Five things you should know about unnecessary veterinary procedures

The provincial government has launched a public consultation as a first step towards banning medically unnecessary veterinary procedures, including feline declawing, and ear cropping and devocalization of dogs.  

The Ontario SPCA and Humane Society is pushing to have the province ban these procedures, as well as tail docking of dogs.  Here are five things you should know about unnecessary veterinary procedures. You can also show your support by visiting changeforanimals.ca and send a message to the government in support of a ban. 

Five key facts about Unnecessary Veterinary Procedures 

There are alternatives to feline declawing 

Scratching furniture is something that many cat parents contend with, and some turn to partial digital amputation, or feline declawing, as an easy solution. The procedure is painful for the cat (imagine removing not just your fingernail, but the entire finger bone below your last finger joint). It can lead to long-term consequences such as risks of infections and incomplete amputations that cause excruciating pain. It can also lead to negative behaviors such as not using the litterbox, or biting as their first line of defense has been removed. 

Fortunately, there are more effective ways to manage this natural behaviour, including using scratching posts and surfaces, or behavior modification involving rewards and deterrence. The alternatives can be more effective and less traumatic.  

Barking doesn’t need to mean devocalization

Removing a dog’s vocal cords is sometimes used by owners to reduce or eliminate their bark. This surgery comes with risks that can range from post-operative complications to pneumonia, stridor, and even heat intolerance. In addition to being unethical and cruel to take away a dog’s natural ability to speak, it also isn’t necessarily effective, with some dogs regaining a near normal bark within months. 

Much like feline declawing, excessive barking is best dealt with through a training and behaviour approach. Barking is normal for dogs, for reasons from playing to warning to greeting. If barking is excessive, working with a veterinarian or a certified positive reinforcement-based trainer to identify the reasons why is the best option. Is the dog bored or isolated? Are they responding to external triggers or behavioural issues? Once a reason is identified then solutions can be developed that could be as simple as automatic food dispensers or taller fencing to reduce stimulation. 

Ear cropping and tail docking misses the point

Canine ear cropping and tail docking often happen to change the natural appearance of some dog breeds. Tail docking, where some or all of the tail is amputated, typically takes place when puppies are only a few days old and often happens without anesthesia. This procedure puts the young puppies at risk of infection or death from blood loss. In addition to forcing the dog to undergo painful surgery, changing a dog’s ear or tail can impact their natural ability to communicate, and it can lead to chronic pain. It also doesn’t change their genes, meaning those traits aren’t passed along to their offspring. If these procedures are being done to ensure dogs look a particular way, doing unnecessary surgery on multiple generations of dogs just doesn’t make sense.  

Unnecessary isn’t the same as therapeutic 

Sometimes the same procedures can have two different purposes. Partial digital amputation can happen for legitimate, veterinary medical purposes, such as removing tumors or managing chronic infections. Similarly, devocalizations will sometimes be performed for the medical treatment of laryngeal paralysis, cancer, or to address airway obstructions. These procedures only be done when a veterinarian deems them medically necessary for the animal, and not for cosmetic or convenience purposes.  

Ontario has been lagging behind the rest of Canada 

Every province in Canada, except for Ontario, has put controls in place to ban or restrict medically unnecessary veterinary procedures. While there are differences between provinces when it comes to which procedures are included or if they are restricted by provincial veterinary associations or the provincial government, Ontario is the only province that has not taken action. The provincial government’s consultation on the issue is an important step, but they need to hear from people across Ontario to make sure that they follow-through on bringing in a ban.   

How you can help 

You can help end unnecessary veterinary procedures, and push the Ontario government to include tail docking on the list, by visiting changeforanimals.ca and send a message to the provincial government.  

Sources: 

Canadian Veterinary Medical Association: https://www.canadianveterinarians.net/policy-and-outreach/position-statements/ 

CTV News: https://www.ctvnews.ca/montreal/article/non-essential-surgery-on-pets-now-banned-in-quebec/