Cosmetic Surgeries (Ear Crops And Tail Crops)

Ear cropping and/or tail cropping (or docking) are surgical procedures which are frequently requested by the owners of certain breeds of dogs. For these breeds, ear cropping or tail cropping is performed to achieve the "customary look" of the breed.

However, before you elect to perform these procedures, there are several things you should know about them.

Firstly, both ear crops and tail crops are highly controversial procedures. Some people feel strongly that these procedures are inhumane and are a form of mutilation. There has been talk recently about legally banning the procedures in some communities. In addition, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has issued a position statement opposing the performing of these procedures.

On the other hand, the American Kennel Club (AKC) is strongly opposed to banning these procedures and states that the procedures are necessary to maintain the customary appearance of these breeds of dogs. They maintain that the procedures were performed historically for justifiable reasons and that these reasons are still defensible. People who support performing these cosmetic surgeries feel strongly that a Boxer, for instance, just doesn't look like a Boxer is supposed to look with long ears and a long tail.

Our goal here is not to make a decision of right versus wrong. Our aim is to educate you about these procedures so that you can make an educated decision regarding your dog's care.

Some breeds typically have both the ears and tail cropped, such as Boxers and Doberman Pinschers.

Other breeds, such as American Pit Bulls, typically only have the ears cropped while the tail remains long (un-cropped).

Other breeds, such as Poodles and Cocker Spaniels, usually only have the tails cropped while the ears remain un-cropped.

Whether you are contemplating an ear crop, a tail crop, or both procedures, you should be aware that the procedures are strictly cosmetic in nature. Neither procedure will provide any medical benefits for your dog. In other words, these procedures are done only to affect how an animal looks, so they could be compared to a "face lift" or a "breast augmentation" for a person. This is one of the reasons these procedures have become so controversial. Of course, opponents to the procedures point out that a person can make their own decisions regarding having these procedures performed. A dog is at the mercy of the owner's decision and has plays no part in making the decision to perform or not perform the surgery.

Dewclaw removals are another commonly encountered procedure. Often dewclaw removals are done at 2-5 days of age, sometimes along with docking the tail. This is often done to conform to specific breed standards, as are tail docking and ear cropping.

However, in the case of the dewclaw removal, removing these dewclaws can sometimes prevent painful injuries to the dewclaws later in life. Quite often, especially in dewclaws that are "loose", the dewclaw can become caught on objects, resulting in a torn nail which is uncomfortable for your dog.

The dewclaws also frequently become "overgrown", also resulting in pain and discomfort for your dog. For this reason, if dewclaws are not removed, they should be trimmed periodically (as should the rest of the toe-nails) to help prevent injury.

As with any other surgical procedure, ear cropping, dewclaw removal and tail cropping (if done after 5-7 days of age) involve placing the animal under a general anesthetic.

Although the surgical risks of ear cropping and tail cropping are not  higher than those associated with other procedures, such as spays or neuters, it should not be assumed that there is no risk involved. Any type of surgery involves some amount of risk to the patient.

If you do elect to have your dog's ears and/or tail cropped, you will need to discuss with your veterinarian the most appropriate age at which to perform these procedures.

Tail cropping, as well as dewclaw removals, are frequently done when a puppy is only a few days old.

Ear cropping, sometimes together with tail cropping, may be performed at several weeks to several months of age, depending on the breed of dog.

You will also want to discuss with your veterinarian any personal preferences you may have as to the style of cut, as well as any post-surgical concerns.

Ear crops often require extensive post-surgical considerations in order to "train" the ears to stand as desired. Your dog may need to wear "forms" on his ears (devices which "teach" the ear to stand upright) for a time after the ear crop surgery is completed.

(**Note:  You may find that some veterinarians will no longer perform these types of procedures due to ethical concerns.)