Cosmetic Surgery

• Cosmetic surgery on a dog's ear is commonly known as ear cropping. There are a handful of dogs that American Kennel Club (AKC) standards state should have cropped ears including Doberman Pinschers, Great Danes, Schnauzers and Pit Bulls.
  
  The surgery must be performed by a veterinarian, and takes several months to complete. The dog is put under anesthesia and a portion of the ear is removed. A pole is then attached to the ear. This pole encourages the ear to stand erect as opposed to drooping. The pole is replaced several times after the initial surgery to prevent infection.
  
  

Ethical Debate Around Ear Cropping

• Ear cropping is at the center of a heated ethical debate in the world of dog-lovers. The AKC and a few smaller groups still support cropping the ears of certain breeds citing increased hearing abilities and decreased incidences of ear infection.
  
  Opponents to ear cropping argue that cropping is done strictly for aesthetic reasons. They state that the slight increase in hearing is only useful in hunting dogs and not household pets. Opponents also argue that there is no substantial data that shows a decrease in ear infection incidents for dogs with droopy ears.
  
  The ASPCA is one of the oldest opponents to ear cropping. Like many opponents, they believe that it is cruel to subject an animal to a painful surgical procedure for aesthetic reasons.
  
  

Frequent Ear Infections

• Some dog owners are forced to decide whether or not to have their dog's ears operated on due to frequent ear infections. Occasionally, an ear infection will not heal completely and the infection reoccurs. When this happens veterinarians sometimes recommend an ear canal ablation, or surgical removal of the ear canal.
  
  Ear canal ablation is often accompanied by a procedure called a bulla osteotomy, in which the middle ear is opened up and infected tissue is removed. These operations do not restore hearing loss that may have occurred with the infections, however, many owners find that their dog is more responsive to sounds after the surgery and regains some of their former energy. Veterinarians attribute the improvements to better overall health.
  
  

Tumors

• Ear canal ablations are also performed as a way to rid a dog of a tumor. If a veterinarian finds a tumor on or in a dog's ear canal he will likely perform an ear canal ablation and send the tumor for a biopsy. Ear canal ablations normally cure the dog, but precautions will be taken if the tumor is cancerous. The dog will be checked to ensure that it has not spread to other areas of the body, especially the lungs.
  
  

After Surgery

• A dog generally spends the first 24 hours after an ear canal ablation under observation at the veterinarian's office because a few complications can arise. The most common complication is facial nerve paralysis, which affects 5 to 10 percent of dogs who receive the surgery. This complication occurs when the facial nerve, which wraps around the base of the ear canal, is bruised during surgery. The paralysis is rarely permanent and normally resolves itself within two months after the operation.
  
  A few dogs also experience pain while eating and drinking after the surgery. This is caused by swelling of the ear and normally resolves itself within a couple of weeks.
  
  A small percentage of dogs also experience head tilt and balance problems as a result of the surgery. These, unfortunately, are permanent problems that cannot be reversed.