Stopping the ears and tail in dogs: purpose, pros and cons

Historically, some varieties of dogs are subjected to stopping the ears and tails. At the moment, dog handlers have no consensus on the appropriateness of this procedure.

The tradition of stopping dogs is rooted in ancient Egypt. During archaeological excavations, murals and coins depicting dogs with cropped ears were discovered - these finds date back to the 5th century. BC e.

Cupping was common in other countries. So, the famous traveler of that time, Pylos, in his annals described the "barbarian custom" of the Romans - to cut off the tails and ears of dogs. The Romans believed that this way you can save pets from rabies.

It is known that in the Middle Ages a tax was introduced on domestic dogs, the amount of which varied depending on the purpose and specialization of the animal. In order to distinguish how much the dog is valued, his ears or tails were cut off, and it could also be tails and ears.

In the late 90s of the last century in Europe was adopted “Pet Rights Convention”, which established a ban on cosmetic surgery of a dog in cases where they are not caused by medical necessity.

In Russia, this prohibition does not apply, therefore, in our country, the decision on stopping remains at the discretion of the breeder.

To date There is no consensus on the need for circumcision of ears and tail among dog handlers - most of them are inclined to the senselessness of this cruel operation. However, a rather impressive group of specialists claims that stopping is part of a long tradition that aims to improve the appearance of the animal.

Where did the tradition to cut the tails and ears of dogs come from? In the old days, dogs in most cases performed certain duties - they guarded herds, guarded houses, defended their master, or took part in fierce battles.

During the performance of their functions, the animals were often injured, received bleeding lacerations, and it was the ears and tail that suffered more often than the rest of the body of the dog.

Nowadays, dogs are mainly wound up as companions, therefore, stopping is carried out at the request of the owner if he believes that in this way his four-legged friend will look more menacing, sharp and powerful.

In addition, there are a number of medical indications in which stopping becomes a necessary necessity, they include:

• lacerations and other mechanical damage;
• multiple inflammations and non-healing ulcers;
• necrosis of all types;
• burns;
• frostbite;
• malignant and benign neoplasms.

Like all surgical interventions, stopping has certain contraindications. In particular, circumcision is not performed for sick, weakened and recovering dogs after illness. In addition, the inappropriate return of a four-legged friend may be the reason for the ban.

Cupping is carried out only in veterinary clinics, since in the operating rooms all the requirements for sterility are met, and at the doctor’s hand are all the tools necessary in case of unplanned situations.

Intervention at home is allowed in exceptional cases and only by a professional veterinarian.

First, we give those arguments that support stopping.

• Sanitary condition of the animal. According to some veterinarians, as well as amateurs, ears after the procedure are less prone to otitis media, inflammation and the influence of foreign objects. Cropped ears are less likely to suffer from bites from ticks, mosquitoes and other parasites. Due to the openness of the ear canal and the absence of the main part of the auricle, the dog is much less likely to have infectious diseases.
• Aesthetics. Dogs, the main task of which is to protect their master and his property, should always look menacing, and stopping has long been considered a sign of powerful and aggressive dogs.
• Functionality. In the old days, ears always stopped, and although nowadays we don’t talk about encountering predatory animals and participating in dog fights, nevertheless, in a fight with other dogs or a person, an adversary can always injure a pet if he has enough for the ears of a defender.

But there are also arguments against stopping.

• Any trimming of the ears and tail – this is primarily surgical intervention and, as a result, the suffering of the animal, the deterioration of its mental state under the influence of anesthesia, pain and the operation itself.
• Many veterinarians argue that the sanitary-hygienic value of the procedure is seriously exaggerated, and the arguments presented have no basis.
• Breeders with extensive experience believe that the aesthetics of cropped ears and tails is a moot point.
• Scientists around the world have come to a common opinion that stopping some animals causes significant harm, since both ears and tails, together with facial expressions, are considered to be one of the means of communication of dogs. In addition, the tail is one of the main tools for controlling the movement of dogs.
• A pet with cropped ears cannot be put up for competitions in European countries where the procedure is prohibited.

The stopping procedure in Russia is mainly carried out for service dogs, which by nature have long ears, in particular, It is customary to stop dogs of the following breeds:

• dogs;
• rottweilers:
• Cane Corso;
• bull terriers;
• Schnauzers
• boxers;
• Central Asian and Caucasian Shepherd Dogs;
• Dobermans;
• staffordshire terriers.

