Plastic Surgery For Dogs: Dog Ear Crop and Tail Dock
92Stylize Your Dog
No, I'm not speaking in terms of doggy clothes and accessories. No bling- bling collars or jeweled leashes. I'm thinking more in terms of plastic surgery for dogs. It's not necessarily a new thing, a new trend, a new style. Dog's don't care what they look like, but people do...
Basically, those interested in ear cropping and tail docking procedures are not looking out for anything but their own ego and how they appear walking the dog that is missing at least 2/3 of his ears. Dogs are not accessories; dogs are not pawns in the human game; dogs are man's best friend...
Would you have your best friend's ears cut off just because you think he'd look better? Now, ok, that's really a different situation, but you get my meaning.
Where in most countries, it has become illegal to dock a puppy's tail or crop his ears, that's no the case in all countries. It's time to become illegal in all countries...
Dogs don't know style. Dogs know, or at least need to know, love, care, and kindness.
Boxer Ear Cropping
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Doberman Ear Cropping
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Ear Cropping
How Does Ear Cropping Work?
- Puppies between the age of 7 to 12 weeks old, are the best candidate for the procedure- think about that. You're putting this small pup under general anesthesia, which poses a risk for any dog, especially puppies.
- The veterinarian gently cuts away on average 2/3 of the puppy's ears, this includes all the nerve endings and acupuncture zones.
- The opened ears are closed with stitches from the bottom up.
- Once the wound heals and the stitches are removed, the puppy isn't done yet. He has to go through months of ear taping, which even to me just looks uncomfortable.
In some ear cropping cases, the ears still don't stand properly, which means another surgery for your puppy. Many Great Danes pose this concern. And, think about it, the older the puppy, the longer it will take to heal. If you choose not re- crop the ear, then he's stuck looking uglier than he ever looked. So, you just may not get the same ego boost with a dog with a goofy ear.
Many people claim that ear cropping doesn't cause the pup any pain, but think about it, when you go into surgery, get cut open, and wake back up, you usually feel some kind of pain. Some people say, "I had my dog's ears cropped when he was a puppy he never showed signs of pain." Well, to that I have to say:
- Just because the puppy didn't show any signs of pain, doesn't mean he wasn't in any. Some dog breeds are able to hold their pain and illness better than others.
- When the pup hit his head or ear on something when playing or accidentally scratches it because, face it, healing wounds itch, and he yelped... He was in pain.
- YOU PUT A SMALL PUPPY UNDER ANESTHESIA AND CUT OFF HIS EARS! HE WAS IN PAIN!
There is absolutely no medical benefit for cropping any dog's ears. There's just no proof that cropping dog's ears reduce the risk for ear infection. It's you, the owner's, responsibility to clean the dog's ears from debri. It's just not a quick fix to irresponsibility to cut them off; you still have to clean his ears.
Many dog breeders believe that certain breeds have to have their ears cropped to be successful in the ring. Well, the ears have absolutely no determination as to whether the dog wins or losses. He will have the same, equal chance, as any other dog. Natural- eared dogs can and do with best in show competitions.
And, lastly, when you crop your dog's ears, you inhibit communication with other dogs. Body language is the key to dog communication, and when you remove 2/3 of the dogs ears, you remove valuable communication skills.
Wait, one more thing. When you remove a dog's ears, he may have phantom scars and wounds for the rest of his lift, which can result in behavioral problems. Ever heard of phantom limbs? It works the same way.
Dog Ear Cropping
Tail Docking
How Tail Docking Works?
- All the hair on the tail is shaved so to properly sterilize the tail.
- A tourniquet is applied to stop the bleeding.
- A clamp is placed on the desired length of the tail, which is usually determined by breed.
- A scalpel is used to cut off the rest of the tail.
- Stitches are put in place to prevent the wound from opening, and the tail is bandaged.
A puppy's tail is generally docked when he's only a few days old. Many breeders prefer to dock their own puppies' tails, but this is unsafe and unsanitary, so professional veterinarians should perform the procedure, if you must have it done.
Although, there is more debate about tail docking than ear cropping, personally, I find no real excuse for it.
Working dogs and hunting dogs that are true workers and not just in the category, may actually benefit from the procedure, as when running through the brush which chasing or flushing out game, it can prevent injury to the dog. But, there's no reason to remove the entire tail.
Like a dog's ears, his tail is very important for communication with other dogs. He needs his tail to show pleasure, fear, friendliness, dominance, playfulness, defensiveness, inquisitiveness, aggression, nervousness, and submissiveness.
Docking Young Puppies' Tails
Other Resources
- Should You Crop and/or Dock Your Dog?
Should you or shouldn't you crop your dog's ears or dock his tail? From an unbiased eye. - Cosmetic Surgery for Dogs and Cats
Info about tail docking, ear cropping, debarking, and declawing. - How to Tape Ears
Step by step guide towards doggy ear taping.
Do You See Anything Wrong With These Dogs?
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Disclaimer: Please be aware that the advice in this article should in no way replace that of a licensed veterinarian. If you have any questions or concerns, you should consult a veterinarian.
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What do you think?
I totally agree. Although, I will admit that although I didn't question not cropping my APBT's ears or docking her tail, now that she's older (8 months), she's grown and she has a retarded ear that stands straight up. She'd be pretty with floppy ears, but I have jokingly considered cropping, but would NEVER do it.
Whitney- another great article. Thanks for posting this information about ear and dail docking! Sad. I hate to think of the dogs suffering. You are the woman with the best information on these subjects!
I've had a half-done article on docking/cropping for like a week now, just for the record. ;) Great article! The argument that it doesn't hurt the dog is absurd. It's well-known that dogs do not show their pain until they're pretty much dying. Ugh. We are so messed up about dogs in this country.
Thank you Steph! :-)
Helena- Great minds think alike. When looking for videos on youtube, there was a comment left for the video that I have posted, which is what led to my little tirade at the top "my dog didn't feel any pain when I had his ears cropped."
Just look at those dogs. They're not happy. They don't care what they look like. I had a good picture of a bulldog with cropped ears and the stitches up close, but couldn't figure out where to put it.
Just wanted to add my two cents. I raise and breed boxers and have some of the best pups you can find and while I do not agree with having the ears cropped and have never cropped one of my boxers ears. I think it is painful to dogs and very unnecessary. I am a fan of having the tails docked however and this is because boxers have poor circulation in their tails and too many times I have seen them injure their tail and it would not heal up and ended up being put under sedation and having it cut later in life and I know them are in pain. And it is so sad to see it. A boxers tail has to be docked between birth and 5 days before they develop their nerve endings and I have never had one not go right back to their momma to eat but please take your dog to a vet who knows what they are doing do not try it at home by yourself that is cruel and mean and can cause so many more problems from not being done right. I can give you so many reasons why you should dock the tail and even more reasons to NOT have their ears cropped though.
