The dogs cut off their ears for one reason and one reason only; to get a certain “look”. In short, it makes them harder and more intimidating. Historically, breeds like Dobermans have had their ears cut off like puppies, then splints — glued to pieces of wood or cardboard — to grow their ears upwards instead of letting them limp. Now, we tend to see races like American tyrants having all their ears removed. It is illegal to perform this procedure yourself or send your dog to a veterinarian in this country or abroad to have his ears cut off. Unfortunately, this still happens. It`s still legal in some countries, but the government recently announced plans to restrict the importation of dogs with clipped ears and severed tails under the new Animal Welfare Act. Most of the traditional reasons for cutting off a dog`s ears are no longer relevant – most dogs are not working dogs, so the risk of ear damage is low for a drooping-eared dog. Ear infections may be more common in dogs with drooping ears, but that doesn`t mean that all dogs with drooping ears have ear infections. Other factors that we cannot control, such as the narrowness of the ear canal, the ability of the ear to eliminate bacteria and genetic factors play a more important role. Go ahead.
Go ahead. Ask a veterinarian in the United States. None will give you a direct answer to the legality of tail amputation, ear trimming, scratching, and other surgical procedures deemed “medically unnecessary” by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). In the past, excision was performed on working dogs to reduce the risk of health complications such as ear infections or bruises. Harvests were also carried out on dogs that may have had to fight, either when hunting animals capable of fighting back, or to defend herds of cattle from predators, or because they were used for pit fighting sports such as dog fighting or bear bait. [4] [5] The ears were an easy target for an enemy animal to grasp or tear. [4] Some hunting dogs have been cut down to prevent their prey, whether rats, bears, cats or wild boars, from reaching the dog through a simple point of purchase. Keeper decks for farm animals were also thought to be beneficial and prevented wolves and coyotes from easily holding the dog.
It was also the idea of breeding war dogs and fighting dogs. Anyone who has even had a dog injured in the ear can attest that the ears bleed like stuck pigs and are a commonplace of damage, especially during dog fights. We all agree that we are a nation of animal lovers. Therefore, most of us would be justifiably angry if we knew that dogs have essential parts of their bodies removed for cosmetic reasons. Still, we can walk past such a dog every day, follow it on social media, or even own one. We are talking, of course, about severed ears. What is ear cutting? Why is this such a problem? And to what extent, even if it`s illegal, is it still an issue that should concern you? In the last 100 years, ear trimming has been done more often for aesthetic purposes. [5] [15] In countries and states where it remains legal, it is generally practiced because it is required as part of a breed standard for display at dog shows. [15] Although tail amputation, lug removal and sterilization are common in the United States, ear trimming is declining, except in the dog show industry.
[15] Some Showring contestants state that they would stop the practice altogether if they could still “win in the ring”. [16] The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) does not support claims that ear trimming is used to prevent medical problems in dogs, and the practice appears to be primarily for cosmetic purposes in some breeds. We have published several articles that report how our relationships with dogs have changed. Historically, dogs were kept so that they could help in the daily lives of their owners. The Great Dane was used as a hunting dog. Their ears were cut off so that they could not be torn or torn when confronting wild boars. Ear trimming is now considered an elective and cosmetic procedure; It is not necessary. Many countries and breed associations have banned the operation.Even in Germany, where some of the most commonly grown breeds and practice probably originated, it has been banned. It remains legal in the United States and most of Canada, despite litigation in several states to prohibit the practice. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) also does not support the practice or amputation of the tail when performed solely for cosmetic purposes, as the unnecessary risk to the animal is associated with surgery. Currently, however, the American Kennel Club and the Canadian Kennel Club support the practice and allow for the registration and display of cut dogs. We are concerned that more and more dogs will be driven by dogs that are sent abroad to have their ears cut off, or that are bought and imported from countries where cultivation is still legal. Communication – Dogs use their ears to help us and other animals understand how they feel. Without their ears, dogs have fewer opportunities to communicate with us. Ears are partially amputated – “trimmed” is the benign word people like to use – for the sole reason of making them wild.
It is mainly a German tradition, born from military origins and the use of breeds such as Great Danes, boxers, Doberman pinschers and schnauzers. This mutilation – I am sorry to be so blunt, but that is what culture is – is prohibited in its country of origin and in most other FCI countries. North America remains the only major region in the world where ear and tail amputations are still commonly performed. There is no medical or professional justification for these procedures to be performed on domestic dogs. Many dedicated veterinarians and dog lovers will no longer make these changes. [3] Tail amputation is another illegal procedure unless performed by a veterinarian for medical reasons – and a “working dog” is no exception. No dog should have its ears cut off. Period. These practices are illegal in most European countries, including Romania and Bulgaria, from where some of the recent cases have been imported. The BVA campaign #CutTheCrop also lobbied the government to ban the importation of dogs with severed ears. Veterinarians and animal welfare organizations are seeing more and more cases of dogs having their ears cut off.
This disturbing trend is also prevalent on social media, as celebrities and influencers share photos of their dogs cut off in the ear. In fact, studies have shown that there has been no increase in the incidence of ear infections in breeds where cultivation has become rarer over time. In addition, the dogs most susceptible to ear infections are not breeds whose ears are frequently cut off anyway. Overall, we think it`s much nicer to be aware of the risk of ear infections if you have a dog with drooping ears, and to monitor and clean them more frequently – just removing the ears is extremely unfair to the dog.
