Utah Veterinary Medical Association Takes Issue with AVMA’s Stance on Tail Docking and Ear Cropping
I freely recognize that I practice veterinary medicine in one of the most progressive places in the world. Just a couple of states over, things are quite a bit different.
In November, 2008 the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) adopted an official policy against cosmetic ear cropping and tail docking. It turns out that some vets in Utah aren’t happy about that.
Here’s an excerpt from an article in the July, 2009 issue of DVM Newsmagazine.
AVMA’s hard line too hard?
Call for softer stance on cosmetic surgery among resolutions facing convention delegatesJul 1, 2009
By: Christina Macejko
DVM NEWSMAGAZINESEATTLE — The Utah Veterinary Medical Association (UVMA) wants the AVMA to lay off the “hard-line slant” it took when the policy on ear cropping and tail docking was changed late last year and is asking the House of Delegates (HOD) to soften the policy.
In November 2008, the American Veterinary Medical Association’s (AVMA) executive board changed the policy to read, “The AVMA opposes ear cropping and tail docking of dogs when done solely for cosmetic purposes. The AVMA encourages the elimination of ear cropping and tail docking from breed standards.”
While the association was not necessarily in favor of the practice before, the policy change, for the first time, explicitly states its opposition to it.
It’s a move that UVMA says was made under pressure from outside groups.
“One of the reasons the Animal Welfare Committee suggested a change to the executive board was to bring the policy more into line with the American Animal Hospital Association and other countries,” UVMA explains. “We are the American Veterinary Medical Association, not any other and do not need to apologize for our positions.”
I have said repeatedly that I believe ear cropping and tail docking as well as debarking and declawing will wane in availability in coming years. Each year fewer vets are willing (or even able) to perform these surgeries.
New graduates from veterinary school generally abhor the procedures. Older vets who have no moral qualms with the surgeries (and who evidently run the show in Utah) are retiring every day.
The demographic shift will settle this debate in time. Meanwhile, the ethical wrangling over the procedures continues.
You have questions. 
Late breaking news: DVM Newsmagazine reports that the AVMA has reaffirmed its opposition to tail docking and ear cropping.
Utah, eh?
Is ear cropping and tail docking a Morman thing?
It is certainly past time that something was done to stop these barbaric alterations of cats and dogs, declawing of cats is just totally inhumane and so unnecessary and already banned or considered grossly inhumane in 38 countries of the world. Cats need their claws for their health and their safety. Ear cropping, tail docking and debarking also are mutilations that no dog should have to endure. I hope the day soon comes when those vets that do these procedures are put out to grass and new, more compassionate, veterinary graduates relegate these things to history.
I hope you’re right that the demographic shift will eliminate tail-docking and ear-cropping.
But I’m afraid that as long as some Breed Standards continue to call for these cosmetic changes, there will always be some people who will learn the procedures, however fewer their overall numbers may dwindle. Further, as long as the breed standard exists, there will always be non-vets who will try to perform these surgeries by themselves to achieve the standard look. I really hope the official Breed Standards change as well.
As always, Dr. Barchas presents the compassionate and reasonable view! Cosmetic surgery on consenting humans is one thing, but to mutilate a dog or cat because of some human “standard of beauty” is just inhumane. Hopefully as the older vets retire and the younger vets replace them, these shameful practices will disappear.
Declawing is NOT “cosmetic.” Please see my blog: http://catcatalyst.wordpress.com. containing hard data on the negative sequelae of “declawing” and other mutilation of healthy paws of cats (and some other animals. Harm is both physiological and behavioral/psychological, ranging from inability to walk, balance, groom, negotiate litter material normally–to infection, abnormal/painful re-growth of claws, even gangrene with “follow-up treatment” featuring MORE limb loss. See: http://www.stellahasnofeet.com for story about cat who lost back feet, thanks to vet who “declawed” said feet when they were healthy, functional and beautiful.
“Money, unlike animals, can talk.”
I’m so glad that you have kept this topic in the forefront. Just yesterday I was talking with a friend who loves his Shnauzer breed and the topic of ear cropping and tail docking came up. I expressed my feelings about this cruel mutilation and he told a story of one of his puppies where he had his vet crop the ears. He said when he returned to pick up his puppy, the poor little thing let out a blood curdling scream that he said he will never forget and he would never put a dog through that again. He also said this scream will stay with him for the rest of his life. Personally, I can’t imagine WHY anyone would do this to their beloved animals. This is such a barbaric practice and the older vets obviously have no heart and are only in their business for the money.
Okay, I’ll bite. Please notice that the AVMA’s position statement says, “…when done SOLELY for cosmetic purposes.” They do not oppose it across the board.