Stacey I don't necessarily agree with you, but I fully understand if there is a health concern. Many dogs DO have problems with their tail in regards to knocking the tail and causing a cut over and over again. In terms of health issues, I do think that it's a case by case basis as to whether you crop/dock your dog. In terms of cropping ears, there's absolutely no medical reason for it. Tails, though, I will agree there are some cases where it may be better for the dog to have his tail docked.
Thank you for your input.
This is news to me Whitney.I have seen dogs being decorated for dog shows but ear cropping and tail docking? I would love them as they are.
Unless the dogs experience problem with their long ears and tails there is absolutely no reason to go in for such mutilations.Thanks for the info.
I really get upset when people crop dog's ears. It's illegal where I live, and the dobermans are gorgeous with their natural ears. Tail docking I don't see the point in either, really... I would not want someone doing it to me, and I wouldn't do it to my pet.
Isabella, I agree with you. I like the look in some dogs, but I wouldn't volunteer my dog for the surgery. I wish it was illege in the U.S.
I am so happy that I stumbled upon this page. I just got my boxer pup a couple of weeks ago. For whatever reason, his tail could not be docked when the breeder took the puppies in to have it done (she took them in at 3 days old) - the breeder was told that the puppy would have to be brought back for the procedure once he was over 8 weeks old (They were able to dock the others, just not him). Anyway, once I got the pup - I decided not to have the tail docked or the ears cropped. I am catching alot of grief from almost everyone around me telling me that those two things need to be done, that I am making a very poor choice by not having it done. I have even had people telling me that my puppy will be ugly once he is grown because he will not show the appearance of a boxer. I even had someone offer to pay for the procedures. It is not that I can't afford it...I just DO NOT FIND IT NECESSARY - and I can't find anyone that seems to understand that. So, Thank you!
Wow. I'm so sorry to hear that people are giving you grief about it. In the end it's really your decision, but I (personally) think you're making the right one. Both procedures are unnecessary unless he has problems with his tail. There are some cases in which the dog will hit his tail on something and automatically cause an abrasion. Just keep that in mind, but other than that there's no reason to perform either procedure.
Personally, I find natural eared boxers much cuter. In my town, it's actually more rare to see a cropped boxer; although, un-docked boxer's are the opposite and are rare here.
I wish you luck with the people who are harassing you. Just stick to your guns. Tell whoever offered you the money, that you don't want the procedures, but you'd take the money anyway. ;-) Refer them to this page; maybe they'll learn something. :-)
By the way, your puppy's gorgeous.
I was wondering, do greyhounds have docked ears, or are they just naturally tiny and folded back?
They just have ears that naturally pull back.
I guess everyone is entitled to their opinion. We could just as easy compare having your newborn boy circumsized. This too is nothing more than cosmetic.
Yes, pets need love. However, the order should be -> Exercise, Discipline and then Affection. :)
what hasn't been added on this site is there isn't only one way to dock a dogs tail!! as a breeder myself we dock our puppies tails but not in the horrible way described above. when they are a few days old we simpaly pop an elastic band round the tail and in a week or so it drops off. the pupps are in no pain or i wouldnt do it! this type of docking is used on sheep and is not frowned apon so why is it when done to dogs? i totally argree with the ban on ear cropping as there is no reason for this apart from vanity but not with tail docking for boxer dogs. the reason is that reserch has show that it is dangerous to leave boxers with long tails as they never really grow up (a puppie for life) and alot of knocking and banging to the tails accure! also boxers are more prone to chew their tails (i have seen evidence of this in pictures on the internet) this mean the dogs tail can become very damaged but everyone to their own opinion i suppose but i will carry on to dock my puppies tails.
The tail has absolutely nothing to do with the personality and temperament of the dog when an adult. A boxer with or without a tail will have the same general temperament when it grows up, of course all dependant the dog's personality.
I agree there are other types to dock a tail, but the one above is the more common method.
OMG that video of the puppy having his tail cut off he was crying his little heart out!!! Now he must of felt pain coz he wouldnt off cryed like that!! People who crop dogs ears n tail just to look cool shouldnt even be allowed to own animlas!!
i just bought a pitbull and its ears were already croped. I asked why they would do that to there dogs and they said because it makes the look good. Well whoever her tail isnt done yet and i am not going to get it done i hope that she feels alright and she wont have to deel with the pain anymore.
ty for this blog
Some people think that they look better without ears, but the breeder I purchased my APBT from said that he finds it mean and cruel, which was one more reason I liked the guy. lol. You could have always found a better breeder who had a more legitimate reason besides "it looks better"
When we bought our Doberman, he and his littermates had obviously already had their tails docked. Getting the ears docked, however, was our decision. It had nothing to do with appearance, it was put to us this way by a friend: "If you don't dock his ears, another dog just might". Basically, should he ever get in a confrontation with an aggressive dog, his long velvety hound ears would be an easy target and would be mutilated. So we got them docked. One ear had problems in the taping-up process, and in the next few years he actually had recurring infections in that ear(they don't show up anymore). If we got another doberman, would we crop it's ears too? Probably not. I won't say it should be made illegal, but some people's reasons for it, and how they go about it, are just wrong.
You could actually say the same thing about any dog "if you don't another dog just might." Does that mean you should crop a lab's ears or a retriever or terrier? I don't think so, but that's just me. As for the ear infection, you can keep a dog ear infection free without cropping their ears. You just have to CLEAN the ears. Cropping the ears is a quick fix around it because you should still clean their ears.
I cryed watching that docking video. When I goy my Rotty he had been docked allready by the breeder but they had buggered it up docking himabove the firt nckle and not belo so he had no tail what so ever. It didnt make him lookany better or worse but i often wondered what he may have lookedlike witha tail. When he wagged his whole back end moved.
Tail docking seems a waste of time unless medically needed. Ear cropping even crueler/
I really think you guys need to lighten up. you act as if these animals are being butchered and abused, these animals are taken to qualified vets where their comfort is taken well into consideration. ive had three great danes now, all ears cropped and they have never been anything but happy or healthy dogs. if your gonna be upset about something get upset about idiots who dont train their dogs and make them terrors at the dog parks and eventually take them to the pound or people who get pit bulls cause they think they are a status symbol. as long as responsible vet is involved you have nothing to whine about when it comes to this.
Where does human circumcision fit in to all of this? If we cut and peel the foreskin off a human babies' penis, do we worry about that? I'm sure the baby would be crying. All I know is that I am happy as hell to have had it done now that I'm an adult! Thanks mom! Thanks dad! It looks better and has been shown to reduce risk of certain STD infections. I wouldn't want to watch a video of a baby (or myself being circumcised) and I wouldn't want to watch my boxer dog's tail being docked as a puppy either. Ears should NOT be cropped because it has no value whatsoever I agree...but tail docking is definitely worth it and I am a major dog lover and SPCA donator of time and money. Obviously, this debate will go on forever. People need to think more with their mind rather than JUST their stomach and heart.
