Comments on: Veterinary Surgical Lecture Proves Debarking is on its way out.

By: Underdog Sites » Blog Archive » Official Vet Blog Recommendation: if Your Dog Pulls on the Leash, Use a Harness Instead of a Collar

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:29:23 +0000

[...] Veterinary Conference, a leading expert on neck and throat surgery in dogs (the same individual who admonished the attendees never to perform elective debarking surgeries) discussed his concern that chronic injury to the neck could damage a nerve that runs to the voice [...]

By: » Official Vet Blog Recommendation: if Your Dog Pulls on the Leash, Use a Harness Instead of a Collar

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 18:48:23 +0000

By: fordogzsake

fordogzsake — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 02:56:25 +0000

unfortunately, debarking is not against the law… yet…
before i worked for this clinic, i worked at the local spca and i researched ever animal law on the books in our state. i for one am at least thankful the up and coming vets are not even bothering learning how to do routine butcheries such as debarking, ear cropping, and tail docking and am also glad for forums such as these to discuss and spread the word on what modern society is now finding unacceptable for our beloved animal friends.

By: 4DogMa

4DogMa — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 03:20:37 +0000

To each his/her own opinion, and here’s mine. I equate declawing and ear docking right up there with debarking. Tail docking, for working dogs – I can see that. The other cosmetic/convenience surgeries – why would you do that to your best friend? Myself, I like brushing out those long lush flags and bloomers, and ears are so expressive! All of my dogs “talk” to me in assorted croons, whines and howls. I like dogs just as nature made ‘em.

By: dyg

dyg — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:11:50 +0000

Dr. Barchus, I sincerely hope you are correct in your assertion that de-barking is on it’s way out. However, I think there may be some factors that may have affected how you came to that conclusion.

1. You based your observation on a very minute ratio of participants when compared to the veterinary field as a whole.

2. I have to wonder about the demographics of your “sample group”: Were they older/younger? what area of the country were they from? were they independent vets, or part of a larger hospital group? did they practice only small animal medicine or did they also treat exotics & large/stock animals? All these things come into play when looking at the responses of a certain group of people.

Like I say, I would be ecstatic if the practice of “cosmetic” de-barking is indeed becoming less commonplace, but I fear the reality may be that it is simply going down the same road as de-clawing: frowned upon, but tolerated to a degree.

By: cshore

cshore — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 14:02:34 +0000

Dr. Barchas, most specialists won’t do the debark for LP. I don’t live in a rural area. I live in the Chicago area, equidistant from the U of Illinois, U of Wisconsin, and Purdue. They will only do the tie-back. That is all the vet schools are teaching. The neurologist I saw was at a specialty clinic. He said that a debark doesn’t work, refused to do anything at all and sent my dog home to die, insinuating that he would have put him down then if I didn’t think laying around and waiting for it to happen was a good quality of life. I only knew about the debark from an LP forum and had trouble finding a vet who would do it. So while specialists are more common and may know how to do it, they won’t. Sorry, I know this isn’t the intended direction of the article but feel it’s important and wanted to respond to what you said about specialists performing it.

By: Dr. Eric Barchas, DVM

Dr. Eric Barchas, DVM — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:49:49 +0000

cshore, the sort of surgery you describe is different from a standard debarking. Most vets who do not know how to perform convenience debarking surgeries are still able to perform medically indicated procedures on the same area. Also, specialists in veterinary surgery are increasingly common.

By: cshore

cshore — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:00:16 +0000

My dog’s life was saved because of being debarked. He had laryngeal paralysis and a neurologist said that he was not a candidate for a tie-back because he also had polyneuropathy. He said the legs would give out before total paralysis of the larynx. The neurologist sent him home to die, saying he had until spring (from October). I found a vet who did a debark on my dog and opened up a larger airway. Once he could breathe, I got him into physical therapy. A year and a half later, his larynx reached total paralysis. His legs were now stronger and he was able to have a tie-back. My wonderful golden retriever lived two years past the diagnosis because of the debark!!! You say that it can still be done for medical reasons, but if vets don’t know how to do it, how will those who need it medically get this help? Please say more on this aspect of the debark.

By: linda Way

linda Way — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 17:27:19 +0000

I am so happy that folks are finally coming around to realizing that we do not and should not play god with our animals. Dogs bark! They have beautiful ears, and tails that wag and display their happiness. Who wants to change that?

By: Nancy

Nancy — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 13:51:15 +0000

This is one of the worst cruelties to do to a dog! I’ve heard a de-bark dog trying to speak and it’s horrible to watch. If people want a dog that doesn’t bark, pee, make a mess they should just get a stuffed dog! Dogs bark for a reason. Any vet who does this simply for the convenience of not hearing any noises, his licence should be revoked. Sorry, I’m not a vet or assistant, I’m just someone who loves animals and it’s very frustrating to read these kinds of “surgeries” are performed on innocent animals who are only doing what comes natural.