Previously, the culling of ears in American Staffordshire terrier dogs was considered a mandatory procedure. This was required by the breed standard. Now everything has changed, and now serious disputes arise between the owners, how necessary this operation is. Before deciding to stop a dog’s ears, it is important to get acquainted with the procedure.
Why do I need a cupping
The most common cause of ear cupping in amstaff is fashion. According to the owners, the dog with short ears looks more presentable and solid. These prejudices are due to the recent need to stop the ears of dogs of the breed before the show. Individuals with uncropped ears were not allowed to participate in the event. Moreover, the exhibition evaluated the quality of the operation, studied the features of the auricle, clarified the name of the veterinarian who performed the manipulation.
Now, for the sake of aesthetics, arresting is not held in high esteem by experienced breeders who care about the health of the dog.
Many of them consider this operation cruel treatment of an animal. By the way in many countries, for this reason, the procedure is even prohibited. According to the true lovers of the breed, docking is allowed only in case of any problems with the ears. Injuries, inflammations, ulcers of the auditory organs - all this can serve as a pretext for stopping.
In other cases, the dog does not need surgery, the ears hang in puppies, then gradually rise and as an adult may fall again.
Former winners of shows with stopped ears at the present time could not even get to this event at the international level, as now dogs with excellent pedigree are not allowed if their ears are stopped.
Features of the procedure
The operation is performed under general anesthesia in a veterinary clinic. Before this, the puppy is examined and in the case of diagnosing diseases the procedure is transferred. In addition, a cupping is possible. only for vaccinated and parasite-treated dogs.
12 hours before visiting the pet's veterinary clinic, it is recommended not to feed him, as after anesthesia he will feel sick.
The procedure itself is as follows:
- the Stuff Terrier is administered anesthesia, waiting for him to sleep;
- seams and bandages are applied to the sections of the sections to prevent heavy bleeding;
- Stop the auditory organs on the pattern.
In rare cases, the operation is allowed in the home. This is possible if the puppy can not be carried out on the street or he is too scared. In any case, an experienced professional veterinarian should stop the ears.
Some clinics provide home manipulation services, but keep in mind that at home the risk of infection increases.
Varieties
Modern technologies in the field of veterinary medicine allow us to achieve several options for ear cupping.
So, if the form “flame” or “dagger” is recommended for refined Dobermans, then for the massive Amstaffs, the options “exhibition”, “fight”, “long” or “short” are more suitable. These names are derived from the form of the auricle.
In general, for each four-legged patient, the type of cupping is chosen individually. The variety is determined by the fit and shape of the ears, the thickness of the aural leaf, the condition of the cartilage, and the size of the head and body are also taken into account when choosing the shape.
Suitable age
It is recommended to stop the ears of an American Staffordshire Terrier at an early age. The most suitable time is 1.5-4 months. At this age, you can not worry that the ears will take on an irregular shape and an unaesthetic appearance. Moreover, during this period the risk of complications is minimal. At this age, the dog will more easily endure the postoperative period before removing the sutures.
Postoperative period
In order to exclude infections and other complications as much as possible, immediately after an operation on an animal, a special collar is put on so that it does not damage its ears. Daily operated puppy ears need treatments. You can disinfect the areas with a cotton pad dipped in chlorhexidine. The resulting crusts soak and remove.
The first time after the procedure, the puppy is walked only in dry weather, avoiding dirt on the pet's ears. It is desirable that during this period the dog did not communicate with other dogs. The hardest are the first day. On this day, vomiting, loss of appetite, increased thirst are likely, the puppy may stagger during the movement - all this is the effect of anesthesia and is considered a variant of the norm. Also, many owners are frightened by the state of a hardened dog lying with open eyes.
In this situation, you should not worry about the animal, but from time to time it is recommended to lightly pat the pet on the forehead in order to relax the muscles or gently cover his eyelids.
The next 2-3 days, the pet will try to scratch his ears, he may whine, because during this period he is in severe pain. To reduce pain, it is allowed to give an analgesic or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent, 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 can be supplemented with vitamins. After 7–10 days, the sutures are removed or they dissolve on their own.
Complications after surgery are unlikely, but not excluded. The most common are inflammation, hyperemia, redness, rash, suppuration.
In the event of these ailments, it is important to promptly consult a doctor.
Sometimes crooked ears of a staff terrier puppy do not rise. Then they can be made standing in the form of a “rocking”. Sinks raise through pencils, patches and even curlers. Consult this issue with a specialist.
The experience of cupping ears in Staffordshire Terrier can be found in the next video.