I don't think it should be made illegal to ear crop or tail dock. Breeds that usually have there tail docked, and or not docked like the rottie just look wierd. Though i do think it should be done as soon as there born. Puppies that age do not remember. When they get older and have to be sedated to do it, its a bit more complicated. That is my opinion. Thats why i think it shouldnt be made illegal, its the persons choice. I work in a vet clinic, have seen many tail docks, and a few ear croppings and have yet to see one have any serious problems and i also see tons of dogs who have had the procedures in the past and they are just as happy and go lucky as can be. I think some breeds look good either way with the ear cropping. Boxers and pit bulls and great danes are a couple of breeds i think look good either way. Dobermans are a breed i do not find look right without the crop done. Again this is just my opinion.
I ABSOLUTELY HATE THE WHOLE IDEA OF BOTH!!!!!! TO SIT THERE AND SEE AN ANIMAL SUFFER IS NOT OK. I DONT SEE HOW PEOPLE CAN SIT THERE AND WATCH AN ANIMAL SUFFER LET ALONE LAUGH AT THE WHOLE ORDEAL OF IT!!!!!! WE MAY NOT HAVE A TAIL BUT...
HOW WOULD YOU LIKE IT IF SOMEONE TIED YOU DOWN OR HELD YOU IN PLACE, CLAMPED YOUR ARM OR LEG(OH YOU DONT NEED IT...YOU HAVE 2 OF EACH AND IT WOULD LOOK BETTER THAT WAY ANYHOW) AND EITHER TWISTED IT OFF OR TOOK A RAZOR BLADE TO IT... WITH NO ANASTETIC(BUT WAI... LET ME MAKE THIS A LITTLE MORE EASIER FOR IGNORANT MORONS TO UNDERSTAND...NUMBING MEDICATION)?
OH... WAIT A MINUTE... FASHION IS EVERYTHING NOW-A-DAYS AND IF YOU DONT HAVE THE PROPER FASHION YOU ARE NOT COOL!!!!!!
KARMA DOES EXIST WETHER YOU WANT TO BELIEVE IT OR NOT AND WHEN IT DOES COME BACK AROUND IT IS GOING TO BIT YOU IN THE ASS AND HARD AND YOU WILL NOT...LET ME REPEAT... YOU WILL NOT LIKE IT!!!
TRY THINKING TWICE NEXT TIME IT GOES THROUGH YOUR HEAD ABOUT CROPPING YOUR DOGS EARS OR DOCKING HIS/HER TAIL... AND IF YOU CANT SEEM TO DO THAT THEN YOU SHOULD NOT OWN AN ANIMAL @ ALL!!!!!!!
HAHAHA when all of you stop getting tattoos. piercing your most sensitive body parts ( serting yourselves up for infection and sometimes ER visits which I have to pay for cause you don;t have insurance).. how about you guys.. circumsised?/ if so did it hurt.. do you remember.. bet you don;t and well bet you are glad.. as for animals.. spaying is a much more invasive surgery that ear cropping.. neutering is a MUCH more invasive surgery than docking a tail so let's outlaw THAT first..then we can work on outlawing piercing a childs ears.. or..closong all tattoo parlors.. dirty unsanitary places using needles.. without any pain killer.. except what you bring yourself of course...so really .. get a life.. and a real job... like the vet tech .. and learn about a subject BEFORE you post..
How about neutering is beneficial for the dog, and cropping and docking has no value to it.
You can't compare modification on humans to animals by any means, as those done to humans are asked for. The dog doesn't walk into the vet and ask 'hey can you cut off my tail, I think it'll look better."
So try again buddy.... There's no point in getting your panties in a wad, but there's nothing that you can say that will change the fact that cropping/docking is illegal in nearly all countries except the US and unless there is a medical reason, there is no reason to do it. And, by medical reason, I mean the dog keeps busting its tail open bc it's hitting the tail on everything; this can cause cancer in the condition persists (2 vets and 1 bone specialist confirmed this). Ear infections is not a reason to crop ears, as you can clean the dog's ears regularly and never have a problem.
And, how about YOU do mre research and get a life as you actually suggested making neutering an illegal process... HELLO!! hundreds of thousands of dogs are euthanized each year becuase of unwanted litters and unwanted pets in general. Think that banning neutering would make the problem any better. You need to do your research and stop being a fool.
How about you doing a little research.. spaying and neutering are not beneficial .. in fact it is illegal to perform these same surgeries in the countires you condone for making cropping and docking illegal... those countries support the natural dog.. as they are born..
A leash and a fence are beneficial to prevent unwanted litters. Unwanted pets are not the same thing as as an unwanted litter. Shelter numbers have been DROPPING for the last 20 years across the nation. Most animals killed at shelters are feral cats.. and those dogs called "pit bulls' who the media have made into such "monsters" that no one will take them.. you are right about one thing.. dogs don't care what they look like.. but people do.. that is why dogs are KILLED everyday.. "just becasue of the way they look'.. but that is a whole other topic..
Asked for.. by humans.. really. when did you last see a baby boy ask to have the tip of his penis cut off??. baby boys beg to be circumsized by rabbis.. not doctors.... little girls ask to have their ears pierced by NON medical personnel.. perhaps even at home.. by their parents..?.. somehow I don't think so..cropping and docking should be a choice... as should any surgery on a pet.. a decision made between veterinarian and client and the public should stay out of it.
Not all fences can prevent an unwanted litter. And, an unaltered pet has a higher chance at certain cancers, so by altering the pet, it is beneficial, you just can't say otherwise- statistically or medically.
Shelter numbers have not necessarily dropped but they have remained at a near constant, but not enough to say spaying an neutering is not necessary. The numbers have also been dropping because more people are spaying and neutering their pets.
You have no clue what are killed at shelters. You may know what's is euthanized at YOUR shelters, but not everywhere. Yes, the less appealing pets are typically the first to go, but that does not stop purebreds, puppies, and kittens from being put to sleep. I'm not even touching the "pit bull" subject with you, as there are more reasons that what you've said as to why they are put down in shelters. Yes, that is one of them, but not nearly the only one.
Circumcision is a different situation which is done for the longterm health of the child. As for piercing children's ears, many parents wait until the child is old enough to ask for it. You can't bring humans into an animal fight. It is ALWAYS going to be a different situation.
You have absolutely no reason- medically or statistically- that says that cropping and docking is ok. You need to do your research.
That's not necc true that there is no health benefit to cropping ears either. An upright ear is much less prone to infections from yeast and bacteria rather than a flop ear. I've owned representatives of both in my life, neither made me love or desire the dog anymore but the cropped ones were in general much easier to live with in the long run. I had a beagle years ago that had chronic ear infections that led to hematomas from scratching so hard at them at times. One in particular even had to be lanced and drained, At the time she was in treatment for the ear infection so no claims that I wasn't taking good enough care of her.
