Cropping ears....dogs

[WoodysRoundup]

This is my first time (I think) posting on this board so I look forward to doing some reading around here.....kids back in school and all!

I am STRUGGLING with a decision on whether or not to crop our 12wk. old puppy's ears. We have not done so with our other dogs, but this one is really gorgeous and would look just awesome with the cropped ears. It is a surgical procedure so I am most worried about him coming through through the surgery. We've all fallen in love with him in the 4 wks. we've had him and can't imagine something happening to him. On the other hand, I think he'll look that much more gorgeous with the Boxer cropped ears! I need to cancel by this evening and I've literally changed my mind every day back and forth for the last 3 weeks. I think if I had an assurance he'd come through just fine, I'd probably do it. Do any of you have any thoughts or experience on this? Any help would be SO much appreciated!!

 

[BCV513]

It's a personal decision. I would never put my dog through unnecessary surgery just to make her "look better."

 

[elgerber]

It's a personal decision. I would never put my dog through unnecessary surgery just to make her "look better."

I agree.

 

[Liberty Belle]

I don't really know what cropped ears are, but I can't imagine putting any animal in pain or in danger just to make them look better. I'm assuming he/she looks fine as is.

 

[Liberty Belle]

I found this online:

On July 9, 1999, the American Veterinary Medical Association released the following:

Ear cropping and tail docking in dogs for cosmetic purposes are not medically indicated nor of benefit to the patient. These procedures can cause pain and distress, and as with all surgical procedures, are accompanied by inherent risks of anesthesia, blood loss, and infection. Therefore, veterinarians should counsel dog owners about these matters before agreeing to perform these surgeries.


In 1996, the new owners of one of my puppies decided to crop. The 8 week old puppy, Fletcher, died under anesthesia. Since the sad loss of Fletcher, Keymaster Danes has been devoted to promoting the beauty of natural eared Danes. To this end, puppies are only sold to qualified puppy buyers who agree not to crop the puppy's ears. We believe its time the United States and Canada joined England, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Belgium, Holland, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Greece, Portugal, Australia, New Zealand (thanks for reminding me, Chris!) and recently France in banning ear cropping.

There is no reason a pet Dane needs to endure the cropping process of surgery followed by months of taping. Show dogs also do not need to be cropped to be successful in the show ring. The Great Dane standard gives equal footing to both the cropped and natural ear.


Educate Yourself on Ear Cropping
Most owners would probably not crop their puppies ears if they completely understood what is involved. That is partly the purpose of this page, to educate prospective puppy buyers on the ear cropping process so they can make an informed decision. Here are some things to be aware of:

The pup must be subjected to general anesthesia between 7 to 12 weeks of age. There is always a risk, however small, that something can go wrong when under general anesthesia. It is extremely difficult to anesthetize a young puppy and great care must be given. Owners should be aware, pups do die during ear crops.
About half the ear is removed and there is a raw, bloody edge closed with stitches from the base to the tip of the ear. This is a significant surgery and is surely accompanied by a great deal of pain. Although the pain can be managed with drugs, the puppy inevitably experiences some discomfort.
There is a very real risk of infection of the incisions. The ears must be kept very clean and the pup should not be unduly stressed (e.g. be shipped by air) right after an ear crop.
There is also a risk of fungal infections on the top of the head. This is due to restricted air flow from tape or cups being placed on the head to support the ears.
Both you and your puppy must go through a minimum of 3 months of mandatory, time consuming, and costly weekly ear taping sessions. One never knows how long the taping process will have to go on. Some lucky dogs have ears that stand quickly at about 6 months old, others must be taped until the dog is nearly a year of age. Some ears never stand properly.
There is NO - repeat NO - proven medical benefit to cropped ears. Some argue that a cropped ear is less likely to get ear infections because of increased light and air flow. There has been a scientific veterinary study conducted on this topic that concluded that drop-eared dogs are no more likely to get ear infections than prick-eared or cropped dogs.

 

[CajunDixie]

No help here...we have one boxer with cropped ears and one without. Yes, the one with the cropped ears looks better and to tell you the truth she looks like one mean dog! Most people are afraid of her....good when we are traveling but not so good around new friends. The one w/o cropped ears looks a little more happy-go-lucky. Obviously we love them both but I do understand where you're coming from in making him look "like a boxer"

Both have their tails docked and dew claws removed.

It's a decision only you can make. If you have kids discuss it with them too. After we had ours done one of our sons was freaked out so we told him we'd not do it again.

 

[hiwaygal]

Consider this "plastic surgery" for a dog.

IMO it's not worth the risk and the pain for a vanity issue.

While the American standards still call for docking tails and cropping ears, English standards have eliminated those requirements because of the cruelty.

If there is a thought in your heart to NOT do it, then don't. It isn't necessary.

 

[puffkin]

I haven't declawed my cat and I would never crop a dog. I don't really see the point in it if you aren't showing the dog.......but since it is still legal in this country it is a personal decision. I wouldn't do it though.....

 

[MontanaZoo]

I have a cocker spaniel that still has all of his tail and not the little stub and it's never bothered me that he doesn't have the full cocker spaniel look. I don't do the weird cocker haircut either. I think he enjoys his tail. Amazing how many people didn't know that cockers tails are cropped.

