Cosmetic Procedures for Pets Soon a Thing of the Past?

| Print | By Jo Singer | August 4, 2009 2:34 PM

I was very pleased to run across an article online which gives me hope that some of the unnecessary cosmetic surgical procedures performed on pets in the USA are being viewed in a more humane light by some veterinary practitioners.

Last week, according to "USA Today", Banfield, The Pet Hospital, one of the most frequently used network of animal hospitals in the USA, headquartered in Portland Oregon, announced that that tail docking, devocalization and ear cropping in dogs will no longer be offered as services provided by their clinics.

Ear cropping photo courtesy of: www.care2.com
4-ear cropping.jpgTail docking and ear cropping is a popular procedure which is generally preformed for cosmetic reasons to comply with breed standards, in the United States. Debarking or devocalization, while a fairly uncommon procedure used to keep dogs from barking, remains a controversial surgery which involves the full or partial removal of a dog's, (or even in some cases a cat's) vocal chords.

The American Veterinary Medical Association passed a resolution last year which strongly opposes these procedures and urges its elimination from these breed standards. I applaud the AVMA for taking this stand, as medical justification for the procedure is rarely necessary for the health of these dogs for which the surgery is routinely performed.

In a statement made by Karen Faunt, vice president for medical control quality advancement at Banfield, "After thoughtful consideration and reviewing medical research, we have determined it is in the best interest of the pets we treat, as well as the overall practice, to discontinue performing these unnecessary cosmetic procedures. It is our hope that this new medical protocol will help reduce, and eventually eliminate, these cosmetic procedures altogether." However she added that the procedure will continue to be performed on pets in cases where it is medically necessary.

New York, Vermont, and Illinois are some of the states at the forefront to outlaw these practices. In Europe these practices have fallen out of fashion. However the American Kennel Club has been vehemently fighting any attempts to have these laws put on the books. They claim that "as prescribed in certain breed standards, (they) are acceptable practices integral to defining and preserving breed character, enhancing good health and preventing injuries, and that any interference that these procedures are cosmetic and unnecessary is a severe mischaracterization that connotes a lack of respect and knowledge of history and the function of purebred dogs."

Many American breeders would happily stop the practice, but they are concerned that their dogs won't win in the show-ring so routinely continue the surgeries when puppies are new born. Docking and cropping are most frequently performed on hunting dogs such as boxers, Schnauzers, Great Danes, terriers, some Spaniels and Doberman Pinchers.

The Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association congratulated Banfield, The Pet Hospital, for their corporate decision to stop these procedures at their 745 hospitals around the United States, Dr. Barbara Hodges, the HSVMA Veterinary Consultant said, "This decision represents a significant step for the veterinary community in placing the health and welfare of our canine patients above aesthetic preferences or human convenience." However, she added, "We look forward to Banfield taking similar action on behalf of felines by discontinuing cat declawing at its clinics."

Perhaps Banfield, The Pet Hospital is considering cessation of declawing cats, as they at least are no longer openly advertising this service as part of their Optimum Wellness program, which at one time was suggested as part of prudent pet care.

It seems to this author, at least, that if this were true, that the breeds that are commonly "cropped" and "docked" would be born with "cropped ears" and "docked tails" as survival based mutations to preserve their robust health and safety, and cats would be born without claws. I bet my bottom dollar that the dogs and cats would agree with me.

Please share how you feel about these cosmetic procedures routinely performed by pet owners by leaving a comment.

RELATED TOPICS: Blogs (262) , Breeds (11) , Health (24) , Surgery (3) , Veterinary (11)



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Comments (17)

Vicki August 4, 2009 4:29 PM

I used to breed and raise Boxer's. Tails wre docked within a coupld of days of birth. Ears were cropped for showing purposes as that was the breed standard back then. Since then, this pracitce has changed a great deal. Cropping ears are no longer required for showing. I for one am glad they have stopped this practice. It always did seem cruel to me, and I am glad dogs no longer have to suffer through this just to win shows.

Susan August 4, 2009 6:22 PM

Thanks for the great information, I am so excited that Banfield has discontinued these completely unnecessary cosmetic procedures - hooray for the canines! I hope this sets a much needed precedent in our country. I love that Dr. Hodges @ HSVMA included the need for declawing to be discontinued. Banfield has made a great deal of $$ pandering declawing to their patients as routine cat care, which as we all know, has no benefit to the animal except to deprive them of very necessary & healthy behaviors. Thanks again for this great news for the dogs!

Skylark August 4, 2009 7:07 PM

I think it's wonderful that many veterinary practices, as well as the AVMA, are no longer advocating and/or performing these mutilations on dogs. What's needed now is a way to convince kennel clubs that calling these ear and tail croppings "breed standards" is inaccurate. Otherwise, these breeds of dogs would be born with cropped ears and tails. Who started this and called it "breed standards" anyway?

Then, there are those really macho owners who, if a veterinarian refuses to perform these surgeries, just proceed to do them at home...

jmuhj August 4, 2009 7:39 PM

Well, I couldn't care less about dogs, but I do hope and pray they discontinue declawing for cats. This is torture, mutilation, and should be outlawed and criminalized.

Amy August 5, 2009 4:47 AM

I say "bravo" to Banfield! It takes guts to go against the "norm" and they are the leading the way into a better place for all animals.