I think it's quite appropiate to compare it to humans especially since the author of the above article has already set the stage for it by calling it plastic surgery which is very much a human procedure. As a nurse, I've seen babies circumcised and it is painful although not so much anymore since they've started using a bit of anesthesia. Yes, we use anesthesia in babies, why should it be even more dangerous for a puppy?
No one HAS to crop or dock their dog OR get their child circumsized for that matter and that's the way that it should be.
It should be a personal choice, one made with the breeder (since it's done at such a young age) and their vet. Plenty of breeders out there that will leave the decision up to you, you just have to search for them.
Actually, that is not true. A dog that normally has cropped ears can go throughout life never experiencing ear infections if the owner cleans the ears regularly.
In a way, I understand comparing dogs to humans, but what we do to our dogs not the same as having something done to a human. Humans typically ask for plastic surgery, whereas our dogs never do. Granted again cicumcision is different, and one could wait until the child was older and ask if the child wanted it done. But you can never ask your dog, "Hey do you want your ears cut off."
It isa personal choice, but there's no reason that either should be performed. And I hope that one day both processes will be illegal in the U.S., as it is in other countries.
Wait unitl the child is OLDER.. you are too much.. you cannot ask dogs questions because dogs cannot talk.. medical decision regarding your pets health and welfare should be up to the owner and their pets veterinarian. I have ner heard a baby boy as to be circumsised.. and i have to laugh when you say it is done for the "long term health of the child".. tell that to most of the male population of Europe and indeed the rest of the world..they will be crossing their legs as they read this. LOL. can you imagine asking a 20 year old.. do you want to have the tip of your penis cut off? And are you really sayng that a child can make a medical decision about themselves? Oh no I really don't want that polio shot..or oh yes i am six and i want my ears pierced.. please....
Actually what is true is that any decision made by me in conjunction with my doctor or veterinarian is really no business of yours.
I do take it that you are a pet owner and not a veterianrian or you would know that many cancers ( serious one like osteosarcoma) are much more prevalent in altered dogs along with incontinence in females and other complications. Surgery should always be considered from all sides and made with full knowlege of the risk and benefits. Including the choice to crop or dock.
My pet.. my choice...
There are actually, many parents who will wait until the child is older to ask. There is no medical reason to crop/dock a dog.
Actually, cancers such as osteosarcoma can occur in any dog of any age or sex. I have personally consulted a vet about the particular cancer, as my dog HAS this cancer. There is nothing that can be done to change the odds of bone cancer, as it is the most common form of cancer that dogs get, and it is one of the most malignant. The only thing that is common is that more big dogs and younger dogs get the cancer, altering has very little to do with this cancer in regards to the statistics, according the cancer specialists that I have spoken with.
And no vet is going to say that you shouldn't spay/neuter your Rottie (for example) because of the risks of bone cancer, as the dog is going to get it either way if he is meant to get it.
Your pet your choice, doesn't mean that I, along with many others, has changed my thoughts about the procedures being made illegal.
Actually it is true. There is no such thing as *normally* cropped ears. Cropping isn't done in the uterus and they aren't popped out cropped. They are naturally upright ears or prick ears some may call them.
There are also dropped ears ... or some folks may call them flop ears and sorry but it is true that they can be prone to ear infections even if the owner takes very good care of them. Even on the show Dogs 101 recently, they've spoken to this tendency in some breeds and how they require extra care to prevent it.
My prick eared dogs and my cropped dogs have never had an ear infection nor have they ever required *special* care for their ears. I take very good care of all of them, thank you very much.
Some floppy ear dogs might never have a problem with it *that* is true but to say that they can't is absolutely an untruth. To claim that one isn't taking very good care of them if it happens isn't very fair in a lot of cases or accurate either. Seasonal allergies can cause a dog to scratch at their ears without an infection even being there. Haven't the insides of your ears ever itched because you had a bit of hayfever or something going on?
You are assuming the worst of someone just because you want to believe it and want to impose your beliefs on others. To me it's a typical example of folks who think their beliefs are all that count and actually have very little knowledge in the matter only an opinion.
Breast Cancer is also far more prevalent in bitches that have not been spayed, plus the risk of Pyometra (major life threatening womb infection where the womb fills up with pus and usually requires urgent removal).
To not spay or neuter is crazy with all the unwanted pets in this world, plus the resulting feral animals left roaming the streets from unwanted litters. Then you have to consider the less ethical owners who would simply keep drowning or dumping the litters they didn't want.
I have worked for a vets too, and where I live both ear cropping, de-clawing and tail docking are all illegal without a very good medical health reason for doing so. To perform these procedures otherwise would result in the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons striking the vet off their register, and then he could never practice again.
If you aren't happy with the way your pet was naturally born, don't take away it's means of communication by mutilating it. Take the better option, don't get a pet unless it is a goldfish!
You are so wrong.. large dogs like Rotties should not be neutered at a young age.... you really need to do some research instead of just 'asking around"
http://www.naiaonline.org/pdfs/LongTermHealthEffec
http://www.caninesports.com/EarlySpayConsideration
heres a start for you.. and others.. I am sorry your dog has cancer.. especially this one, as the outcome is not a positive one.
What do you suppose the sentence should be for an illegal "proceedure" like docking a dogs tail? Would you take that persons dog from them? Just curious. How about removing dewclaws.. done at about the same time as docking.. two or three days..should this also be illegal?? waht else can you think of.. and yes spaying and neutering of pets in other countires is ONLY legalconsidered if the pets health is jeapoardy.. and yet they have very few dogs in shelters.. why?? Leash laws are enforced and people contain thier animals..including CATS.. the feral cat is the main problem at shelters.in the USA. easy to find out.. just look it up... or go to your local shelter and ask for the stats...as for pet population issues I suggest a book by Nathan Winograd.. "Redmption. The Myth of Pet Overpopulation in the United States".
Cropping and docking should remain in the perveiw of those who are involved.. pet owners, doctors and breeders.. just stay out of my right to choose.. and i will stay out of your right not to.. don't want to crop.. don't.. don;t want to dock.. don't.. my pet .. my choice your pet.. your choice
In regards to osteosarcomas in dogs ... you're both mistaken on that including your vet. Many cancers can be hormonally driven and it isn't that s/n can cause it, it's just the timing of it especially in Rottweilers.
http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/
It is generally believed that early s/n may actually increase the chances of it being expressed earlier. The later that one elects to have it done, *IF* the dog is prone to it, the later it will be expressed.
Susi, I am not assuming the worst of anyone. I just think that there is no reason to have either procedure cosmetically, and that the procedure should be illegal. That is a personal opinion and you can't prove me wrong in my opinion. Also, there are many ways that you can aid ear infection even in drop eared dogs by not cropping their ears. There are medicines and regular ear cleanings that would prevent it. Cropping and docking removes so many crucial communication skills for the dog.
