In the midst of packing and posting tshirts and organising Meiji’s dogfood donation plus other things, I have been thinking about the fact that Cocker had to be opened up twice (spaying attempt) because it is sometimes just so difficult for the vet to detect that faint line (indicating that the animal has already been spayed).
Then, Agnes just told me that the vet said the ultra-sound machine cannot detect the absence of the uterus or ovaries.
In view of this, I am thinking seriously now, if we should insist on tipping the ears of all female animals that are spayed under us.
One of our panel clinics (under the new management) has already insisted upon tipping the ears of females for all our cases, because we are given a rescue rate and it’s only entitled to rescued strays, not pets. This is absolutely fair.
Some people argue that they want to adopt the animal so the tipping isn’t necessary. But look at Cocker. She’s obviously someone’s pet (not even rescued, I think, but probably purchased since she is a pedigree). Even home pets can escape and get lost.
At the end of the day, the intention of tipping the ear is to safeguard the female animal from being opened up twice. Or thrice!
My friend, Chek Wee, tells me that in Singapore, they tip the ears of all spayed females. Some pet owners do it for their home pets as well.
The tipping of the ear serves two purposes:
1. To prevent opening up the female more than once.
2. In countries run by caring governments, the tipped-ear animal is no longer captured and even if captured, he/she will be released. In this case, both the male and female has his/her ear tipped once spayed-neutered.
For (2), we have talked to our local council till our saliva ran dry…..masih “tak boleh” but of course they will “look into it”.
I’d appreciate comments and opinions from all of you, please – should we tip the ears of all spayed females?
Comments
7 responses to “Should we tip the ears of all spayed females?”
My vote is "YES"!
I adopted my first cat from a local shelter. They assured me that "no animal leaves here without being spayed or neutered." They collected my adoption fee and sent us home. 3 weeks later, my cat went into heat. Thank doG she was an indoor cat, or I'd have been dealing with a litter of kittens a few months hence. On the other hand, her all-night yowling sprees deprived me of sleep for 10 nights. When I asked about this state of affairs at the shelter — very politely, as I was too exhausted to be rude — the woman told me, "Well, maybe she was a surrendered pet. If they tell us she's been spayed, we take their word for it." I asked if she had in fact been a surrendered pet, and the woman just shrugged helplessly. They've got so many animals, they have no clue where any of them came from.
If my cat's ear had been tipped, none of that would have happened. My second cat's ear is tipped, and I heaved a sigh of relief when I noticed it.
The cocker spaniel is the 3rd dog you've mentioned in your blog that was opened up twice. Not only is it hard on the dog, it's a waste of your funds and the vet's time. As long as the ear gets snipped when the animal is under anaesthesia, I really think it's a sensible idea. On animals with longer coats, the fur will quickly grow to cover the missing ear tip, but rescuers, adopters and vets will still be able to feel the snip and know the animal has been spayed.
So here's one resounding YES vote for ear-tipping.
A BIG YES from me! It's better to hurt them only once rather more, for the good of course. God Bless you all.
YES! Welfare-wise, open up an animal "just to check" is unjustifiable.
In Australia, we have tattoo on the inside of ear instead. I think that would be costly in Malaysia and not viable for dogs with hairy ears.
YES YES YES
Tip the mau's ear!
Yes, we should. Even the male dogs and cats should be tipped when they are spayed.
It may take the local authorities here in Malaysia a long time to appreciate the ear tipping but in time to come, they may.
AnimalCare should take the lead in enforcing this standard locally.
Ear tagging is more advisable and it is not that expensive.
animal lover