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Pets can be
harmed by cosmetic surgery
January 10, 2008
The first time I encountered a particular dog's bark I thought how odd
it sounded; it was barely a whisper. I was saddened to learn that it
wasn't a unique bark after all, but the result of a procedure called
debarking. The procedure involves the removal of the tissue in the
larynx, which produces sound. It's a misguided, and, in the view of
many, an inhumane cosmetic procedure used to correct behavioral barking
problems. This particular dog was in the shelter when I met her.
Thankfully, she found a better home -- a place where she was accepted as
she was, unconditionally.
Cosmetic procedures performed on pets, such as debarking, declawing,
tail docking and ear cropping are illegal in many countries including
England, Germany, Australia and New Zealand. It is not illegal in the
United States, although some states have introduced legislation in an
attempt to ban the practice.
The American Association of Veterinary Medicine, or AVMA, considers such
procedures "not medically indicated nor of benefit to the patient," and
urges veterinarians to counsel pet owners on the risks, pain and
distress caused before agreeing to perform these types of surgeries. The
American Animal Hospital Association, AAHA, echoes the AVMA's position.
Unfortunately, the AVMA's recommendation fell on deaf ears in the case
of a cat I met a few weeks ago at the local shelter. All four of her
paws were declawed. Declawing is more than just a simple removal of a
cat's claws; it's the removal of their toe -- equivalent to having the
first digit of a human finger removed.
A cat's claws are their first line of defense, and they feel very
vulnerable having them removed from their front paws, as is commonly
done, let alone all four paws. Additionally, the healing process
following the procedure can be very painful. The procedure can also lead
to infections and other medical complications.
Likewise, ear cropping and tail docking may be considered a way to
maintain breed standards by some, but doing so for cosmetic reasons is
unnecessary and causes undue pain and health risk. When studying animal
behavior you also realize how much dogs communicate with one another
using their tails and ears as body language, and cosmetic alterations
limit their ability to do so.
Some veterinarians, while they don't condone docking and cropping, will
prefer to do the procedure rather than have a pet owner do it
themselves, without anesthesia or surgical techniques. In those cases I
agree that it's better than having to see an animal suffer at the peril
of untrained hands. Working at an animal shelter, I've seen more cases
then I care to where it's obvious that an animal has been "butchered" in
an attempt to dock their tail or crop their ears.
Cosmetic surgery for humans is our choice, but I can't imagine that my
pit bull, Lola, will ever come to me and ask for money to improve her
appearance by getting an ear job. By the wag of her tail, I'm convinced
she's happy just the way she is.
- Gloria
Dauphin
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