I'm not saying hormones can't cause or enhance cancer by any means. And my vet, is a specialist, not a general vet. Both cancer specialists that looked at my case, said that in terms of osteosarcoma, the cancer cells are typically already throughout the body, and even by spotting the signs early can not 100% cure the dog. After amputation of the limb and chemo there is a 50/50 show of survival after 1 year, another 50/50 shot after that year, and so on. There is only a 5-15% chance have a cure, and that's no matter what time you catch the first signs of osteosarcoma. Generally, though spotting the signs early can help, but not with bone cancer.
Misty, I agree for MEDICAL reasons, that's different, as it can cause cancer for repeated busting open of the tail bc the dog keeps hitting it and breaking open a wound. But cosmetically, there's no reason for altering the pet's appearance. Like you said, if you're not happy with the way the dog/cat/whatever looks, then don't get the pet. You should never have to alter an animal to make it look better to you or anyone else.
bestuvall , I never said to alter the Rottie at a young age, I said alter it period. You're trying to find things to argue, and I will no longer argue with you. I don't just ask around, I have research backed behind my questions/answers. I'm not an idiot and I realize that asking around means you can get one answer bc that's what the one person feels is the answer. I also diagree with removing dewclaws. There's no reason for it cosmetically. Feral cats is a BIG problem for shelters, but what about unwanted litters that land a pregnant female or a new mom with a load of pups? That's HUGE concern, as well. It is plain ignorant to think that leash laws is going to solve the pet over-population problem.
You should not cut anything off of your dog until you have a medical reason to do so. Spaying/neutering is different, and should typically be done before 1 year old but after 6 months (depending on the breed) in order to prevent/reduce the risk of medical problems in the future.
If the procedures are illegal, then the person would not be able to get it done period unless there was a true medical reason backed by the dogs previous medical records. But, like most BSL laws, there would have to be a grandfather clause for people with previously cropped/docked dogs.
I never once intervened in your right to choose, but I will always feel that cropping/docking for pure cosmetic reasons should be made illegal, and I hope that the U.S. takes the hint from other countries.
Like I said, it's your choice right now, and I still think it should be illegal bc they have no way to choose whether they want it done or not. It's pure human selfishness. You are taking away vital communication skills that you dog needs.
Can I also add that a leash will not solve the problem of unwanted litters if you just happen to have two dogs, or two cats, of the opposite sex. Even if you kept both dogs on a leash in the house (which would be a nightmare in itself), they would quickly drive you mad with the whining and crying where the male tried to get to the female. Even shutting one of them in another room in the house does not stop this problem, (believe me, I experienced it once when I had an adult Doberman male (without cropped ears), and a rescue Cairn terrier cross female who came into season at 6 months old before we had a chance to get her spayed). The noise was so bad the neighbours even complained, and in the end we had to put her in kennels until her season finished so we could get her spayed. Shortly after we had the Doberman 'done' too, and my God was it a relief.
Dewclaws can be an 'iffy' subject, as I have seen a lot of dogs with broken or torn dewclaws that they have caught on things, so possibly would prefer them removed for the dogs own good, and to prevent future pain, (but NOT for cosmetic reasons).
Oh now we're digging ... it removes important communication skills?
As we've discussed some dogs have naturally prick ears and some dogs are actually born without a full tail -- called a bob-tail and cropped dogs communicate just as well as they do.
LACK of proper socialization interferes with a dog's ability to communicate well with other dogs ... not cropping and docking. I have cropped dogs and they get along fine with all other dogs, that's so silly.
If a dog is to be used for specific types of work, catching a dewclaw and tearing it can be very, very painful. Some dog's have very tight and well attached dewclaws, they shouldn't be messed with but some are floppy and loose and it can be quite beneficial to get them taken off early on instead of left to tear. A good breeder would know if this was something that would be of benefit to the dog later on or not.
If it was outlawed, then it would have to be done at a much older age and then it is major surgery ... it is going to be really painful to the dog then.
I don't expect to change your mind, it's obviously set in stone but I do hope to add in a bit of common sense and actual experience to the matter so that others that might desire to might learn. By advocating for the illegality of it, you're absolutely interferring in my right to choose what I feel is best for my dogs and I do look at it from a perspective of it being for a health reason, not just a cosmetic one whether you choose to believe that of me or not.
I have had both spayed and unspayed dogs, none have ever had breast cancer. I've had dogs that had mammary tumors but they weren't malignant. Spaying a dog young can decrease the incidence of mammary tumors but it neither increases nor decreases their risk of actual cancer. Vet medicine is a bit ahead of human medicine in this aspect although it is catching up. They will do surgery for it because we've found that simple aspiration can spread breast cancer if that is what it turns out to be but 50 percent of all mammary tumors on the dog are non-malignant. Same in people, a lot of human doctors would rather cut the lump out to diagnose it rather than do a needle biopsy because a needle biopsy can spread the cancer if it is cancer and that's not a good thing ... doesn't mean it's cancer as the following article shows.
If a bitch is spayed prior to her first heat cycle, she has a .5 chance of obtaining cancer and if allowed one heat cycle (which can be beneficial for other reasons) it goes up to 7 percent ... which is still quite low actually.
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&a
Of course, a dog isn't going to py if it's been spayed. You have to have a uterus first so of course it's going to be more prevelant in an unspayed bitch. rofl ... just because a dog has a uterus doesn't mean it's going to come down with pyometria.
I do believe in spaying and neutering dogs but it should be done sensibly and because it's the right thing to do FOR YOUR DOG not because of these ridiculous myths that some of you want to spread around.
LOL.. show me one dog that cannot "communicate " without a tail.. or the tips of its ears.. heck dogs can even "communicate" when deaf.. or missing a limb....how about dogs that are born withno tail.. are they not able to communicate?? how about dogs wiht small ears that they are born with? oh sorry they can't communicate either.. my breed has ears that naturally stand.. and a natural tail..some of the dogs have had to have their tails cut off for various reasons.. funny. they still "communicate" just fine.. i see you are a APBT person and a reptile person.. i am amazed as you seem to support BSL and "grandfather" clauses tha might allow people to keep the dog of their choice .. for awhile..... and reptile ownership and breeding of repitles fast beocming against the law in most states...
as usual.. people call for laws against what they percieve does not 'affect them".. sorry.. it does...
do you think that all laws should be made tha only medical reasons are the reasons fro choice?/ of any kind?
I always remove dewclaws.. as i have seen the result of not doing so.. torn and bleeding and infected legs.. no thanks I will be prophilactic in my approach and remove them.. if you choose not to.. or your breed standard calls for dewclaws.. your choice...
