Not only does ear cropping create unnecessary physical pain and discomfort for dogs, but it can also leave them with lasting psychological trauma. Pups also use their ears to communicate, and chopping off parts of them can hinder an owner’s ability to understand what their dog is telling them.
What does cropping ears mean?
Cropping is the removal of part or all of the pinnae or auricles, the externally visible flap of the ear and earhole, of an animal; it sometimes involves taping to make the ears pointy. Most commonly performed on dogs, it is an ancient practice that was once done for perceived health, practical or cosmetic reasons.
Is there any benefit to cropping a dog’s ears?
Historically, ear cropping has been advocated as a health benefit for certain breeds with long, hanging ears. It was believed that dogs with standing ears may suffer from fewer ear infections than dogs with hanging ears.
Is Ear cropping illegal in the United States?
While a handful of U.S. states do have rules about ear cropping, there are no states that have an outright ban. So while it may be legal to crop your dog’s ears anywhere in the United States, you may need to follow a specific procedure.
How much does ear cropping cost?
While a handful of U.S. states do have rules about ear cropping, there are no states that have an outright ban. So while it may be legal to crop your dog’s ears anywhere in the United States, you may need to follow a specific procedure.
Does cropping hurt the dog?
Is Ear cropping cruel?
Cropping is removing all or part of the external ear flap on a dog. Many countries ban this practice due to the thought of it being purely cosmetic; thus it’s considered animal cruelty to perform unnecessary surgery on an animal.
How is ear cropping done?
In order for the ears to heal in the desired upright precision after surgery, they must be posted to a hard surface and taped until completely healed. Bandages need to be changed weekly, typically. The entire process can last from 4-8 weeks.
Video: Two doberman brothers are anonymously dropped off at the Houston SPCA shelter with horrible ear-cropping injuries. After assessing the damage, it is decided that it will be best for the dogs if both ears are amputated.
Video: Doberman ear cropping and stitching.