[accmemberdiscussion] A veterinarian speaks to the issue of bark softening
- From: Djsdosido@xxxxxxx
- To: accmemberdiscussion@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 11 Aug 2010 11:10:00 EDT
This is a great article written by a vet to give a clear explanation of
"debarking" and also what exactly spay/neuter involves.
A Veterinarian Discusses Bark Softening
by Sharon Vanderlip, DVM
Recently a reporter from a major newspaper interviewed me about bark
softening. During the interview, I told him about the innumerable cases of
dogs I saw abandoned at the animal shelter because of barking problems. I
shared my professional opinion that canine bark softening can be
life-saving
for many dogs if performed correctly and for the right reasons, such as to
prevent an animal from being separated from its owner or from being
abandoned or euthanized. After the article appeared in the newspaper,
people
submitted questions for me to answer on the newspaper's website. The
questions revealed how and why people were so confused and concerned about
bark softening. To give readers a better understanding of what bark
softening is, and to put it into perspective, I will describe the bark
softening procedures and compare them to two of the most commonly performed
elective pet surgeries, "spay and neuter".
Canine bark softening is a veterinary procedure that has been performed for
decades. Although it is not commonly performed, it has gained considerable
public interest this year, following recent media exposure.
Canine bark softening techniques are described in detail in veterinary
surgical text books, yet few veterinarians have been trained how to do the
procedure. Today, more emphasis is placed on behavioral modification,
environmental management, and pharmacotherapy (behavioral medication),
rather than medical procedures, to correct problem barking.
The American Veterinary Medical Association'The American Veterinary Medical
A
bark softening is:
"Canine devocalization should only be performed by qualified, licensed
veterinarians as a final alternative after behavioral modification efforts
to correct excessive vocalization have failed."
_http://www.avma.http://www.http://www.av_
(http://www.avma.org/issues/policy/animal) _welfare/devocaliza _welf
Most people are unaware that there is a bark softening procedure, so they
have not watched it be performed and have no firsthand experience with it.
Understandably, when they learn of the procedure for the first time, they
are confused by the term used for the procedure: devocalization.
Devocalization is a misnomer because bark softening does not render the dog
voiceless, muted, or silent. When correctly performed, there is about a 50
percent reduction in volume and a lower pitch to the bark. To add to the
confusion, the misnomer, devocalization, is used for two very different
bark
softening methods: the oral technique and the laryngotomy technique.
The oral technique is the procedure most commonly performed in veterinary
practices because it is non-invasive and the procedure and recovery time
are
very short.
In my professional opinion, the laryngotomy technique, should not be
performed. The laryngotomy technique can have serious post-operative
complications, including seroma formation, delayed healing, tissue damage,
and excessive scarring. Scarring can be so extensive that the dog can have
difficulty breathing for the rest of its life.
1. Oral technique
This bark softening procedure is non-invasive and takes one to two minutes
to perform, using a short acting injectable anesthetic. No anesthesia,
whether gas or injectable, is without risk. An injectable anesthetic is
used
because the surgical approach is directly through the mouth and it would be
very difficult to access the vocal folds if an endotracheal tube (used for
gas anesthesia) was in the area where the procedure is being performed.
In the oral technique, the dog's mouth is opened and one or two very small
pieces of tissue are taken from one or both vocal folds using a slender
biopsy instrument. The procedure usually takes less than two minutes. When
correctly done, there is little to no bleeding or discomfort. Pain killers
(analgesia) should always be given, however, as a precaution. Recovery from
anesthesia takes a few minutes. Because there is no change in the dog's
behavior or attitude and because the dog can and will continue to bark,
sedatives are sometimes given to keep the animal calm and quiet for a few
days to reduce vocal fold scarring while healing takes place.
Results of the oral technique bark softening procedure vary among
individual
dogs. There is no way to predict or control the volume of the bark and the
bark may have a raspy sound. Results are usually permanent, although in
some
cases dogs may eventually regain full volume of their bark.
2. Laryngotomy technique
In the laryngotomy technique, the dog is maintained on gas anesthesia
through an endotracheal tube. A two inch incision is made through the skin,
on the ventral surface of the neck, above the dog's larynx. The muscles are
separated, blood vessels are cauterized, the larynx is entered and most or
all of the dog's vocal fold tissues are removed. The incisions are then
sutured back together. This technique is invasive, painful, requires
several
minutes of surgical time, and has a prolonged recovery time, during which
time sedatives are required to keep the dog calm and quiet. Excessive
scarring can result from this technique and cause permanent breathing
difficulties.
Pet owners are naturally concerned about whether their dogs would be
unhappy
or psychologically changed in any way as a result of a bark softening
procedure. To my knowledge, there have not been any peer-reviewed,
published
scientific studies that objectively measure changes in dogs' moods, before
or after any medical or surgical procedure. However, people who own dogs
that have had the bark softening procedure by oral technique assert that
their dogs show no change from their previous behaviors, personalities, and
attitudes. The dogs also continue to bark as much as they did previously
and
their owners can still hear them.