Ignornace has proven to work very well in Europe where spaying an neutering is sledom done EXCEPT for medical reasons.. and yet their shelters are hardly full and thier "kill" numbers a much less than ours.. hmmmmm
leash laws are not the only way to control pet population.. spaying and neuterng work too. as we see by th fact that shelter numbers have dropped every sinlge year in the last 20..and that over 75% of peopel already have their pets s/ned. but not as a law.. read the book I suggested and fight to repeal or never institute pet limit laws in your area..pet limit laws are one reason the shelters are so full.. if each family could have one more pet.. the shelters would be empty
so once the proceedure is done.. and it is illegal.. what do you do with the people who own "illegal " dogs??? Take them?? if you found a docked tail would you demand "papers" from the vet".. if they were not produced what is the penalty?? these are questions that have to answered before any laws can be passed... as laws must have consequences....
Interesting to think that a vet who could perform lifesaving surgeries on pets.. could be struck from practice because he/she declawed a cat... how sad is that.??? what a waste...of the vets education...and for the public at large.. what ever happened to personal choice.. ?? if declawing a cat who has destroyed your furniture or scratched you or putting it in a shelter where it will probably be killed is "the choice".. then is it better to kill the cat?? NO.. I don't think so.. but then if i wee in Britain my ve would put his/her license at risk...better to kill the cat...
Now i know the answer.. train the cat.. BLAH>>> BLAH>> BLAH.. is it better for a cat with not training to LIVE without claws in a home that does not want to "train the cat" .. or to be dead with keeping its clws.. my bet is .. if you ask the cat.. since we are "talking to the animals" that the cat would say.. take my claws.. leave my life...
personally.. after looking at your blog on "streching the holes in your body" and tools used and techniques.. docking a dogs tail looks positvely innocent.. these "proceedures''. i guess we can call them "plasitic surgeries".. although no doctors are involved .. are hideous.. and should be banned..or at least they should only be performed by a medical doctor.. and what real doctor would do such a thing to a natural human body??/ if they do they should lose their license.. hmm sound familiar.. people should not be allowed the choice to do this to their natural bodies.. they were NOT BORN that way...and if they get an infection.. or are mutilated in any other way.. I don't want to pay for it.. so if it happens don't come to the ER clinic on my dime....
hmm it is all about choice.. isn;t it... I choose not to support your right to mutiltate your body.. close every tatttoo parlor and disallow any more piercings and STRETCHINGS.now that really is awful. it sends the wrong message about the human being. and their natural being..anyone who does this to their body needs serious mental help.. and anyone who does this this to ANOTHER human needs to be arrested....
so how do you like that???? my pet .. my choice.. your pet .. your choice.. your body.. your choice....who cares if the holes grow. to the size of barrels. or are infected with pus oozing out... or if your 'body parts" fall off or are mutilated...really who cares.. ?? I sure don't.. oh and by the way.. aren't some of these mutilations done on children???? children being those who have not reached the age of consent.. 16 or over..?
I’m at work so this is the gist of what I got:
You can’t say that SELF MUTILATION is the same as opting to cut off something from someone/something that can’t choose for himself. Yes, the stretching earlobes and such are practiced in other civilization in children, but these are tribal civilizations that have been practicing such for decades. This is a different situation than a civilized culture opting to stretch their earlobes.
You can’t assume that cutting off a dog’s body part is always going to be beneficial if you haven’t had any problems. I agree that it can be medically beneficial, but you don’t know if it will be if the dog has never had any problems.
I’m not saying close a vet practice bc they performed the procedure for MEDICAL reasons with a patient with a MEDICAL history of problems associated with the mutilation (as you want to put it)
I never said dogs CAN’T communicate without their tail or ears, but they do not have the FULL ability to do so.
I don’t plan on changing my mind because I have plenty of medical history and experience to back up my OPINIONS. I don’t think you’re wrong for thinking body modifications are wrong, and I don’t fault you for it. I don’t fault you or think you’re an idiot or ignorant for possibly thinking it should be illegal; it’s YOUR OPINION AND AN OPINION IS NOT WRONG! I think that you’re getting your panties in a wad for nothing, both of you.
If you don’t like the way your dog looks, get a different dog, or don’t get the dog at all. Hence, I have a dog breed that commonly has cropped ears and sometimes docked tails, but I love the look of the dog naturally, and so I brought her home and love her and have never had any intention of having either procedure performed. Now, when she was having problems with busting her tail open and my vet and a specialist both said that if it persists, we may have to have it docked to prevent cancer, I considered it. But, I was able to clear up the tail, and it’s healed fine.
"Of course, a dog isn't going to py if it's been spayed. You have to have a uterus first so of course it's going to be more prevelant in an unspayed bitch. rofl ... just because a dog has a uterus doesn't mean it's going to come down with pyometria."
Perhaps I should clarify this. What I should have said is that an 'unmated and unspayed' Bitch is more likely to get a pyometra. It is less likely in the cases of bitches who have been mated.
As for the mammary tumours, yes, most will be benign, but they still require a General anaesthetic to have them removed, and I have known cases where the bitch has had to lose an entire strip of mammaries all the way down one side of her body. Spaying will only help prevent these if it is performed early in the dogs life, otherwise the benefits of prevention of breast cancer tend to be negligible.
I would like to quote from the following site: http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&a
"Protection from Spaying
A female puppy spayed before her first heat cycle can expect never to develop a mammary tumor of any kind. The incidence of tumor development in this group is nearly zero.
If she is allowed to experience one heat cycle before spaying, the incidence rises to 7% (still quite low).
If she is allowed to experience more than one heat cycle, the risk is driven up to one in four.
Since most female dogs come into heat the first time before age one and breeding an immature female dog is not recommended, this means one must generally choose between a litter of puppies or mammary cancer prevention. Because mammary tumors are promoted by female hormones, spaying at any age is helpful in tumor prevention. Just because a female dog is in the high-risk group doesn't mean it is too late to reap benefit from spaying. "
There is a lot more information on that site if you go to it and read it in full.
As for Pyometra I quote from a very good site: http://www.vizsladogs.com/ARTICLES/pymoetra.htm
Pyometra means an accumulation of pus in the uterus (Greek, "pyo" = pus, "metra" = uterus). It is a very serious disease, not uncommon in older unspayed bitches, and can result in death. Pyometra is the final stage of a process of uterine disease. Bitches’ ovaries normally produce the hormone progesterone after estrus to prepare the uterus for pregnancy. The lining of the uterus thickens, and glands develop to release nutrients to nourish the early embryo until the placenta develops. The normal uterine defense mechanisms are also supressed to prevent them from attacking the newly implanted embryos. These changes take place whether the bitch is pregnant or not. Some bitches, however, seem to be unusually sensitive to the effects of progesterone. The uterine lining thickens excessively, and the glands develop abnormally, sometimes forming cysts, and release so much secretions that fluid may accumulate inside the uterus. This process progresses with each non-pregnant cycle that the bitch has. The fluid secretions encourage the growth of bacteria, particularly since uterine defenses are inhibited. Now there is inflammation of the uterine lining, known as "endometritis." There are usually no clinical signs, except that the bitch is more likely to be infertile. If the infection becomes severe enough, pus forms in the uterus, and now the bitch has pyometra.