Contrary to the alarmist viewpoint, there are indeed legitimate medical reasons (not cosmetic) for performing some of these procedures. It was indeed barbaric many years ago, even when done for a justifiable reason (some of which no longer exist; some of which do still exist.) But now…..with the advent of surgical lasers (which are now quite common in veterinary practices) and multimodal, preemptive analgesia…..the pain associated with these procedures is generally significantly less than if you quick a toenail during a basic grooming procedure (quite painful!!!) Many pets undergoing these surgeries this way, as performed by competent veterinary surgeons, express none of the standard pain indicators seen with even spays and neuters (when assessed with the same criteria.) Anyone wishing to have such procedures performed needs to be very certain that the surgeon performing them experiences that result as the norm, and is experienced with the use of the surgical laser. People can (and do) crop ears on 3-month-old puppies with several helpers holding it down for the owner to apply the hedge clippers to the ear flaps for cutting then proceed to “suture” them up with packing string….the pup screaming at the top of its lungs the whole while. Having seen the horrendous end result of that as a student, I vowed then and there to provide a safe alternative so owners can seek me out and not be tempted to do it on their own….which they will if DVMs don’t do it the RIGHT way, which is to provide anesthesia and pain relief in addition to skilled surgical technique in a sterile environment to prevent infection. I don’t advertise it; I don’t encourage or even suggest it. I only discuss it IF the client brings it up first because they want it done. I lay out all the pros and cons and let them decide whether to proceed. Some do. Many don’t. But the ones who do are assured that it will be done CORRECTLY. Laser usage and pain management are mandatory. When done with a surgical laser, freshly declawed cats are up walking completely normally, rubbing on people with affection, and grooming themselves within 30 minutes of waking up from the anesthesia, with no permanent effects whatsoever. It’s astonishing, even. Done correctly, it is not “mutilation” in the slightest. There is no deformity, nor are there orthopedic problems. Psychological effects can indeed occur when cats are older, but kittens do just fine, WHEN it’s done correctly. All the horror stories posted all over the Internet typically involve inexperienced surgeons and poor technique, esp. the “old” way of using a scalpel or Resco trimmers. Since the lasers are now so widespread, I would agree that the old method should be banned now. I’ve cut myself with the exact same laser, and know for a fact that there is no pain whatsoever less than 10 seconds after the cut is made. There is also virtually no bleeding. It’s really quite remarkable. In my practice area, laser surgery is so common it has become almost standard. Not totally, but it’s getting there….since it’s so dramatically superior. Again, I’m not a “proponent” for declawing or ear cropping. I do not encourage it in any way, and have talked many, many people out of it when they brought it up. But it is NOT the horror many would have you believe.
Even spays and neuters can result in “mutilation” when done improperly, by unskilled surgeons using poor technique.
The only procedure listed above that can really cause harm to the animal even when done by a competent surgeon, is debarking. Chronic respiratory issues are often a result, no matter how well the surgery is performed. Still, people are entitled to believe that it is a better alternative than euthanasia when no other options are practical…..that if/when those effects develop, they can euthanize at that time, having “bought” the animal a few more living years in the meantime. Many of you may disagree and believe that euthanasia would be better…..but the owner might have reasons you know nothing about. Making judgments about it is akin to one person “deciding” that another person is cruel to their pet because they keep it outdoors. Just as many would argue that it’s more cruel to keep it indoors. Rather than a blanket position, it makes more sense to me to look at the individual situation before passing judgment. There is no solid consensus on the spank/no spank debate when it comes to children….both sides have very good points. Vaccination of children is another such issue. Same goes for animals. There is no definite “right” or “wrong” issue….just a bunch of opinions, and varying circumstances that make it impossible to make a sweeping generalization that has any merit.
It has always surprised me that so many who are outspoken about their outrage of these practices see nothing wrong with having their infant daughter’s ears pierced. Or (back to animals), the common practice of castrating cute little piglets without any anesthesia or pain medications. It’s the same with castration and dehorning of calves, too. I’ve always been a believer in the “pick your battles” philosophy. For every one out there, something very similar but much worse is considered acceptable.
One of our rescue pit puppies had his tail docked before he found us. During his first vet check-up we discovered that the hack job had likely been performed by the former owner himself and that if he’d gone one more vertibrae further that our dog would have been paralyzed. He was just a few weeks old when he came into our lives. The vet also said that if he’d been with the previous owner any longer (before being turned loose or escaping) his ears would have likely been cropped as well.
I agree that it is the breed standard that must be changed otherwise people will keep doing these home hack jobs or getting another non-certified individual to do them even if the vets stop doing it altogether.
Why not include removal of dew claws, that IS primarily cosmetic? I have German Shorthaired Pointers, and I can tell you tail docking on hunting breeds IS necessary. I also have a Treeing Walker Coonhound, tail of course NOT docked. Guess who gets a bloody tail from wagging it around while running through heavy brush… NOT the GSPs. I can understand people not familiar with the breeds thinking dogs are mutilated for sheer enjoyment, it’s not so. I imagine some breeds ears are clipped to avoid cronic ear infections, now that practice would seem obsolete, but I cannot be certain. I always had the vet dock the tails on my pups surgically and stitch them, I did NOT have the dew claws removed as that IS unnecessary. Debarking is not accepable, dogs can be trained not to bark, but as the vet above pointed out, people want their dogs to look a certain way, and if no vet is available, they will make it a DIY project ans maim and multilate some poor pup.
I am glad there are vets around who believe as this lady does, it saves a LOT of misery.
I disagree, Dr. Deb. As far as I’m concerned this is definitely a “right” or “wrong” issue, and as long as vets like yourself continue to provide these procedures, you’re sending out the message that these practices are okay. And that makes your stance part of the problem, not the solution.
As for infant daughters, no, I don’t think they should have their ears pierced until they can decide for themselves. It’s an issue of consent after all. (In the same vein, I don’t think infant boys should be circumcised.) And you bring up an interesting point with the piglets and calves, because that practice is not okay either. I really wish more vets were vegan, but unfortunately, like the public in general, most of them still consider and treat animals as if they were property.