Do Vets Do Unnecessary Procedures? Answered by One of Our Vets

Over the last 15+ years since I’ve graduated veterinary school, a lot has changed. There are new products coming out every day that help improve the lives and health of our beloved dogs and cats. There are new advances in many aspects of veterinary medicine which excite doctors and veterinary staff like myself.

However, not all that has transpired in veterinary medicine has been positive. For instance, the “backyard breeding” industry is rampant, with many mixed breeds being marketed to owners as “purebred”. Owners and breeders are taking it upon themselves to breed for aesthetic purposes, not for health. Us veterinarians cringe, cry, and become upset when we see these things. Why? Well, many times what owners think looks cute has absolutely no health benefit, or may even cause severe health issues. In addition, we encounter owners daily who want to pay for an “exotically bred” dog, have their ears cropped, tails docked, etc., but will not pay for routine vaccines and flea/tick/heartworm prevention.

So let’s talk about what some of the procedures are that owners may want, but many veterinarians are now refusing to do nowadays. These are ear cropping and tail docking in dogs, and feline declawing in cats. We won’t discuss feline declawing in great detail as this is still a hotly contested issue within the veterinary community, and because this website focuses on dogs. However, for the purposes of this article, I do think it’s important to touch on the subject.

What Is Considered Unnecessary?

When I refer to a procedure as medically unnecessary, I am referring to a procedure that is done for cosmetic purposes only. In other words, there is no medical benefit to performing the procedure and/or no medical disadvantage to leaving the dog as-is. In the past, arguments for medically unnecessary procedures would often cite “possible” side effects if the procedure was not completed. However, as time has gone on, there have been no relevant studies which support these claims.

In other words, if someone tries to tell you that your dog has to have their ears cropped or else they will forever have chronic ear infections, don’t listen to them. There is nothing scientific to support the claim that a dog whose ears stand up will never suffer from an infection. But I digress. So let’s talk about each procedure individually.

Ear Cropping

Ear cropping is the process of removing a portion of the ear so that it is smaller/narrower than normal. The ears are then placed in an upright position and somehow kept in that position to heal. This may involve tape, foam in between the ears, stents in the ears, etc. Either way, large portions of the ear cartilage and skin are surgically removed prior to standing them up.

Why Do People Want This?

There’s an argument amongst owners of breeds with cropped ears (typically Pit Bulls and Pit Bull type breeds, Great Danes, Schnauzers, and Dobermans, amongst others) that doing this helps to prevent ear infections. Other people argue that removing a large portion of the ear makes it less difficult for the ear to become injured. Still the most nonsensical argument is that it makes a dog look tougher and/or scarier. In other words, people choose to have their dogs’ ears cropped because they want others to be afraid of their dog.

Why Most Veterinarians Won’t Crop Ears

There’s no point. Any dog with ears, no matter the shape and size, can get ear infections. There is nothing to prove otherwise. If you want your dog’s ears cropped so they don’t become injured, that sets off a trigger in my brain that you may want to fight your dog. And in that case, you shouldn’t own dogs. And if you just want your dog to look scary? I’ve met plenty of grumpy dogs with completely normal ears.

I’ve seen infected ear crops in numerous dogs whose owners have had the procedure done at their breeder or a non-veterinarian. Not only is this highly illegal, but likely the procedure was not completed under anesthesia as only veterinarians would have access to these types of drugs. It’s horribly painful for the dog to not only go through this process, but then also try to heal if there are infections and other complications.

Tail Docking

Tail docking is a similar concept to ear cropping, though in my opinion it is much more destructive. Tail docking involves removing a large portion of the tail so that only a stub or potentially screw tail remains. This is commonly done in puppies that are only a few days old, often without any type of anesthetic or even analgesia (pain control). This is because there are not many things approved in veterinary medicine for neonates, or puppies only a few days old.

Why Do People Want This?

