Cosmetic Ear Crop Post Operative Care Instructions:

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Ear Posting needs to be performed every 4-5 days. This will prevent mismanagement and irritation of the ear tissue. Take note, when ears are left in posting/bandaging material for greater than the recommended time frame it can lead to infection and delay the continued posting activities. 

 

Supplies:

Blunt tip bandage scissors

3/4" backer rod (can purchase from Home Depot)

Johnson & Johnson Zonas Porus tape (not sports tape as it does not breathe the same)

 

Posting:

Make sure to have all your supplies ready and laid out to yield efficiency during the posting process. 

1)    Measure the backer rod from the base of the ear to the tip of the pinna. After measuring the backer rod to the desired length, cut the backer rod in half along the length of the rod so that you have 2 pieces. (This is done to fit more snuggly in the pet's ear and help to shape the ear. You may find yourself resourcing a full piece of backer rod 2-3 weeks into the posting process as your pet continues to grow. It will be important to "fill" the space with a backer rod to provide the shaping of the ear). 

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2)    Take the zonas porus tape and wrap it around the backer rod with a 50% overlap, sticky side out (Ie: the tape is not being applied to the rod, rather it is reversed so that it is made to stick to itself with the “sticky” side open to the environment. After wrapping the backer rod, cut an angle into the bottom of each rod. This will encourage a snug comfortable fit in the base of your pet's ear.

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3)    Prepare your tape to wrap the ears. You will want to prep 3-4 pieces of tape per ear in a variety of lengths, shortening the tape as you go further up the ear. Ie: (2) 3 inches, (2) 4 inches, (2) 5 inches, (2) 6 inches pieces. Simply just hang your tape on the edge of a tabletop for easy resources.​

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4)    Once everything has been prepped, have your holder restrain your patient. It is recommended that restraint is performed on a tabletop as you will have better control of the patient and environment. (Take note: restraint is minimal. The more you hold your pet the more they will work against you. Please avoid feeding them snacks or treats until the end or they will constantly be moving their face "looking" for more treats).​

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5)    Place the backer rod into the ear with the point of the cut end of the rod facing the muzzle of the patient. Pull up on the floppy portion of the ear (this is the "pinna") and begin placing your tape on the ear beginning at the bottom or base of the ear (ie: the bell). Again, you will want to give the tape a 50% overlap as you work up the ear, sticky side of the tape against the ear. As you work to the tip of the ear it is important to NOT cover the ear completely as we want to see a small portion of the tip of the ear when complete. This will allow us to monitor for any swelling, discoloration, and pain if the tape is applied too tight. Also, it will allow for improved ease when removing the bandage from the ears.

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6)    After the ear is posted, give the ear a firm squeeze massaging the tape into the pinna and backer rod. This will improve the "grip" of the tape so the tape to the ear and to the post become one with the ear.

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7)    Trim any excess tape from the ear after posting to prevent any irritation or drag on the patient. (The more comfortable your pet is, the less they bother with the posting apparatus). 

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8)    To bridge the ears together, pull a long piece of tape (approx. 14 inches). This will be used to keep the ears standing erect at a 90 degree while the cartilage learns to stand erect on its own. You will want to place this halfway between the head and the tip of the ears. If it is too low it will cause chaffing on the top of the head, but if it is too high your pet will likely get caught on things. Make sure the tape is sticking to itself to prevent debris from being picked up.

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9)    Mark your calendar and plan for your next posting in approx. 4 days. Again, if there is a delay in "rebandaging" the ears it can and will lead to irritation of the skin and or ear infection. 

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10)    How to take the bandage off? You will first cut the "bridge" free separating the ears from one another. Then you will take your blunted bandage scissors and run them under the bandage (tape) along the back or dorsum of the ear. Take note of excess skin folds to prevent "catching" or cutting the skin incidentally. You will simply run your blunted scissors towards the tip of the ear making small 1/4-1/2 cuts in your tape. Once you have cut through the tape from the base of the ear to the tip of the pinna you will simply fold back the tape from the pinna and remove the bandaging material in whole. 

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11)    Once the bandage has been removed, you will need to gently wipe down the pinna and remove any matter from the ear. Please ensure the ears are clean and dry prior to reposting. It is encouraged to let your pet run and play for 10 minutes while you work to prep your materials thus ensuring your pets ears are dry before reposting. (Moisture in the ear or bandaging material can lead to irritation or infection of the ears).

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12)    When the ears are ready for "re-posting" repeat the above noted steps. Take note, on average most pets' ears are posted for approx. 6-12 weeks pending on the crop style and breed. This is due to cartilage maturity and tissue density is different from dog to dog and breed to breed. 

 

If you have any questions or concerns regarding posting or after care management, we invite you to reach out for assistance. Our team is here for you and your pet's success.