Pyometra is most common in older and middle-aged bitches. There do not appear to be any breed-related or genetic relationships. Typically, the bitch has not had a litter. She has either never been bred or has a history of being bred unsuccessfully (infertility). Multiple non-pregnant estrous cycles are associated with the changes that result in pyometra. However, young bitches may also get pyometra, particularly if they have been given a large dose of estrogen (a "morning-after" shot to prevent pregnancy in cases of accidental mismating). Estrogen increases the sensitivity of the uterine lining to progesterone. Pyometra most commonly occurs 4 to 8 weeks after standing heat, but can occur as early as the end of heat or as late as 12 weeks after heat.
i have a question..
i have always been totally AGAINST any type of treatment to a dog that is mainly for appearance or "fashion", but 8 months ago, we adopted a american staghound mix (we think) and he has a tail that hits so hard that it bleeds. he smacks it into walls, knocks down my children, hits our eyes and heads if we are sitting in position, and it hurts. i mean it really hurts. when we have company we dont even want to let him out because his tail is so wirey and hits like a whipping cord on the legs of all of our guests. i think you get my picture. anyway, after a million cries from our kids, and countless numbers of things being knocked over and broken, i have started looking at whether or not his tail should be removed. i know, i know. it has NOTHING to do with cosmetic reasons WHATSOEVER. he is beautiful and we love him so much. but he actually hurts himself and then whacks his bloody tail all over our walls. so, is there any type of a way that we can have it shortened or removed that is in a safe, painless way? or does anyone have any suggestions on how to train his tail to stop? i have never declawed a cat or have ever even heard of "ear cropping", so i am new to all of this. i dont want to hurt my dog, i just dont know what to do for his sake and my kids sakes also. thank you.
If it's for a medical reason, docking the tail is in a way warrented. The vet can aenesthitize him and remove the tail to a smaller length. You may wato consider it, as I was told by my 2 local vets and a specialist that if you can't keep the tail healed, it can develop into cancer. There will be some adjustment, but if he's constantly busting open the tail, you may find taht he will be happier without it bc there won't be any m pain. You may even consider just having it half cropped where he has a half a tail; that will be your decision as to the length and what you vet says.
You can try to train him not to wag his tail, but that will take a good bit of training if you'rep for it. Also remember that typicaly a happy dog wags his tail, so it will definitely be a ride to train him not to do so.
Ok! I have 2 boxers. One boxer (F) had her ears cropped when I got her. She is so beautiful and alert, one of the things that make boxers so amazing! When I got my male, I also thought it was cruel to crop his ears and I did not. Later, I got another female. She looks just like my first one, but her ears are not cropped. Based on this information, I believe that I have experience with cropped and uncropped ears. The female with her ears cropped has not had any problems. I just have to be careful in the winter because of the cold temperatures. My uncroped female and my male do not have that problem. The problem I have is that when they stand next to you and shake, like all boxers do. Their ears whip and sting when they hit my legs. If they do that to me, then it goes to say that it also whips the dogs ears. In addition, my female has had cuts on her ears due to the fact she shook next to a wall. The cuts have never healed because they "flop" around all the time. Every time they heal, it just takes a rainy day to shake the scab off....This is not uncommon for certain uncropped dogs to have. I would think that a few weeks of uncomfortable tape is more preferable to a life of bleeding and risk of ear tumors. I wish now that I had cropped my males ears. His puppy look is cute and I love him and his ears. I just feel bad for the guy. Those ears flop all over the place. It has to hurt!
As for the tail, I agree that the band is quick and less painful for the puppies. If the vet does the docking correctly, then it is not that bad for the puppy. It is not bone at that point. If you wait until the boxer is too old, it is not uncommon for the tail to break. Costing alot more money, and alot more pain for the dog.
Yes, I see a problem with the Rotti. It has a tail. I have a Rotti, Brutus. He's an excellent dog, I love Rotti's. I had him sent to me with his tail/dew claws docked, however I did not request that his ears were docked and now he has had several ear infections. As with many dogs that do not have their ears docked (large ears) it blocks HEALTHY air flow to their ears. There is nothing wrong with ears being docked. It seems to me that people forget that animals are animals and people are people. I love my Rotti and would do nearly anything for him but people act as if having a dogs ears croped is akin to cuting it's dick off in public without anistesia. This is rediculous I love animals, they tase delicious. Please forgive me spelling and realize that unless your dog does the dishes, sucks you off and pays the mortgage it is in fact just a DOG and not an infant or a HUMAN BEAN!
So you really tink there is something wrong with a natural dog?
Oh and you and prevent ear infections by regular cleaning. Rotties are not naturally cropped.
I'm ignoring you love animals that they taste delicious. I'm not sure what human beans are, but I am a human being who feels that just because an animal doesn't act like a person, doesn't mean it deserves to be thrown outside and ignored. Not saying you do that at all. Just saying that animals do feel pain and they do not deserve to be put in such for purely aesthetic reasons. Health reasons are different altogether, and in those cases to prevent a worse injurty, then by all means crop or dock, but ear infections can be prevented by regular cleaning, so there's no need to crop the dog's ears.
I must admit I'm lurking through your old Hubs. This is one of many of the amazing posts I've found you've done. There is very little reason to ever put your pet through this kind of torture. It doesn't make sense. There's this whole debacle going on with the AKC regulations for the show ring. There's a group, rightfully, demanding to make it where no new competitors will be able to compete with altered appearance. Meaning no tail docks, no ears crops. They are fighting to try and make it more "natural" though its pretty well known they just believe that animals shouldn't have to go through the torture. It shouldalready fall under the no medically altering the show dogs. Neuticles ((the fake testicle implants that male dogs can get after being neutered)) Are already against the rules because of the same regulations. Why not furthering the standard?
My little girl almost had to get pooch plastic surgery. I rescued her at a relatively young age, she had been used for baiting for fighters. She apparently didnt have enough fight in her to be a fighter. She was dumped in a dumpster in a plastic bag and luckily found. Her tail had been broken mutliple times over her short 4 month life and was a little lightning bolt. They were worried that as she grew the tail would be more and more trouble to her, not because of obvious medicaly issues in not being able to move it correctly, but on a social level as well. Her tail can't raise properly so she can't propperly display her body language.
I opted to let her grow into it, see how things went. I didn't want her to go through that trauma, and what she would see as abuse by another human so early in her life. She was originally just a foster.
Her tail never grew really after that, but she doesn't seem to mind. And she's good natured enough to other dogs (shocking enough with her history) that there's not many dogs that get upset with her because of her mixed signals. I never regret not going through that procedure. Besides, she's my lightning bolt butt now, what would she have been if I had done it? Stubby?
