Cane Corso Ear Cropping Cost – 10 Real Vet Price Quotes

There is very little information on the internet about the cost of ear cropping procedures for Cane Corsos, and the prices stated are usually misleading and extremely outdated. That’s why I contacted veterinarians from 8 different states to get a clear number of how much it costs to ear crop a Cane Corso in 2023.

It costs between $400 and $900 to get your Cane Corso’s ears cropped at a veterinarian in the United States. During my research I got price quotes from ten different vets, and the average was around $600. This price includes the pre-surgical exam, antibiotics, pain meds, follow-up exams, and postings.

Cane Corso Ear Cropping Price Quotes

Veterinarian	Location	Ear Crop	Pre-Surgery Exam	Follow-Up Exams	Postings
Quality Care Animal Hospital	Miramar, FL	$784	Included	Included	Included
MidCounty Veterinary Hospital	Royal Palm Beach, FL	$400	$89	$30	$15
Animal Medical Center	Milpitas, CA	$900	Included	Included	Included
Fillmore Animal Hospital	Fillmore, CA	$400	$49	$45	Included
Gruda Veterinary Hospital	Santa Fe, NM	$800	Included	Included	Included
Raleigh Bartlett Animal Hospital	Memphis, TN	$500	Included	Included	Included
Warrensville Animal Center	Cleveland, OH	$605	$35	Included	$15
Budget Vet, LLC	Conyers, GA	$500	Included	Included	$25
Desert Inn Animal Hospital	Las Vegas, NV	$500	$190	Included	$30
South Meadow Animal Clinic	Fort Worth, TX	$660	$55	Included	$100
AVERAGE		$600

The table above shows the quotes I was given for an 8-week-old Cane Corso. I contacted only the best veterinarians that have a lot of experience with Cane Corsos to get a real representation of the current cost of this procedure. These prices may vary as ear cropping prices are based on the age and weight of your puppy.

When getting a quote from a veterinarian, make sure that the price you are getting isn’t just for the ear crop procedure itself. Ask if there are any additional charges, consultation, blood work, exams, etc., or if all that is included in the price.

Pre-Surgery Exam

Average Cost: $83

Some vets don’t require a pre-surgery exam (they will do it if you think your puppy needs one), and some do require it. It’s better to provide your puppy with that exam as the veterinarian will determine if your puppy is ready for the procedure and the likelihood of the ears successfully standing.

It’s also a good opportunity to discuss the ear cropping procedure in detail including the size and shape of the desired crop, risks, post-operative care, and pain control.

The pre-surgery exam may also include:

• Vaccination history
• Fecal exam
• Blood Work
• ECG scan
• Any questions that you have

Blood work is important as it checks certain values in your dog’s blood and identifies common issues that may require a change to how anesthesia is given to your dog.

Ear Cropping Surgery

Average Cost: $600

IMPORTANT: Contact your vet as soon as possible for ear cropping. Every vet I contacted during my research was already booked for the next 2 to 4 weeks, and they won’t crop your Cane Corso’s ears if he is too old by the time you get an appointment.

Every vet told us that they only do ear cropping procedures for Cane Corsos that are between 8 and 12 weeks old and that the price will vary depending on the age and weight of your puppy.

Here’s a list of things that are commonly included in the price of the ear-cropping procedure:

• Pre-surgery exam
• Pre-surgical blood panel
• Anesthesia
• Blood pressure and pulse oximetry anesthesia monitoring
• IV
• Pain medication & antibiotics
• Initial ear wrap
• Cone or e-collar
• Follow-up exam
• Suture removal

Some vets told us that we should drop off the puppy early in the morning and pick him up in the afternoon, while some require an overnight stay that is included in the price.

Follow-Up Exams

Average Cost: Included

Generally, follow-up exams consist of 3 rechecks at 1, 2, and 3 weeks after surgery, however, you should immediately contact your vet if you are concerned that there are complications in the healing process (bleeding, broken stitches, infections, etc.)

• Week One Recheck – The vet cleans the ears, replaces the bandages, and checks for any signs of infection, ear creasing, or other complications.
• Week Two Recheck – The vet removes the sutures (stitches) and posts the ears for the first time. Pay close attention to what the vet is doing, and even ask him to videotape the posting process. It’s really useful to learn how to post your puppy’s ears yourself, as it will save you money and a couple of trips to the vet.
• Week Three Recheck – The vet will have a look at how the ears are doing, and make sure that you have all the knowledge required to provide further care for your puppy. By now you should have posted your Cane Corso’s ears by yourself 1-2 times, if you still have some problems with it ask your vet to show you one more time.