Dogs bark for many reasons, including excitement, playfulness, warning,
fear, separation anxiety, and loneliness. Many barking problems can be
prevented or corrected with training, social enrichment, environmental
management, and behavior modification techniques. In cases of separation
anxiety, pharmacotherapy (behavior medications) may be helpful. These
methods require time, effort, and dedication. Because every case is
different, the success or failure of behavior modification techniques
varies
among individual animals, trainers, counselors, veterinary behavioral
specialists, and owners. Dog owners can find help through veterinary
behavior specialists (_www.dacvb.org_ (http://www.dacvb.org) ))
People who object to bark softening say that animals should not be
subjected
to an elective procedure strictly for the pet owner's convenience. The fact
is, people have been subjecting their pets to elective procedures of
convenience for many years, the most common being "spaying and neutering".
Spay and neuter surgical procedures are widely promoted as something
responsible pet owners should do to help reduce the pet population. In
reality, most pet owners do not want to breed their pets. They spay and
neuter their pets primarily for their own convenience,neuter their pets pri
want to deal with the problems associated with owning an intact animal:
behavioral changes, which may include aggression; mounting; attempts to
escape and roam; excessive, frequent urination and territorial marking;
unpleasant odors; and bloody vaginal discharge during estrus that stains
carpet and furniture.
"Spay and neuter" is upheld in our country as "the right thing to do", to
the extent that mandatory spay and neuter is now being legislated in many
parts of the United States. Yet, in some countries, these procedures are
considered inhumane and unnecessary. Before we perform any procedure on our
pets, we should know what the procedures entail, what their long-term
effects may be, and what the alternatives are. Decisions about medical and
surgical procedures for any pet should be made by the animal's owner and
veterinarian. Veterinary medical and surgical procedures should not be
forced, mandated, banned, or legislated by politicians.
Of special note is Dr. Waters recent research on canine ovariohysterectomy
and longevity. Dr. Waters' findings indicate that dogs that keep their
ovaries live longer than dogs that have had their ovaries removed. (Please
see Dr. Waters study and references
_http://www.gpmcf.http://www.gpmcfhttp://_
(http://www.gpmcf.org/respectovaries.html)
for details). This very important study deserves serious consideration.
During my 31 year veterinary career, I have recommended and performed
thousands of canine ovariohysterectomiethousands of canine
ovariohysterectomi
at ovariohysterectomieat ovariohysterectomie<WBR>s with a different
perspectiv
significant findings. We must now ask ourselves if removing a dog's ovaries
and possibly shortening her life span could be considered inhumane
treatment
if the procedure isn't deemed medically necessary in the animal's case? And
if it is indeed inhumane, how can such a procedure be mandated by state or
local authorities?
Below is a comparison of the differences between the most commonly
performed
elective procedures of convenience-elective procedures of convenience-<WBR>t
practice of spaying and neutering-and the seldom performed, but often
criticized, practice of bark softening:
Spaying and neutering
Spaying and neutering are invasive procedures that involve removing
reproductive organs (gonadectomy)reproductive organs (gonadectomy)<W
considered "major surgery" because the abdomen is opened to remove the
uterus and ovaries. The procedure, nicknamed a "spay", is correctly termed
an ovariohysterectomy. In the male, the testicles are removed. Tissues and
blood vessels are cut, ligated, cauterized, and stitched. The procedure is
nicknamed a "neuter", but the correct term is castration.
Ovariohysterecomies and castrations take from ten to thirty (sometimes
more)
minutes to perform, so intravenous catheters and fluids may be required.
The
procedures are painful, so they require a general gas anesthesia and
analgesia (pain killers). Antibiotics may also be necessary. Although
problems rarely occur when the procedures are correctly performed on
healthy
animals, these surgeries carry the risks associated with longer anesthesia
time and surgical complications, such as infection, hemorrhage, cardiac or
respiratory arrest, and death. Ovariohysterectomierespiratory arrest, and
deat
long-term side-effects later in life, such as urinary incontinence,
hormonal
imbalances, and, as previously mentioned for females, a shorter lifespan.
Bark softening
Bark softening (by oral technique) is non-invasive and takes about two
minutes to perform. A short acting injectable anesthetic is used that lasts
about five to seven minutes. When correctly performed, there is little to
no
bleeding or discomfort. The dog is given pain medication as a precaution
and
sedatives are prescribed to keep the animal quiet for several days to
reduce
scarring of the vocal folds. If done correctly, bark softening has no side
effects except that the dog has a quieter bark. In some cases, the voice
can
return to full volume over time.
Elizabeth Brinkley, MFA in Theatre,
Legislative Liaison
Dante Kennels, est. 1974, Latrobe, PA
<_http://www.dantekenhttp://ww_ (http://www.dantekennels.com/) >
_http://www.dantekenhttp://w_ (http://www.dantekennels.com/)
Member - ASSA, TRSSCGP, WCOTC, OHA
"When injustice becomes law, Resistance becomes duty." T. Jefferson
"One of the greatest delusions of the world is the HOPE that the EVILS of
this world are to be CURED BY LEGISLATION.this world are to be CU
Donna & the Dosido Gang
Remlap, Alabama
Visit me at _www.doublenickellife.blogspot.com_
(http://www.doublenickellife.blogspot.com/) and help support the Alabama
Canine Coalition by
shopping/searching through _http://www.goodsearch.com_
(http://www.goodsearch.com/)
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