Cute pit by the way! :)
I aggree with you on the whole banning ear cropping etc for cosmetic purposes. But to say ear cropping is solely cosmetic shows how ill informed you are about dogs. Great Danes for example originaly had their ears cropped because they were used to hunt wolves and boars, if an animal gets ahold of the ears and tears them they could bleed to death. Those ears are filled with veins and capillaries. I for instance camp and hike alot with my Great Dane. So for instance, if I was on a trail miles away from a vet and my dog got into a raccoon or other animal that could destroy his ears how realistic is it that I would be able to carry a 170lb dog to safety before he bleeds to death? So obviously ear cropping has more than just cosmetic prinicipals.
I agree that there are other reasons than pure cosmetic. I don't believe I ever said that. There can be health reasons in addition to other reasons to crop a dog's ears or dock the tail. But, for a plain old family pet, generally, there's no reason to do it other than cosmetic purposes, again unless there is a medical reason.
I think docking dogs tails it terrible! :(
Hold on a second. Cropping ears and docking tails is cosmetic. There is no doubt about this. I can't remember anybody worrying about me when I was circumcised. This is not intended to be off color, but cosmetic mutilation of neonates occurs every day. The ear cropping has some mythology in the Germany that rendered ears less vulnerable to injury during varmit patrol. Tail docking arose as a matter of tax law: Working dogs had docked tails and not taxed. Pets did not have docked tails and were taxed. It makes NO DIFFERENCE to the dog. A dog just wants to be in your "pack". Pack leaders and members in ferral dogs aren't rejected because their ears look different. All this discussion is silly. Crop or not, Dock or not. The dog doesn't care.
My Great Dane's ear's are crop'ed. Although I spent many month's making sure everything turned out ok. And I just had my boxer's ear's done. I see nothing wrong with it as long as you take care of them. They will still love you just as much!
The day you all stop fixing your dogs the day I will stop cropping/docking tails. Advocates for not docking/cropping also advocate fixing your dogs. One argument is that the dogs come out of the womb with a tail, I say they also came out with their reproductive organs to. It's not natural to not have their reproductive organs nor is it natural to have not tail or cropped ears. The surgery for fixing an animal is also very painful to. The lame excuse that its healthier for the dogs to get fixed because it lowers their risk of testicular cancer. I say DUH!! It would be hard to get cancer in an organ that you don't have anymore. You can't get breast cancer if you don't have breasts (tissue) nor can you get testicular cancer in humans if you don't have your testicles seems obvious. The real problem that fixing the animals is to help population control. Fixing isn't the solution its making sure the owners are responsible and have control of their animals at all times. If you don't let your cat run around unfixed then you won't let your cat mate. Same with your dogs. So until we humans can control our animals and be responsible and not let them run stray or put them on the streets when we can't afford them etc. Then there will be no reason to fix the animals.
There is a reason why fixing your dog is called altering them. It's the same exact thing cropping/docking/altering, all is unnecessary but we do its just the reason behind the story
someone do you realize that dogs who are not spayed/neutered (especially spayed) can die from a number of high risk health complications? What serious direct health complications can kill a dog if you leave his tail and ears?
Two completely different situations and scenarios.
can i get my dogs ears croped if hes 13 months old?
You can but it's not typically recommended.
It should be illegal everywhere. I think dogs without tails looks hideous anyways. Whoever thought of doing it, must have been a sadist. I just want to say to those who do it... why not chop off a finger and see how much pain you are not in... yeah right. Use your brain people if you would not do it yourself, then don't do it to your best friend. They really do love you, and show it by wagging their tail. Ear cropping is ridiculous as well. If they weren't meant to have their ears and tail, then they wouldn't be born with them.
anyone who would put an animal in pain for their own wants should DIE. >:(
Great video -- certainly shows why BACKYARD BREEDERS should not have dogs.
I agree completely! Dogs do NOT need their ears cropped or their tails docked. It's not needed and painful!
I totally agree cosmetic surgery for dogs should be done only if there are any medical reasons.
I am very much so against ear cropping, but i can understand tail-docking on certain breeds like aussies or great danes, but in reality they look fine either way. With ear cropping it makes some dogs just look unnatural..
Displaying your vanity via your pets .....sick o ramma
This article is well-written, however, I have to disagree heartily. Yes, your dog will be sore after it's surgery. It will also be sore after the surgery it has to neuter it. Or perhaps it has a tumor it needs removed- But we shouldn't do it, because they'll be sore after. No matter how you look at it, we're going to end up causing our dogs soreness. Whether for their own good or not. For many dog breeds, their tails are docked because they are weak or just are naturally unhealthy. It benefits the dog later on, and is done when they are just tiny, tiny puppies. Ear cropping is pretty much the same thing- While giving the ears better air-flow, it also allows them to have better hearing. It also gives them a much cleaner look, in my opinion, for dogs like the Doberman or Danes. However, I do like some natural ears, especially on dogs like the Boxer. Some pictures you show are obviously crops down by cheap, lazy people who don't care for their dogs, or just had the misfortune to get a bad crop. It is not torture, unless it is done improperly.
This is the second website I've seen where they say the dogs "acupuncture zones" are removed. Seems like this would save the owner a lot of money potentially spent on quacks sticking needles in the dog's ear.
Are you suggesting cutting the ear isn't good, but jamming needles in it is?
Acupuncture is not jamming a needle into the dog. The needles are gently inserted, and have much less pain. Acupuncture is proven effective with many cases.
Cropping the ears has no proven benefit if the dogs isn't having problems with its ears to begin with. You can just as easily clean the dog's ears to prevent ear infections than chopping off it's ears.
I have a Dane with soft velvety floppy ears and they are adorable. With large dogs the long floppy ears make them appear less threating and considering the fear people have with large breeds this allows people see them in a way that better suits there sweet demeaner. In the old old days it was necessary to cut the ears to prevent them from getting shredded by wild boars and wolfs, but now days it serves no purpose and with out a medical issue should be left natural. Because there is no reason to have it done now many European countries and Australia have made it illegal to crop ears on dogs, maybe the U.S. will decide to follow suit.
Love the article, but I think you should add a few of the smaller dog breeds up there. Pembroke Corgis have the same tail-docking debate going on. (Mine doesn't have a docked tail and there are so many people who don't even know that pems are born with tails.)
Tell you the truth, I don't recall ever seeing a Corgi with a docked tail, in person anyway. I've seen the pictures, but most Corgis that I've seen have their tails. *shrugs*
FitnessDog says:
2 years ago
All of this mutilation is awful. I have argued with some who maintain the "aesthetics" of ear cropping so they stand up, but if you feel you need to mutilate your dog for no real practical purpose, then you really need to evaluate what your real ego problem is.