The SPCA-NN does not condone the practices of tail docking and ear cropping.
While watching dog shows on TV, it can feel exciting to see dogs that look like living statues showing their breed’s standard. The legality and ethical considerations surrounding dog ear cropping vary across different countries and regions, with many areas moving toward banning or discouraging the practice due to animal welfare concerns. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) opposes ear cropping for cosmetic purposes. Seeing their cropped ears and docked tails may influence you to make your pet look like them. However, cropping a dog’s ears and docking tails causes harm to their physical and social well-being.
What is Ear Cropping?
Ear cropping is a surgical procedure that involves altering the size and shape of a dog’s ears. Typically performed on puppies between 6 and 12 weeks old, the procedure involves cutting and removing a portion of the ear tissue, reshaping the ear cartilage, and suturing the edges. After the surgery, the ears are taped and bandaged to encourage them to stand upright, a process that can take several months. This practice is primarily done for aesthetic reasons, often to meet breed standards in dog shows or competitions. While some believe that erect ears give dogs a more alert and fierce appearance, it’s important to note that ear cropping is largely a cosmetic procedure with no significant health benefits for the dog.
The History and Purpose of Ear Cropping and Tail Docking
Ear cropping and tail docking have roots that stretch back to ancient times. Historically, these procedures were performed for practical reasons. For instance, working dogs had their ears cropped to prevent injuries while hunting or fighting, and tails docked to avoid infections and injuries in rough terrains. However, in modern times, these practices have shifted predominantly towards cosmetic purposes. Many dog breeds are subjected to these procedures to meet specific breed standards set by dog show organizations. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) opposes ear cropping and tail docking, citing the lack of medical benefits and the potential risks and complications associated with these procedures. Despite this, the practices persist, driven by tradition and the desire to achieve a certain aesthetic.
Cropped Ears
What is ear cropping?
- Dog ear cropping is the process of removing about a third to two thirds of the floppy part of a dog’s ears. The surgical procedure is performed on puppies between 6 and 12 weeks old with general anesthesia to crop ears to meet breed standards. The ears are then taped to a hard surface for several months while healing so they stay upright. During this time the ears are prone to infection. Cropping exposes the ear canal to various environmental hazards.
Why ear cropping is bad for dogs.
- While cropping once served a purpose for some breeds, like to “enhance” guard dog’s hearing or make them hard to grab by the ears, within the past 100 years it has evolved into an optional cosmetic surgery. The controversy surrounding ears cropped highlights the illegal and unethical aspects of the procedure, particularly in cases where dogs have been abused and suffer long-term consequences.
- Some proponents of ear cropping say that it prevents ear infections. However, not many breeds of dog are prone to ear infection. Poodles and cocker spaniels are prone to ear infection, but it is not part of their breed standard to have cropped ears. There is also an argument that erect ears are more natural for dogs. Allowing dogs to have their natural floppy ears avoids the pain and complications of surgery and respects their natural state.
- This practice is now outlawed in much of Europe but is still a common practice in the U.S. with 130,000 puppies being cropped annually.
- Dogs use their ears to communicate with each other. Cropped-eared dogs may have a hard time being understood by other dogs, which can lead to defensive aggression.
- There are always risks associated with any surgery. These include the risk of going under anesthesia, resulting infections, and pain and discomfort as the ears are manipulated in the weeks following the surgery.
- If the procedure is not done correctly, the ears might fail to stand or be misshapen, leading the dog to need more surgeries to correct this.
- Shelter dogs often face challenges due to their altered appearances, including cropped ears, which can affect their chances of adoption.
Risks and Complications of Ear Cropping
Ear cropping is not without its risks and complications. The surgical procedure can lead to infections, scarring, and even distorted ear shapes if not done correctly. The process is painful and can cause significant discomfort for the dog, both during the surgery and throughout the healing period. Long-term effects can include phantom pain, increased sensitivity to cold or wind, and difficulties in communication due to the loss of natural ear flaps. Psychologically, ear cropping can be traumatizing for puppies, and socially, dogs with cropped ears are often misinterpreted as aggressive by humans and other dogs. This can lead to avoidable scuffles with other dogs and a general misunderstanding of the dog’s temperament. The erect appearance of cropped ears, while meeting certain breed standards, ultimately poses more harm than benefit to the dog’s overall well-being.
Docked Tails
What is tail docking?
- Docking is the process of removing part of or almost all of a dog’s tail. This is done to puppies two weeks or younger. Docking is usually performed by a veterinarian or breeder without general anesthesia. It was believed that puppies aren’t fully alert yet and won’t remember the experience, but studies have disproved this.
- Docking is also done in a more painful, DIY way by tying the tail with a band until it dies and falls off from lack of blood flow.
Why tail docking is bad for dogs.
- When a dog’s tail is docked, they can develop an infection or even a nerve tumor called a neuroma. Either of these will be painful, and could even cause the dog to become overly protective of his tail.
- Dogs use their tails to communicate happiness, fear, anger, and excitement with each other and humans. Other canines and humans may have a hard time understanding dogs with docked tails for this reason.
- It has been suggested that dogs with docked tails could have undeveloped pelvic musculature, however the evidence is not conclusive. Dogs that have docked tails have a higher incidence of incontinence, however this may be due to other traits from certain breeds.
- This practice is now outlawed in most of Europe but is still a common practice in the U.S. Approximately 70 dog breeds are subject to docking for their breed standard.
- There are some breeds with bobbed tails which have been bred to not have a tail like Old English Sheepdogs, Pembroke Welsh Corgis, and Australian Shepherds. These breeds are not subjected to docking.
- EXCEPTION: A veterinarian can partially or fully amputate a dog’s tail due to a condition called Happy Tail Syndrome. This occurs in dogs like Labrador Retrievers, Great Danes, and Pitbulls who have long, straight tails that hit against solid objects like walls. This can cause bleeding and occasionally fractures.
While it may look more traditional, most dogs regardless of breed serve as companion animals rather than for specific jobs. The practices of tail docking and ear cropping are mostly kept alive by traditional values set by breeders and the American Kennel Club. But now breeders and Kennel Clubs (like United Kennel Club) are starting to accept natural ears and tails.
These procedures also affect how a dog appears to other people, which impact them socially. Studies have shown dogs with ear crop and tail dock modifications are seen as aggressive. A dog with these modifications is less likely to be approached in day-to-day life which can negatively impact their social skills.
While there is still more research that needs to be done on these subjects, the SPCA of Northern Nevada does not condone the practice of animal body modification.
Written by Holly Miley