I’m against cosmetic surgeries but I’m hoping for clarification Google can’t provide. Are any lifetime complications to be expected from cosmetic ear surgery even when properly done? Or tail docking? I see clinics only do the tails at 3-5 days old before it’s considered an amputation as cartilage isn’t fully formed, what difference does this make to the pet? Thank you

drferox:

Even if you somehow manage to avoid all pain associated with ear cropping, a procedure which has absolutely zero benefit for the dog, you have affected its ability to communicate with body language for the rest of its life. Those ears that are desired to make the dog look more alert and aggressive do make the dog look more alert and aggressive.

Tail docking hinders body language even more, but also has a risk of developing a neuroma. A neuroma is a growth consisting of nerves where they have been severed, in this case the end of the spine in the tail, and they are associated with dogs that don’t like to have their stumps touched, don’t like to sit down, or actively self traumatise themselves. Humans describe neuromas as sharp, stabbing or catching pain. It doesn’t matter what age the amputation is done. It was historically done at 3-5 days of age because it was thought that such young pups don’t feel pain – they do – and it was acceptable in many jurisdictions.

I am obviously not a fan of unnecessary surgery or amputation of a limb.