Breeder Cropped Ears?

[GatorPit]

I posted this on the Pit Bull Forum, but I can get other oppinions here so here goes...

I have talked to some breeders who crop their litters ears themselves. Some start at 5 days, some at two weeks, and others at seven weeks. They don't use anesthetic, and they use a styptic powder to stop bleeding. I was looking fot opinions and/or experiences on this practice. Is it legal? Is it wrong? I would think that at five days the trauma would be minimal, and I don't see why it would be illigal when tail docking and dew claw removal are not (I don't think). But I would also think that at five days it would be difficult to know where best to cut. i would think that at seven weeks, the pups would be traumatized by such a goings on, and I would think that this could be detrimental to there pshyhological development. vets here won't do it until the pups are 16 weeks old. Their reasoning for this is that at a younger age (or lighter weight) general anesthetic could be dangerous. However, I have heard that waiting till this age means that there wiil be more pain for the animal. Opinions please?

[TrueBulldog]

Its illegal to do it yourself, but a lot of people do. Some do it very cruel, flub it up or cause infections. But there are people who do it very well. Breeders have different methods and don't all do it the same.


This dogs breeder simply gets them with a razor blade, then nothing else to it. Don't look to bad.


The breeder of my dog Val cuts them and sutures them, doesn't use any of that powder. Most breeders I know won't use powder for anything at all, its not really all that great. I think her ears look perfect. i think the minimum age was 8 weeks or so.

Here is her brother