Although there are fewer and fewer, there are still those who prefer to have their dog's ears and tail cropped for aesthetic reasons.
It is clear that there is nothing written about tastes, but it should not be forgotten that a dog is not a piece of clothing, it is a living being, so the inconveniences that this practice entails must be considered for the welfare of the animal and the risks it may entail for its he alth, in addition to the legal consequencesthat can carry.
For all this, on our site we explain why it is bad to cut dogs' ears and tails.
1. Because it's unnecessary
We must emphasize that we are not referring to amputations that must be performed for medical reasons, such as, for example, tumors in these areas. In this case, the need for these interventions must be determined by a veterinarian.
In this article we refer to cropping dogs' ears and tails solely for aesthetic reasons, and obviously this is not necessary for life, nor for the he alth or welfare of the animal.
In many cases, owners prefer their dogs with their tails and ears cropped because they have become accustomed to seeing specimens of certain breeds like that, in fact, even today it seems "rare" to many see a Doberman with floppy ears and a long tail.
Others like it better because that way they appear to be "more dangerous", because they remind of fighting dogs, since fighting dogs used to have their ears and tails cut off so they couldn't be easily grabbed by your opponent's jaws.
In any case, dog fighting, in addition to being cruel, is illegal in most civilized countries.
Although some sectors have commented that for some hunting dogs tail amputation is beneficial for their work and he alth, because it would facilitate their entry into burrows and prevent them from becoming entangled in brambles, this is a debatable argument.
In addition, most of the dogs that are usually seen with their tails docked belong to breeds that are not used for hunting, such as Boxers, American Staffordshire Terriers or Dobermans, so this statement seems, at least in these cases, unfounded.
two. Because it's painful
Some people say that if you cut the dog's tail at a very young age, that is, newborn, the animals they show no pain, this is not true at all.
In the case of ear cropping, which is usually performed on larger animals where there is no doubt about their ability to feel pain, it should not be forgotten that, even if anesthesia and analgesics are used, the suppression of pain that is achieved in the operation, and above all, in the post-operative is not absolute, far from it.
3. Because it's dangerous
As with any surgical procedure using anesthesia, there are certain risksassociated with it, which can even result in the death of the animal. Although this is rare, it is by no means impossible for it to occur, so it does not seem very positive to carry out these operations when the sole purpose is aesthetics.
In addition, whether or not anesthesia is used, there is a risk that the wound will become infected, with consequences that may be more or less serious. On the other hand, it is not the only possible complication, since points can be skipped, so it may be possible to sedate the animal again to solve it, there may be errors that make the result not the desired one with what should be done intervene again, etc.
4. Because it's illegal
In many countries, mutilations for the sole purpose of aesthetics are prohibited, which includes cutting the ears and tails of dogs. In Spain, until recently it was illegal in many autonomous communities (such as the Valencian Community) but there were others where it was not.
More recently, Congress ratified the European convention on the protection of pet animals, which prohibits this type of intervention, Therefore, it is currently illegal in all of Spain to cut off the ears and tails of dogs for aesthetic purposes.
5. Because it's awkward
Although the aforementioned could be enough to make many desist from carrying out this type of operation, it must be remembered that, first of all, it costs money , and, secondly, especially in ear cropping and tail docking if performed as adults, it is associated with a timeNothing negligible in taking the animal to have the intervention performed, to have the stitches removed, and to clean and treat the wounds…
Time that, on the other hand, could be used in something more positive like playing with the animal, or walking with it for example.
6. Because it harms their relationship with other dogs
The tail and ears are a fundamental part of canine language, therefore, cutting them can seriously impair a dog's socialization and relationship with other animals, and can cause bad interpretations that lead to aggressiveness.
