Plastic Surgery for Dogs
July 19th 2008 18:01
Generally, if people don't like something about themselves, they spend the extra money and hire a plastic surgeon to get the breast augmentation, the butt lift, or the tummy tuck. Well, believe it or not people do the same thing with their dogs... Well, kind of...
Dogs can get plastic surgery, but it's not to the extent that people get done. People commonly put their young puppies in surgery to cut off their ears or tail, which is known as hear cropping and tail docking.
By removing the tail and the majority of your dog's ears, you are removing vital and essential communication skills that you dog needs in order to better communicate with other animals and even you. By removing the tail, leaving a small nub, it can be very hard to distinguish how your dog is feeling. 90% of your dog's communication is through his body, and if you remove the tail and ears you remove at least 75% of the means of communication for your dog.
Also, the surgeries are completely unnecessary for the amount of pain that your dog must deal with, and yes the dog does feel the pain, they just have a higher pain tolerance than a person. Think about it, in the wild sick pack members were often left behind and left out because they had the potential to hold the pack behind. Although, there is no need for this in captivity, dogs still sense some of this, which is why they seldom act sick until they are truly, severly ill.
If you disagree with me and feel that you dog does not feel the pain when he bumps into the wall, hits his head, and yelps, then by all means that's your opinion.
But, anyway... There ARE reasons that tail docking can be beneficial, but that doesn't mean that you should run out and ask your vet to dock your dog's tail. The main reason that is medically a benefit to dock the tail is that some breeds have a taught tail skin, which when the tail hits something hard, it can cause an abrasion. The abrasions can be painful to deal with, and prevented with a tail dock, but this is the only medical reason to get your dog's tail docked.
As for ear cropping, some people claim that by cropping the ear, there is less potential for ear infections. Well, yes this is true, but if you regularly clean your dog's ears and take care of yoru dog, you can preven ear infections a lot easier and cheaper than surgery.
There is no reason, even if you show your dogs in competition to crop or dock the dog, as even the AKC accepts natural dogs in their dog shows. It is no longer mandatory to have your dog 100% to the basic standards.
Plus, in many countries, these surgeries are illegal. I want to say the U.S. is one of the few countries that still allow the surgeries.
Anyway... The link that I posted above will give you tons more information about the basics and procedures and how they are done. Plus you will see pictures of all natural Rottweilers, Boxers, American Staffordshires, and a few others.
Dogs can get plastic surgery, but it's not to the extent that people get done. People commonly put their young puppies in surgery to cut off their ears or tail, which is known as hear cropping and tail docking.
My Personal Opinion:
Although you can read my full opinion and the facts that back up my opinion, when you read "Plastic Surgery for Dogs: Dog Ear Crop and Tail Dock," here is the brief break down...By removing the tail and the majority of your dog's ears, you are removing vital and essential communication skills that you dog needs in order to better communicate with other animals and even you. By removing the tail, leaving a small nub, it can be very hard to distinguish how your dog is feeling. 90% of your dog's communication is through his body, and if you remove the tail and ears you remove at least 75% of the means of communication for your dog.
Also, the surgeries are completely unnecessary for the amount of pain that your dog must deal with, and yes the dog does feel the pain, they just have a higher pain tolerance than a person. Think about it, in the wild sick pack members were often left behind and left out because they had the potential to hold the pack behind. Although, there is no need for this in captivity, dogs still sense some of this, which is why they seldom act sick until they are truly, severly ill.
If you disagree with me and feel that you dog does not feel the pain when he bumps into the wall, hits his head, and yelps, then by all means that's your opinion.
But, anyway... There ARE reasons that tail docking can be beneficial, but that doesn't mean that you should run out and ask your vet to dock your dog's tail. The main reason that is medically a benefit to dock the tail is that some breeds have a taught tail skin, which when the tail hits something hard, it can cause an abrasion. The abrasions can be painful to deal with, and prevented with a tail dock, but this is the only medical reason to get your dog's tail docked.
As for ear cropping, some people claim that by cropping the ear, there is less potential for ear infections. Well, yes this is true, but if you regularly clean your dog's ears and take care of yoru dog, you can preven ear infections a lot easier and cheaper than surgery.
There is no reason, even if you show your dogs in competition to crop or dock the dog, as even the AKC accepts natural dogs in their dog shows. It is no longer mandatory to have your dog 100% to the basic standards.
Plus, in many countries, these surgeries are illegal. I want to say the U.S. is one of the few countries that still allow the surgeries.
Anyway... The link that I posted above will give you tons more information about the basics and procedures and how they are done. Plus you will see pictures of all natural Rottweilers, Boxers, American Staffordshires, and a few others.
My goofy APBT with her stupid ear standing for all to see...
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