more than just a puppy not "liking" the posting. I am going to call the vet today to let him know that I went ahead and took them out. He might want me to pop in with Jax today, or maybe he will want to go ahead and wait one more day for the rough spots to heal more. Regardless, we will just regroup and decide what to do from here...if anything
If it makes you feel any better my dog got a yeast infection while posting. It sucked but it went away, the cropping vet has nothing to do with the posting process and you shouldn't be so upset at something that is completely normal. We all have had bumps in the road with posting its just par of the course. See what your vet says, but stop beating yourself up he will be just fine. After that one yeast infection we never had an issue again. Ares has no concept of it and we moved on. Just know that it's normal and it's not your fault. If want you can try the zip tie method or the half post method or the mole foam method that @Drogon did.
bomary
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With all due respect, I will be upset about anything that I find upsetting. That includes any and all things that cause my dog (or anyone/thing) I love harm. The cropping vet most certainly does have to do with the posting process, as it had to be postponed for several weeks due to the fact that I was sent home with no antibiotics and when Jax tore his sutures (because he was very poorly taped...yes taped...with NO air), I took him in there and their response was to hand me gauze and tape...no instructions...never even looking at his ear. I went straight to my regular vet, and of course he had an infection. (He just hadn't been showing signs of discomfort because the crop vet had also given him a dose of Rimadyl for a dog approximately five times his size.) The story about that whole situation is long and still raises my blood pressure. Suffice it to say I have contacted everyone I can to try and make sure that animals don't get that shit care from that "highly recommended" practice again.
Jax has not only had one issue. He's had several...not little things, but fairly worrisome things. One of the "issues" was a subsequent surgery (under general anesthesia yet again for a baby) after the first little debacle. The place that got infected had to be repaired when it cleared up.
I'm the first to admit that I am an over-reactor and probably fret about things that I shouldn't worry about. I also realize that people have been doing this for years, and dogs get through it just fine and look beautiful (and don't really even care that it happened.) Hell, my Dad apparently had the patience to do this with his two gorgeous Dobermans, so I know you don't have to be a professional to do this. However, I do think that it is a possibility that perhaps not all dogs can tolerate the exact same things. For whatever reason, his little ears are not handling this well....maybe because they were "compromised" from the beginning by a practice which was happy to cut him but had zero interest in even briefly explaining the process to me.
I don't mean to sound ugly, and depending on what my vet and I decide, I may post him again. I won't be using the backer rod method because I just don't think he can tolerate something that deep in the canal when he clearly has a propensity for infection. I was just sent the zip tie technique by another member. I printed it and will show it to the vet.
At the end of the day, whether I post again or don't post again is my decision. I appreciate ALL of the help and support I've gotten here, and maybe I'm not very "tough," but I don't care. Jax is my pet and my love, and if he has a "crop and flop" (that phrase rubs me so wrong), then he will be the most loved "crop and flop" around.
Jax has not only had one issue. He's had several...not little things, but fairly worrisome things. One of the "issues" was a subsequent surgery (under general anesthesia yet again for a baby) after the first little debacle. The place that got infected had to be repaired when it cleared up.
I'm the first to admit that I am an over-reactor and probably fret about things that I shouldn't worry about. I also realize that people have been doing this for years, and dogs get through it just fine and look beautiful (and don't really even care that it happened.) Hell, my Dad apparently had the patience to do this with his two gorgeous Dobermans, so I know you don't have to be a professional to do this. However, I do think that it is a possibility that perhaps not all dogs can tolerate the exact same things. For whatever reason, his little ears are not handling this well....maybe because they were "compromised" from the beginning by a practice which was happy to cut him but had zero interest in even briefly explaining the process to me.
I don't mean to sound ugly, and depending on what my vet and I decide, I may post him again. I won't be using the backer rod method because I just don't think he can tolerate something that deep in the canal when he clearly has a propensity for infection. I was just sent the zip tie technique by another member. I printed it and will show it to the vet.
At the end of the day, whether I post again or don't post again is my decision. I appreciate ALL of the help and support I've gotten here, and maybe I'm not very "tough," but I don't care. Jax is my pet and my love, and if he has a "crop and flop" (that phrase rubs me so wrong), then he will be the most loved "crop and flop" around.
Ok best of luck.
"Crop and flop" is an actual term used by many in the Doberman community... Its not just a made up phrase or intended to run you the wrong way... Its a term used for a failed crop, whether due to bet incompetence or owner not posting long enough, or whatever reason the crop doesn't stand.
I'm sure you're right, it may have had something to do with the original vet not providing proper instruction for you and the aftercare, but it's not too late. I do hope you and your current vet can figure out a way to post that works for you and Jax!
I'm sure you're right, it may have had something to do with the original vet not providing proper instruction for you and the aftercare, but it's not too late. I do hope you and your current vet can figure out a way to post that works for you and Jax!
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