BOUVIER EARS: Cropped vs Natural

Do cropped ears prevent ear infections?
There are no definitive studies - no conclusive data. Maybe yes? Maybe no? Veterinarians have disparate opinions.
Our OPINION is that ear cropping, while largely cosmetic, can prevent ear infections - especially with Bouviers who are not regularly groomed and who spend large portions of their day outdoors.
That being said, consummate ear infections are not common across the breed. Europe has banned ear cropping for many years without negative results.
Many factors contribute to repeated ear infections, including (oddly enough) allergies to poultry (impacting Bouvs with both cropped and natural ears). Again, rarely an issue, but we do tend to feed salmon or lamb based kibble as an extra precaution.