Dog's Prick Ear Is Now A Drop Ear After Surgery–Permanent?

[chestnutmarebeware]

Blue the cattle dog had a hematoma on his ear a week ago. The next day the vet used a local and drained it (I hadn’t thought to withold food, so they couldn’t put him under).

Of course the ear re-filled over the weekend, so Blue had the full ear surgery on Monday. Now his ear is shaved and full of stitches, and doing well, but it flops down over his eye like the cartilage has been destroyed.

My question is, will cartilage recover? If so, should I have the vet brace it like when ears are cropped? Right now he’s got the rakish look to star in an “Our Gang” episode!

It’s a very minor issue in the course of things, but non-emergency calls to my vet take several days to be returned, so I thought I’d toss it out here. Any experiences?

[SquishTheBunny]

Most of the ones I have seen remained droopy.

[vtdobes]

It may not stand again. My friends Dobe had a hematoma also and her previously cropped and standing ear is a bit flopped now.

[IdahoRider]

None of the ears that I have seen go through this returned to normal. They all flopped and many took on a thickened, somewhat gnarled look after healing was complete.
Sheilah

[Kryswyn]

Ditto this ^^^^

[Bicoastal]

Some vets will perform corrective surgery on botched crops or failed pricks. Obviously, this is mainly for breed ring dogs. There are such things as ear implants.

Just thought I’d add because no one mentioned it. I’m not indicating this is the OP’s intent.

[shayaalliard]

when this happened to a friends husky the vet sewed the ear to a piece of plastic (looked like milk jug) until it healed so it wouldn;t be floppy. dog HATED it- not worth it in my opinion, but it did work.

[JBD]

Maybe you can tape it until you get a chance to see the vet. My friend who raises Chihuahuas will sometimes tape to help the ears stand up. I understand that it’s not a big deal in the scheme of things but if it can be easily addressed, why not.

[chestnutmarebeware]

Thanks, everyone! It’s 8 days after surgery, and the ear seems to be stuck in the "broken " position. It’s breaking over exactly halfway down.

The ear was taped flat against his head with Vetwrap, and I was told to keep it on for 5 days, but Blue was rubbing it so much that I removed the bandage after only 3. So may be my fault.

Anyway, my mind still says “wrong” every time I look at him, but it’s actually a cute look (and at 11, and a puppy-mill ACD, he’s certainly no breed ring candidate!). He’s gone from Distinguished Gentleman to Lovable Rascal…:lol:

[make_x_it_x_so]

Pictures?

Sounds adorable.

[LoriO]

My corgi is going in tomorrow for the same thing, did Blue’s ear ever go back up? Going to be weird seeing her with a floppy ear!

[chestnutmarebeware]

[QUOTE=LoriO;8139476]
My corgi is going in tomorrow for the same thing, did Blue’s ear ever go back up? Going to be weird seeing her with a floppy ear![/QUOTE]

It’s so funny to see this! I was just looking at his ear yesterday and remembering the thread.

It did continue to improve with no action on my part, and now the tip just tilts forward a little. I’d guess it took about 8 or 9 months to get to that point. But the ear is more gnarled-looking overall.

Good luck to your corgi! I had two Pembrokes, and it would have been a shock to see either of them without both bat-ears flying, but once you retrain your brain to accept the droopy ear you don’t even notice it.

[JoZ]

Nothing constructive to offer but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to post one of my favorite pictures (not my dog/car or anyone I know, just a random internet find)!

[LoriO]

[QUOTE=chestnutmarebeware;8139594]
It’s so funny to see this! I was just looking at his ear yesterday and remembering the thread.

It did continue to improve with no action on my part, and now the tip just tilts forward a little. I’d guess it took about 8 or 9 months to get to that point. But the ear is more gnarled-looking overall.

Good luck to your corgi! I had two Pembrokes, and it would have been a shock to see either of them without both bat-ears flying, but once you retrain your brain to accept the droopy ear you don’t even notice it. :)[/QUOTE]

I wasnt sure you’d see this since it was an old posting! Well that gives me a little hope. I just want her better but there’s a small part of me that selfishly wants both her ears up. Emme is a Cardigan.

Im pretty sure she did this while rough housing with our Aussie shepherd/cattle dog mix.

[LoriO]

@JoZ;8139856

Nothing constructive to offer but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to post one of my favorite pictures (not my dog/car or anyone I know, just a random internet find)!

LOL!!!