Ear Posting

Average Cost: First 3 free, then $30

Two or three postings are usually included in the total price of the ear cropping procedure, and after that, they cost around $30. If you want to save some money and time, you can learn how to post your Corso’s ears by yourself.

How Long Do Cropped Ears Need to be Posted?

There is no right answer to this question, the range is anywhere from three weeks to three months. Actually, there is one right answer, you need to keep posting until YOU like how the ears look and they are continuously standing on their own without flopping after you remove the posts.

How quickly will the ears stand on their own depends on numerous factors:

• Puppy’s age
• Crop style
• Cartilage strength
• Genetics
• Quality & consistency of posting

If time is passing but you are not making any progress, contact your vet and schedule an appointment so he can check the ears and make adjustments and recommendations.

When to Get Your Corso’s Ears Cropped

Every veterinarian told us that they only crop the ears of Cane Corsos that are between 8 and 12 weeks old. A responsible veterinarian will advise you not to do the procedure if he deduces that there are minimal chances that the ears will straighten after cropping.

When I asked one old-timer veterinary surgeon: when should you crop a Cane Corso’s ears? He shared with me that he got the best results with Cane Corsos that are 8 to 9 weeks old.

If your puppy is slightly outside of these ranges it’s best to take him for a check-up. Your veterinarian will check the flexibility and thickness of the cartilage and determine if you can crop your dog or not.

Find an Ear Crop Veterinarian

I heard stories that more and more veterinarians in the U.S. have stopped providing this procedure and during my research, I found that to be true. Many vet clinics and hospitals I contacted told me that they do not do ear cropping anymore, but they were kind enough to refer me to their colleagues that still perform this procedure.

A good place to look for a vet is the Cane Corso Association of America’s list of ear crop veterinarians. These vets are members of the CCAA and are recommended by them.

When looking for a vet, go to their website, and you can find photos that showcase the vet’s skills and the breeds they have experience with.

It’s usually the veterinarians that are in the business for decades that still perform the ear crop procedure. So if you have trouble finding a vet in your area, focus on clinics that have a long history and a lot of experience with Cane Corsos.

Cane Corso Ear Cropping Consult

I found an amazing video on youtube, which I will link below, of a person who brought his Cane Corso puppy to a vet for an ear crop consultation. The video is brilliant and it shows you everything you can expect and what you should ask while consulting with a vet.

The consultation started with the vet showing pictures of his previous works on Cane Corsos, then proceeded to inspect the ear cartilage of the owner’s puppy, assessed its firmness, and gave his suggestions for the crop length and style.

The vet went into detail about how he does the ear cropping procedure, the owner asked some questions he had on his mind, and at the end, they discussed the price, which was $550, including all the blood work, exams, wrappings, removal of the stitches, medications, etc.

Not Sure About Ear Cropping?

If you are still undecided whether or not to get your Cane Corso’s ears cropped you should make a list of the pros and cons of ear cropping your Cane Corso. It’s an important decision. It’s easier to decide if you lay it all down on paper, and we have a whole article on that topic to help you out.

Cane Corso Tail Docking

No longer than the second or third day of life, Cane Corso’s tail needs to be docked at the veterinarian’s office. Experienced breeders have learned how to do it themself, with little help from an assistant.

The length of the tail is really important for the later look of the Cane Corso. If the tail is too short it will look out of proportion to the body, and if it’s too long it will be out of the Cane Corso standard.

Cane Corso’s tails are strong and heavy, and when they wag them enthusiastically they can get hurt. By hitting tables, furniture, or corners of walls, they will bruise and tear their tails. Tail wounds are difficult to heal due to constant wagging that they can’t control. Even when owners decide not to dock their puppy’s tail from the start, they usually decide to do it when their dog is older due to an injury. Another problem with a long tail is that they sweep everything off of low tables (glasses, mugs, bowls…) and they can hurt little children.

When docking is done when the puppy is between 2 to 3 days old, it’s a perfectly humane procedure. The puppies are still in the neonate stage so their nervous system has not fully developed. On the other hand, if you must dock a tail of an adult Cane Corso due to an injury, the procedure is far more painful, complicated and requires anesthesia.

Research Sources

Apart from the veterinarians and clinics I contacted, I talked with my local Cane Corso breeders, owners, dog trainers, and a lot of internet friends I made over the years of being a part of the Cane Corso community.

List of veterinarians I contacted for a Cane Corso ear cropping price quote:

• Quality Care Animal Hospital
• MidCounty Veterinary Hospital
• Animal Medical Center
• Fillmore Animal Hospital
• Gruda Veterinary Hospital
• Raleigh Bartlett Animal Hospital
• Warrensville Animal Center
• Budget Vet, LLC
• Desert Inn Animal Hospital
• South Meadow Animal Clinic