 

[tazdev3225]

I wouldn't do it. I had a Brittany as did my parents so we mated them one time. I took the pups to have their tails docked at 3 days and I swore that I would never do it again. The vet literally cuts off the tail with no anaesthesia and then they get stitched. After listening to the wails of those little guys I said never again. I will also never declaw another cat after researching it. I have a boxer mix now, with the head and ears of a boxer. Her ears flop and she looks just fine to me. It is a major surgery and not worth the risks or pain to the animal just to give them a certain look.

 

[bekkiz]

We didn't have our schnauzer's ears done, mostly because I think the floppy ears are SO CUTE and keep them looking puppy like, plus I didn't see the point of putting the little guy through it.

He did come to us with a docked tail (the breeder does it at like 3 or 4 days old, I think), so I'm not going to say cosmestic alterations are bad (I'd be a hypocrite).

 

[Piecey]

I wouldn't do it.

You're saying how in love you are with him already- what would happen if you lost him in surgery over something frivilous?

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

I wouldn't either.

Save the money, buy him a toy or two and go out to dinner

I had a hard enough time taping up my Papillon's ear that kept flopping (otherwise she'd have one up and one down LOL). I felt evil doing it haha

 

[MichelleVW]

I haven't declawed my cat and I would never crop a dog. I don't really see the point in it if you aren't showing the dog.......but since it is still legal in this country it is a personal decision. I wouldn't do it though.....

Same here. I was going to get the cats declawed until I researched it and I couldn't do it. I would never crop a dogs ears either. In my opinion it's just multilating them for vanity's sake.

I love the floppy ear look anyway!

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

I had a Doberman years ago whose ears and tail were cropped just before we got him. He had to wear a styrofoam cup on his cars to train them to stay up. Well, that stubborn dog just didn't care about the cup (good for him!), so he ended up living with cropped floppy ears and it looked sort of silly. That's pretty much the only reason I wouldn't do it lol.

 

[EMom]

I'm sure a lot of people's children's would look better with a bit of plastic surgery, but thank goodness the parents pass on it.

ACK! There is no way on earth I'd put a sweet little puppy through that senseless pain just to "make him look better." I don't want to be harsh, but that is shallow. The dog doesn't give a rat's hiney what he looks like. He just loves you and wants to be loved in return. For that matter, it's a good thing our pets don't care what WE look like......

Please, pass on that surgery. It's just cruel.

 

[WoodysRoundup]

I should have also mentioned that the breeders (of the mom AND dad) are pressuring a little bit. They've suggested that I think about showing him and studding him someday). Although the AKC now recognizes uncropped ears, they said most judges are still preferential to those with cropped ears. I don't know that I'd ever really want to get into the show thing anyway. He really is our family pet (as well as our other boxer).

hiwaygal I liked what you said about "if there's a thought in your head not to do it" then don't.....very very good point. I also think that b/c I am so unsure, I'll love him the same cropped or uncropped. I've already grown fond of kissing those velvety ears when he's sleeping on me.

CajunDixie So happy to know you know what I'm going through. We've had alot of boxers in our family and I am the first one to not crop. I definitely appreciate the "look" and it "says" boxer to me. However, I'm also struggling with the WHY of it....just to make him look more like what the boxer standard was for so many years? There is the whole "show" issue but I don't think I'd ever really go that route anyway. And what you say about your son, I could see my son reacting that way as well....not my other kids, but quite possibly him.

Liberty Belle Thanks for the info. from the internet. I think that pretty much seals it for me.....

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

eh nevermind

 

[CathrynRose]

This is my first time (I think) posting on this board so I look forward to doing some reading around here.....kids back in school and all!

I am STRUGGLING with a decision on whether or not to crop our 12wk. old puppy's ears. We have not done so with our other dogs, but this one is really gorgeous and would look just awesome with the cropped ears. It is a surgical procedure so I am most worried about him coming through through the surgery. We've all fallen in love with him in the 4 wks. we've had him and can't imagine something happening to him. On the other hand, I think he'll look that much more gorgeous with the Boxer cropped ears! I need to cancel by this evening and I've literally changed my mind every day back and forth for the last 3 weeks. I think if I had an assurance he'd come through just fine, I'd probably do it. Do any of you have any thoughts or experience on this? Any help would be SO much appreciated!!

This is from another website - it's a PitBull Forum, but this thread is entirely dedicated to cropping (and docking). You *might* have to sign up to read, but please dont worry about being spammed or anything: http://www.pitbullforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=4892

That being said. No way, no way, no way, no way I would do it.

There always IS a chance of something going wrong. And even the good crop jobs, can leave a dogs ear's very senstive, and not wanting to be touched. That's no fun.

Plus, this is a cosmetic procedure. I dont think it's a fair decision for "us" (humans) to make. And their floppy ears are so very expressive. Truly they are. I can read Charley's mind, through his ears!

I wouldnt do it.

 

[EMom]

I think you don't want to do it. It's the way it's always been done, everyone expects you to do it, you probably assumed you would do it, but now you're not so sure.

"Not so sure" is your gut's way of telling you this isn't for you and you're going to be someone who should march to the beat of his/her own drummer on this one. You know you won't love the dog any less with intact ears, so why take a chance on doing something you'll feel bad about?

Remember....If all your friends jumped off the roof of a building, does that mean you would too?

You wouldn't have posted if you didn't have serious reservations. Now go kiss a dog ear.