The practice of tail docking and ear cropping has come under much closer scrutiny in the U.S. recently. We’re late to the game, as these procedures have been restricted or banned entirely in many European countries for years. Opponents question the necessity for these cosmetic alterations and voice concern for the pain and suffering of the puppies and dogs that undergo the procedures. In response to the public’s concern -- and coupled with the fact that docking and cropping for cosmetic reasons is neither medically advisable nor beneficial to dogs -- the AVMA formally denounced the practice in 2008. How Tail Docking is Performed Tail docking is the intentional removal of a portion of a dog’s tail. The tail is docked in one of two ways. One method involves putting a rubber band-type ligature around the base, which cuts off the blood supply and causes the tail to fall off in a matter of days. This is the method used by many breeders. The other method is amputation with either surgical scissors or a scalpel. Tail docking is generally done on two- to 10-day-old puppies, without anesthesia. The cut goes through skin, cartilage, nerve endings and bone. Proponents believe very young puppies do not feel pain during docking. They believe canines are less developed than other animals at birth, with less sensitive nervous systems. Opponents of tail docking, including the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA), disagree. They maintain puppies, just like human babies, have a fully developed nervous system and do indeed feel pain. They point to biological markers, which show pain is occurring during and after a procedure such as tail docking. The rubber ligature method, in which the blood supply to the tail is cut off by strangulation, very likely also causes considerable pain to the puppy. Envision wrapping a rubber band tightly around your toe and leaving it there until you’ve lost all blood flow and sensation. It’s not hard to imagine the extreme discomfort you would feel. Ear Cropping Ear cropping is typically done when a puppy is eight to 10 weeks old. The procedure is performed under general anesthesia. A dog’s ears have lots of nerve endings, and the pain this surgery would cause without anesthesia is extreme. Cropping involves the surgical removal of around two-thirds of the ear. The remaining tissue is then tightly taped into an upright position. Pain medication is not routinely given after a cropping procedure. Over the next several weeks or even months, the altered ears will be taped and re-taped in an effort to get them to stand up straight. This process may or may not yield the intended result. Many cropped puppies, even after weeks or months of taping, still have floppy ears. Cropping can also disfigure the ears, leaving them scarred or bent. Is Tail Docking and Ear Cropping Harmful? Just as there is a use and purpose for every organ and appendage you were born with, so it is with your dog. If tails weren’t important to dogs, they would have been born without them. Your dog uses his tail for balance. He uses it to communicate – with you and with other dogs. Your dog can convey fear, aggression, playfulness, curiosity and tension with the movement and position of his tail. Certain breeds also use their tails to good advantage when they swim, run and engage in other energetic activities. A docked dog that is active might be at a disadvantage compared to his playmates with intact tails. All docking and cropping methods cause suffering for the animal, and many dogs go on to experience the phantom pain of a missing appendage much like human amputees do. There is also a risk of formation of painful neuroma (nerve tissue scarring) in the stump of a docked tail.
Posted on: Sun, 05 Oct 2014 04:38:58 +0000