Cosmetic cutting of the tail for dogs is not considered mandatory and is usually carried out at the discretion of the breeder, most often the procedure is subjected to:

• kurtshaarov;
• Dobermans;
• Spaniels of all kinds (Russian, American Cocker Spaniels and other varieties);
• Giant Schnauzers;
• Terriers (Yorkshire, Yagd Terriers, Welsh Terriers and Fox Terriers);
• poodles;
• miniature schnauzers;
• Cane Corso.

Ears should be stopped at a time when the cartilage, as well as the vessels, are not yet fully formed, but at the same time the puppy is already strong and able to cope with the rehabilitation period. As a rule, ears are cut off in 2-3 months, but up to what point a similar operation is performed is an open question. Traditionally, up to a year, dogs older than 12 months are no longer subjected to cosmetic procedures.

Dogs of small breeds usually develop much faster, therefore, they can be stopped a little earlier, and large animals, on the contrary, take much longer to form, because they undergo surgery a little later. Only a veterinarian can judge the degree of readiness of a dog for such procedures.

Anyway it is not recommended to carry out the removal of the auricles to dogs before they reach one and a half months, since at this time it is still difficult to predict the shape of the ears and choose the optimal circumcision option, and after a year they are already largely formed and stopping will be associated with severe pain for the pet.

With tails, the situation is slightly different - it is better to trim them for newborn puppies in the period from 3 to 10 days of the dog’s life. In such small dogs, bleeding is minimal, and the wound heals very quickly, in many veterinarians, tail docking at an early age is carried out even without using anesthesia.

Doctors have no consensus about how painful this procedure is for dogs - some undergo circumcision without the slightest squeak, others whine for a long time, showing their discomfort. In any case, both the tail and the auricles of the dog have nerve endings that, when injured, give signals to the brain. However, in each case they are individual: in some dogs the pain threshold is low, while in others it is quite high. If you did not manage to trim the tail before 10 days, then try to carry out the procedure up to a month.

A variety of ear cupping in many ways depends on the variety of the dog and the features of its appearance. For example, in Caucasian shepherd dogs, the whole ears are usually removed, in breeds such as the Staffordshire Terrier and pit bull, only 2⁄3 are trimmed, in Dobermans and Great Danes even quite large ears remain after trimming.

Edges can also be trimmed in many ways - usually the cut is made straight or S-shaped.

Tails are supposed to be stopped on certain vertebrae. But the fact is that at such an early age, when the puppies are only a few days old, it is quite difficult to feel the vertebrae, therefore, the tail section is trimmed solely in accordance with the wishes of the owner of the dog.

Some breeders believe that after stopping the ears stand up on their own - this is a common misconception. In order for the ears to stand correctly, they must be glued, following the recommendations of the breeder or veterinarian observer.

A common reason that the ears do not stand up is creases, therefore before gluing it is necessary to make sure that they really are. To determine them, it is necessary to compress the base of the auricle and as accurately as possible to probe the entire canvas, slowly moving up from the base.

The mechanism for correcting the situation depends on the location of the problem area. If the upper part is affected, then the situation will be corrected by taking special vitamins, if scar tissue is located in the base or in the middle of the auricle, you need gluing. Usually it is carried out using massive structures. It is advisable to carry out all manipulations under the supervision of an experienced veterinarian, since if the frame is installed incorrectly, in the best case you are facing a production that does not meet the breed standards, and in the worst, a violation of the blood circulation of the pet.

Ear stopping most often takes place without any special consequences for the dog’s body: young puppies easily tolerate it, and their tissues heal quite quickly. However, depending on the individual characteristics of the dogs, sometimes problems may arise, and they do not always depend on the quality of the operation - postoperative care has a greater effect on the healing process.

In order to avoid the adverse effects of stopping, the dog needs quality care.

In particular, in order to prevent the pet from damaging its seams, you should use a special device - the Elizabethan collar, it is made of conical plastic. If the animal suffers too much, then it is allowed to give him a mild analgesic.

It is very important to monitor the condition of the joints - they must be kept clean and sterile. Usually for processing use:

• brilliant green;
• tincture of calendula or chamomile pharmacy;
• iodoform, streptocide, xeroform and other antiseptic powders.

Postoperative sutures are removed on the 7-14th day.

After recovery, it is necessary to constantly strengthen the ear cartilage, for this, the pets are given regular massage.

The first time after surgery, dogs can feel confusion, pain and even a shock state. In this difficult period, it is important to take care of the psychological state of your pet - to support it, to distract and in every possible way to show your love and care.

About stopping ears in dogs, see the next video.