Sticthes Ripped Out By Another Pup In Litter After Ear Cropping...Help!

Heidi-G · 06-07-2008, 10:48 PM

Hi everyone, I'm in need of some friendly advice....our puppy had her ears cropped earlier this week with our breeder, we were supposed to go pick her up yesterday & then we got a terrible phone call.....2 or 3 of the pups in the litter had their stitches ripped out by some of the other litter-mates.

Is this normal, out little one has a little infection now & is on anti-biotics, we have to wait until she goes back to their vet to see if she gets cleared.

While I understand this could occur does anyone think that A) this could cause long term damage in terms of getting her ears to standd later? B) is she better off at home with us than a litter of 9 if she has an infection?

I am the neurotic worry wort that was emailing about my fears about posting her ears once we were home b/c NJ is a tough place to find anyone that will touch a cropped ear, le alone crop or stitch them up. I didn't totally worry for nothing....something did go wrong....and my pup cannot come home yet. We're very sad, and very concerned.

Anyone care to share their opinion?

Rauschund · 06-07-2008, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heidi-G

Hi everyone, I'm in need of some friendly advice....our puppy had her ears cropped earlier this week with our breeder, we were supposed to go pick her up yesterday & then we got a terrible phone call.....2 or 3 of the pups in the litter had their stitches ripped out by some of the other litter-mates.

Is this normal, out little one has a little infection now & is on anti-biotics, we have to wait until she goes back to their vet to see if she gets cleared.

While I understand this could occur does anyone think that A) this could cause long term damage in terms of getting her ears to standd later? B) is she better off at home with us than a litter of 9 if she has an infection?

I am the neurotic worry wort that was emailing about my fears about posting her ears once we were home b/c NJ is a tough place to find anyone that will touch a cropped ear, le alone crop or stitch them up. I didn't totally worry for nothing....something did go wrong....and my pup cannot come home yet. We're very sad, and very concerned.

Anyone care to share their opinion?

when did they have their ears cropped? How long have the stitches been in?

feverone · 06-07-2008, 11:13 PM

Well Its normal for pups to play and bite at each other, they dont know they have stiches... its your breeders fault..she shouldnt leave pups together after cropping, I always seperate each one, in fear of that happening..... your pups ears will probley be fine... I hope the breeder has them apart now??
Dont worry ....JMHO

Rauschund · 06-07-2008, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by feverone

Well Its normal for pups to play and bite at each other, they dont know they have stiches... its your breeders fault..she shouldnt leave pups together after cropping, I always seperate each one, in fear of that happening..... your pups ears will probley be fine... I hope the breeder has them apart now??
Dont worry ....JMHO

Well...amy pups yet????

Heidi-G · 06-07-2008, 11:40 PM

Only a day. Cropped Thursday. This happened overnight.

Heidi-G · 06-07-2008, 11:41 PM

That's exactly the reason I was picking her up on Friday. To avoid this. I'm so upset ^& I dont beleive they are seperated right now.

jdd · 06-08-2008, 09:05 AM

I never seperate my pups after cropping. Have never had any stitches come out. Once they get bumped on the ears once and squeal, they all are pretty careful from then on. They still play and roughhouse but they don't bother each others ears.
Pretty surprising a puppy would be still long enough for another to pull out stitches. I almost always keep all of them till its time for me to take the stitches out.
Do you know if it was the top stitches or bottom?

Heidi-G · 06-08-2008, 08:20 PM

The vet used one continuous stitch....do you think it will cause any long term damage?

jdd · 06-08-2008, 08:33 PM

So it came out from top to bottom?
I think I'd have had it stitched again if I were the breeder.
It really also depends on the crop. If they took alot out at the bottom that would open up. Some vets do that and some don't.
What is your breeder saying about it?

dobebug · 06-08-2008, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heidi-G

Hi everyone, I'm in need of some friendly advice....our puppy had her ears cropped earlier this week with our breeder, we were supposed to go pick her up yesterday & then we got a terrible phone call.....2 or 3 of the pups in the litter had their stitches ripped out by some of the other litter-mates.

Is this normal, out little one has a little infection now & is on anti-biotics, we have to wait until she goes back to their vet to see if she gets cleared.

While I understand this could occur does anyone think that A) this could cause long term damage in terms of getting her ears to standd later? B) is she better off at home with us than a litter of 9 if she has an infection?

I am the neurotic worry wort that was emailing about my fears about posting her ears once we were home b/c NJ is a tough place to find anyone that will touch a cropped ear, le alone crop or stitch them up. I didn't totally worry for nothing....something did go wrong....and my pup cannot come home yet. We're very sad, and very concerned.

Anyone care to share their opinion?

I've never had a breeder totally separate puppies after ear cropping and my experience is the same as jdd's. After the puppies bang each others ears once they get fairly careful to leave ears alone.

But if this happened one day after the crop the vet who cropped should have been able to deal with the problem and hopefully resutured the ear. As far as antibiotics go, most of the vets who have done crops for me over the last zillion years have put newly cropped puppies on a short course of antibiotics (five days usually) just as a precautionary measure. I doubt that this would have a significant effect on getting the ear to stand. But this would be something to talk to the breeder about. Who did the crop?

I don't know if the puppy would be better off with you or not--if you are very worried about not being able to find someone who would deal with a pulled suture or a cropped ear she is probably better off with the breeder.

But if you are in New Jersey you should Google Sophia Koster DVM and find out where she is in New Jersey. She is an excellent cropper--Eastwick Dobermans--and has recropped a couple of puppies for DT members as well as cropping at least one of the recent litters. She can certainly help you deal with aftercare and answer questions as well as help with disasters like stitches being pulled from a puppy ear. So count yourself lucky--New Jersey does have a very good veterinarian cropper.