Ruth August 5, 2009 6:14 AM

Mutilating an animal in any way for cosmetic purposes is wrong but while I'm glad that Banfield has stopped doing this to dogs, in my opinion declawing a cat is even more cruel as cats need their claws more so than dogs need tips of ears or long tails.So I'm hoping and praying that Banfield stop declawing cats too and I hope people will boycott them until they get that message !!!

Jo Singer August 6, 2009 10:12 AM

I was dismayed by an email a friend sent me this morning in regard to the Banfield policy on declawing cats. Apparently Banfield is continuing the practice but is not openly "advertising it". This is their policy.


Official Banfield Declaw (onchiectomy) Policy Statement:

"Banfield doctors do perform a surgical onchiectomy if they believe that a cat cannot be trained to refrain from using its claws destructively in the home, or poses a danger to family members. Unfortunately, all cats are not amenable to behavior modification and we believe that this surgical procedure will result in fewer cats being abandoned or euthanized.

We also believe onchiectomy should be performed only with the medically appropriate use of anesthetics and analgesics and adherence to careful surgical and post-surgical protocols. In our practice, recovery from surgery is very rapid, with the outcome leading to a stronger bond between Pet and Pet owner, which intimately leads to better overall care."

A "stronger bond"? I think not, since so many cats,due to unacceptable behavioral changes, are surrendered to shelters and are very difficult to rehome. So I must strongly disagree with Banfield's rather inaccurate assesessment to justify the continuation of this barbaric practice.

Please feel free to contact Banfield and express your views about the inhumane and unneccessary procedure.

Jo Singer- With thanks to Susan.

Rose August 6, 2009 11:04 AM

Their policy hasn't even got the right word for declawing, which is onychectomy NOT onchiectomy !There is no such word ! The closest is Orchiectomy which is the removal of human testicles. I'm afraid if this is the standard of education needed to have a post at a Banfield hospital, it is seriously worrying !!! Has public pressure stopped them mutilating dogs ? If so,why does it not stop them mutilating cats ? Do not so many people care about cats ? I agree that declawing is even more inhumane and Banfield need to be bombarded with complaints and boycotted until they change their policy.

Crystal August 6, 2009 11:13 AM

I am so glad they are discontinuing the mutilation to dogs, this type of thing should only be done if the animal is injured and it needs to be done for their health. As for declawing, I am not a supporter. Either you train your animal or put tips on that dull the claws if they are indoor cats.

Tricia August 6, 2009 3:36 PM

I have 2 adorable miniature pinschers and could not imaging having their tails docked or ears cropped. Other than their wonderful personalities my favorite part of them is their ears. They are so cute. I also love to watch them wag their tails when they get so excited. The other day Miss Chloe was sleeping under a blanket and her tail was wagging for a couple of hours. I just kept looking over there and laughing because it was so adorable. Miss Bella's ears are so cute too. She holds them back in a sort of point and then makes them stand up if she is curious. They both have chi in them but I would NEVER consider docking or cropping.

Janis August 7, 2009 6:24 PM

I really can't say on dogs since I don't have any these days and really try to stay out of debates on it. As for my cats in the beginnnig I considered declawing them but since reading about the procedure and giving it a lot of thought plus buying them a 7 foot cat tree and seeing all the fun they have running up and down it there is no way I would take their joy away from them. They love clawing it and don't bother my furniture at all. They know the tree is their furniture and play ground. We have laughed so much since getting it and watching them play and hang upside down swatting at one another in play. Some days its more fun watching them on it than watching TV. Without claws they would be limited greatly and it would be like handicapping them.

Chopinski August 14, 2009 5:38 PM

AVMA does NOT oppose devocalization--it claims surgical silencing should be allowed as a so-called "last resort." Mullarkey. No vet can determine whether a client pursued all humane recourse, and few vets will try. In fact, AVMA's Mass. affiliate, MVMA, is OPPOSING humane legislation that would ban devocalization in that state. Devocalization is far more widespread than most people think: It's just that, unlike ears and tails, severed vocal cords aren't visible. Who would order a dog's vocal cords cut? Breeders who want to operate businesses near neighbors or who don't like the collective sound of their own dogs. Far less often, an uninformed or irresponsible pet owner will devocalize. The surgery poses serious risks and complications, even when performed by an experienced vet. Tissue often grows back, requiring repeat surgeries. ($$$) And there's no benefit to the animal: Devocalized dogs AND cats (yes, they're devocalized too) are abandoned just like any other. Shame on vets for attempting to derail legislation that would stop an inhumane, unethical practice. They seem more concerned with ca-ching and control than compassion.

Anonymous September 2, 2009 2:45 PM

a miniture pinscher just isn't a miniture pinscher without the docking it tail and ear cropping.if the owner could afford it,i say why not?.this is not a free procedure and the owner know what best for their pets.it all about choices to all those opposes.

Bill Bartmann September 6, 2009 4:07 PM

Cool site, love the info.

Manderson September 24, 2009 8:07 PM


Hey, I found your blog while searching on Google your post looks very interesting for me. I will add a backlink and bookmark your site. Keep up the good work!

PatShelby October 7, 2009 3:37 PM


Hey, I found your blog in a new directory of blogs. I dont know how your blog came up, must have been a typo, anyway cool blog, I bookmarked you. :) :)

Kat Chopinski October 14, 2009 9:17 AM

What is devocalization? Who's ordering dogs' (and some cats') vocal cords cut? Watch these two short videos to find out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZPoyuMw870
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4ADbMoX4aw

Catriona Forrest February 15, 2010 6:54 PM
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http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/ban-tail-docking-and-ear-cropping-in-Canada

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