People who support tail docking state similar arguments to ear cropping – that there is less of a chance for injury, especially in working dogs, in addition to having the appearance known for certain breed standards. Hunters, farmers, and other people who own working dogs often live in fear that their dog’s tail will sustain some type of significant injury when they are on the job. However, there have been absolutely no studies to support that those working dogs with docked tails actually sustain less trauma than those with tails. People have tail docking completed at a few days of age because many people believe that puppies this young either do not feel pain or do not remember it if they do feel it.

Why Most Veterinarians Won’t Dock Tails

As mentioned above, this practice is completed in very young puppies – just a few days old. I’ve seen the practice done, and let me tell you that holding a tiny puppy in your hand that is screaming in pain as a band is wrapped around their tail and/or their tail is cut off is not for the faint of heart. I’ve refused to do the procedure myself, though I have seen it done.

Did you also know that the tail of the dog actually contains bones, nerves, and blood vessels that are actually a continuation of the spine? That’s right, the tail actually contains vertebrae. So, depending on the age of the dog when the procedure is done, it’s not just skin and tissue that is removed when you dock a tail, but potentially vertebrae, vessels, and nerves. In addition, most veterinarians have seen many dogs develop intense skin infections in and around a screw or stub tail that is difficult to cure.

There are some instances when an older dog will need to have a portion of their tail surgically removed due to cancer and/or injury. However, this is done under appropriate anesthesia and is considered a surgical practice. This type of surgery is only completed IF there is a problem that cannot be fixed any other way and is not to be confused with docking a tail in a puppy.

Feline Declawing

The scientific term for declawing a feline is onychectomy. The term declawing is misleading because many people think it’s just the nail that is being removed during this procedure. However, the procedure itself actually involves removing or amputating the distal most portion of the toe (phalange) in addition to the claw growing out from it.

Why Do People Want This?

The most common argument is that people don’t want their cats scratching them and/or their furniture. It’s much easier for a person to just have their cat declawed than to try and provide any type of enrichment for the scratch-happy cat. Other times, an owner may be on blood thinners or have other medical issues that make a simple cat scratch a potential for a disaster. Therefore, those owners may want it completed so that they can still have a cat without the worry of injury and health problems to themselves.

Why Many Veterinarians Won’t Declaw Cats

This practice has been outlawed in many countries, and is considered animal cruelty. It is still allowed in the United States though many states are also trying to outlaw it. Many veterinarians don’t feel there are medically necessary reasons to declaw a cat. Every single one of us has been asked to do it because a person just simply didn’t want their cat scratching their furniture and/or scratching anywhere in their house. Instead of providing appropriate enrichment for their cat, the owners simply wanted the declaw done.

Many cats will develop crippling arthritis in the affected feet, and post-operative infections and inflammation is common. There is always the chance that a small portion of bone is left behind, causing significant issues. If a cat is outdoor only, or indoor/outdoor, they use their claws to escape danger. Declawing these cats could actually make them more prone to injuries and trauma when left outside. Many veterinarians believe the practice is outdated and the US should follow other countries and outlaw it.

Conclusion

Medically unnecessary procedures such as tail docking, ear cropping, and feline declawing are banned in many countries around the world. However, in the United States, all of these procedures are still allowed in most states. However, many veterinarians are now refusing to do these procedures as there are no scientifically proven, medical advantages to having them done. These procedures are considered archaic for many of us, can be painful, and many of us have seen horrible complications days to years down the line.

Unfortunately, an argument for many veterinarians still continuing to provide these services is because owners will then have them done with untrained, non-medical individuals if their veterinarian refuses. One can only imagine the pain, infection, and complications that can come from having a medical, and oftentimes surgical, procedure done without the modern conveniences of anesthesia and pain control. As a veterinary professional, I urge you to spend your well earned money on appropriate care for your beloved dog such as life saving vaccines and prevention. I’d much rather see you spend money on these things than cosmetic, medically unnecessary procedures.

Featured Image Credit: Halina Valiushka, Shutterstock