New study reveals rise in ear cropping
"This paper provides further evidence on the concerning rise in ear cropping that vets are seeing in practice." - Justine Shotton
A new study has found that the rates of ear cropping in dogs seen in veterinary practices in the UK rose sharply in 2021. Published in the British Veterinary Association’s (BVA) journal, the study found that between 2015 and 2022, 132 dogs with cropped ears were seen by veterinary surgeons in a sample of 500 practices. The number of cases peaked in 2021.
Of the 132 dogs with cropped ears, there was evidence to show that 64 per cent had been imported from other European countries, including Romania, Hungary and Bulgaria, where ear cropping is also illegal. Ear cropping for cosmetic purposes has been illegal in the UK since 2006.
The results showed that the breeds most commonly affected were American bulldogs, dobermanns and Italian mastiffs.
Researchers used data from the Small Animal Veterinary Surveillance Network (SAVSNET), which gathers electronic health records (EHRs) from a group of approximately 500 participating veterinary practices across the UK.
The authors of the study acknowledge that the results underestimate the true level of ear cropping, and may not be representative of the wider UK population.
Results from the BVA 2021 Voice of the Veterinary Profession survey, showed that six in 10 veterinary surgeons believed that they had seen an increase in cases of ear cropping in practice during the previous year. It also revealed that there is more work to be done to raise awareness of the issue, with veterinary surgeons reporting that 15 per cent of owners of dogs with cropped ears were unaware that it is illegal.
British Veterinary Association senior vice president Justine Shotton said: “This paper provides further evidence on the concerning rise in ear cropping that vets are seeing in practice. Unsurprisingly, as the study’s authors state, the numbers of cropped dogs seen in this study are not representative of the true UK-wide picture, with that figure expected to me much higher.
“As part of the British Veterinary Association’s #CutTheCrop campaign, we would like to see the government take decisive action to pass the Kept Animals Bill, which will help close the legal loophole that allows the importation of dogs with cropped ears into the UK and acts as a cover for the illegal procedure to be carried out within the country too.”
The study, 'Dogs with cropped ears in the UK: A population-based study using electronic health records', can be read online.
With Strangles Awareness Week just around the corner (5-11 May), vets are being encouraged to share a survey about the disease with their horse-owning clients.
