need a vet that knows rottwielers (money, job, good)

[Reziac]

Originally Posted by rottielove

actually if you cropping a rotties ear it really dont look good in dog shows rotties have natural tales now also

Rotts have never had cropped ears that I know of, and I've been in dogs professionally for 40 years. The undocked tails is strictly the result of animal rights nuts imposing their will on Europeans, who tend to behave like sheep when pressured like that. You won't see more than the very rare undocked tail in the U.S., and certainly not in the breed ring (well, maybe a few trying to push the European dogs, but you'd get dismissed by most judges).

[Reziac]

Originally Posted by AQHA

Boston Terrier. I hesitated to even ask on a public forum as some folks get very upset with those of us who still like the cropped look. I grew up with dobermans as a kid and I love the look of a well cropped ear. Boston are not always cropped but our older dog was cropped so I'll get the younger one done this spring as well. Yes, any help you could give in helping me find someone to do it would be very much appreciated.

I have nothing against it myself. In some breeds it's practical because otherwise their ears or tails are always a bloody mess (especially with the Continental hunting dogs). Anyway, remind me next week and I'll ask on the other list.

Oh yeah, where are you? you may need to drive a ways to get a good job done.

[AQHA]

Helena, montana. I'm sure there are vets around here who crop but I have not had any luck finding them yet. This little guy is 5 months so he's ready.

[Reziac]

Well I asked on the MT-info dog list and didn't get any useful responses. Couple snide remarks about why crop in this day and age, tho that's kinda to be expected from the current fancier elitists. *sigh*

If you're willing to go down to Bozeman, Greg Lovgren (Gallatin Vet) is a very good small animal vet, and I would trust him with anesthesia on a smaller dog like yours. He was a good general surgeon too, tho I don't have any firsthand knowledge of his ear-cropping skill or even if he does it.

The other guy who is still there that I used was Bruce Sorensen at Belgrade; he's mainly a ranch vet (I knew he was going to be good from the day he came to intern under Bob Sager, but word from a couple places is he's now considered the best livestock vet in the state!!) No idea if he does ears, but he'd likely know who does.

The big thing is... get some references, check out their work, because like I said, it's an art, and not every vet has the eye or the skill for it.

[Reziac]

Hey, AQHA, I just got this from the MT list:

the person in Helena could call my friend, Dr. Mikki Lague, DVM, in Great Falls for a referral. Her clinic number is 406-761-7055, Central West Animal Clinic.

[AQHA]

Originally Posted by Reziac

Well I asked on the MT-info dog list and didn't get any useful responses. Couple snide remarks about why crop in this day and age, tho that's kinda to be expected from the current fancier elitists. *sigh*

Yep, thats what i kept running into. I called one vet in helena to ask if they did it and she cussed me out for even asking. I'm not sure how people turned against cropped ears so fast.

I will call the vet you mentioned in Great Falls first thing in the morning. Hopefully I wont get may a$$ chewed again.

THANK YOU!!

[Reziac]

Originally Posted by AQHA

Yep, thats what i kept running into. I called one vet in helena to ask if they did it and she cussed me out for even asking. I'm not sure how people turned against cropped ears so fast.

I will call the vet you mentioned in Great Falls first thing in the morning. Hopefully I wont get may a$$ chewed again.

Animal rights idiots, that's what. You should see the damage forbidding tail docking has done in Europe. Tail injuries in working dogs of formerly-docked breeds are up by something like 50%, and in many cases it won't heal so you wind up having to amputate the tail anyway.

In general the younger crop of female vets are the worst, and most likely to be AR-sympathetic. If they also do "holistic" or "homeopathic" snake oil, you can almost bet on it. Older guys who are also livestock vets, not just small animal specialists, tends to be more -- shall we say, open-minded and practical.

Anyway, let me know what you find out. I think it behooves us as animal owners to locate, publicize, and patronize those vets who have NOT bought into the AR nonsense.

BTW, you might find these interesting:

http://www.netpets.org/dogs/healthspa/case4dock.html
http://www.netpets.com/dogs/healthspa/fritsch.html
http://www.cdb.org/letters.htm
http://www.terrificpets.com/articles.../ear-cropping/

Also, in some breeds the ear is cropped partly to prevent infection, as some of the thinner-skinned dogs (often those traditionally cropped, what a coincidence) are inclined toward ear canal problems if the area is not well-ventilated.

[AQHA]

The little guys is scheduled to get them done on June 11th. $800 dollars! ouch!

[Reziac]

Originally Posted by AQHA

The little guys is scheduled to get them done on June 11th. $800 dollars! ouch!

<*cough*gasp*choke*>

That's high even for California... WTF is their justification for such rates in Montana??!

[AQHA]

Yea, I thought it was WAY high. She said he's very good but dang!! The thing is, Im caught between a rock and a hard place, nobody does it anymore. I will keep checking Helena and see if I can find one closer, if not, I'll bite the bullet and do it.