Features of cropping ears in the Staffordshire Terrier

Ear cropping in American Staffordshire Terrier dogs used to be considered a must. This was required by the breed standard. Now everything has changed, and now serious disputes flare up between the owners as to how necessary this operation is. Before deciding to dock your dog's ears, it is important to familiarize yourself with the procedure in more detail.

The most common reason for amstaff ear cropping is fashion. According to the owners, a dog with short ears looks more presentable and solid. These prejudices are due to the recent need to crock the ears of dogs of the presented breed before the show. Individuals with uncropped ears were not allowed to participate in the event. Moreover, the exhibition assessed the quality of the operation performed, studied the features of the auricle, clarified the name of the veterinarian who performed the manipulation.

Many of them consider this operation to be animal cruelty. By the way, in many countries, for this reason, the procedure is even prohibited. According to true lovers of the breed, cropping is allowed only in case of any problems with the ears. Injuries, inflammations, abscesses of the auditory organs - all this can serve as a reason for stopping.

In other cases, the dog does not need surgery, the ears of the puppies hang, then gradually rise and in adulthood may fall again.

The operation is performed under general anesthesia in a veterinary clinic. Before that, the puppy is examined and in the case of diagnosing diseases, the procedure is transferred. In addition, cupping is possible only for vaccinated and treated with parasites of the dog.

The procedure itself looks like this:

• the staff terrier is given anesthesia, waiting for him to fall asleep;
• stitches and bandages are applied to the sections of the sections to prevent severe bleeding;
• stop the auditory organs according to the pattern.

In rare cases, it is allowed to carry out the operation at home. This is possible if the puppy cannot be taken outside or is too scared. In any case, an experienced, professional veterinarian should have the ears cropped.

Modern technologies in the field of veterinary medicine make it possible to achieve several options for cropping the ears.

In general, the type of relief is selected individually for each four-legged patient. The variety is determined by the fit and shape of the ears, the thickness of the ear canal, the state of the cartilaginous tissue, and the size of the head and body are also taken into account when choosing a shape.

Ear cropping in the American Staffordshire Terrier is recommended at an early age. The most suitable terms are 1.5-4 months. At this age, you do not have to worry that the ears will take on an irregular shape and an unaesthetic appearance. In addition, during this period, the risk of complications is minimal. At this age, the dog will more easily endure the postoperative period until the sutures are removed.

To exclude infections and other complications as much as possible, immediately after the operation, a special collar is put on the animal so that it does not damage its ears. The puppy's ears that have been operated on daily need treatment. You can disinfect the area with a cotton pad soaked in chlorhexidine. The formed crusts are soaked and removed.

The first time after the procedure, the puppy is walked only in dry weather, preventing dirt from getting on the pet's ears. It is advisable that during this period the dog does not communicate with other dogs. The first day is the most difficult. On this day, vomiting, loss of appetite, increased thirst are likely, while the puppy may stagger during movement - all this is the effect of anesthesia and is considered a variant of the norm. Also, many owners are frightened by the condition of an anesthetized dog lying with open eyes.

For the next 2-3 days, the pet will try to scratch its ears, it can whine, because during this period it experiences severe pain. To reduce pain symptoms, it is allowed to give an analgesic or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, but before that it is important to consult with the specialist who performed the operation. Nutrition at this time does not change, but on the recommendation of a doctor, it can be supplemented with vitamins. After 7-10 days, the stitches are removed or they dissolve on their own.

Complications after surgery are unlikely, but not excluded. The most common are inflammation, hyperemia, erythema, rash, and suppuration.

Sometimes cropped ears of a staff terrier puppy do not rise. Then they can be made in a standing way of "horning". The shells are lifted with pencils, plasters and even curlers. You need to consult a specialist in this matter.

You can get acquainted with the experience of cropping ears in the Staffordshire Terrier in the following video.