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Health Matters
October 4, 2011
There are those among us who want everything to be perfect, right down to having perfect pets. And for those people whose pets were not blessed by nature with the ultimate bone structure or saggy skin, there is help. No, no therapy (although that OCD on perfectionism can be treated, too.) We're talking about plastic surgery for your dog. This month Ann looks at all the ways we alter, modify and change our dogs - for some very good, and some very odd, reasons. So if you and your dog are thinking it's time for "improvements" then pull up a chair and learn all about what medical wonders can be performed with a careful hand and a very sharp knife.
*Standard disclaimer: while we will offer our opinions about how to best achieve optimum health for our animals, we do NOT profess to know what is better for your pet than you or your vet do! Always consult with your vet, then consult with another vet and get a second opinion (because we also believe in having options!).
*Nip/Tuck for Those with Fur*
Canine Plastic Surgery
One morning a couple of months ago I was working at a dog show and saw a hound walking toward me, the breed of which I didn't recognize. When the handler was near me I asked him, “What breed is that dog?” His reply was, “Doberman pinscher!” The dog was from a European country where tail docking and ear cropping are illegal. Later that weekend I saw a natural Great 
Dane who looked entirely different with “limp” ears. He wasn't nearly as alert looking nor did he seem as regal in baring. Forgive me for thinking that, but I have been attending all-breed dog shows for more years than I care to mention and am simply used to seeing certain breeds look a certain way. Now Crufts, the largest dog show in the world, sponsored by the British Kennel Club and its anti-cruelty laws, has issued a new edict that states that dogs must be shown in their natural state ~~ no docked tails or cropped ears and with dew claws in place. What a radical change that will make for the appearance of generations of up and coming show dogs! This shift got me to thinking about why is it we alter our dogs’ appearances – docking tails, cropping ears, removing dew claws and a host of other modifications we routinely do without question.
There had been some good and sound reasons (and some slightly silly ones as well) for ear and tail alterations, which are lost in the mists of time and belong now to popular lore. Several hundred years ago in Europe a tax was imposed based on tail count, so wily farmers docked their dogs' tails as a way to evade or lessen the tax. On the other and more reasonable hand, some of the drafting breeds’ tails were docked so they wouldn’t get tied up and broken by the carts they
pulled (ex. Rotties). There are also dogs like Vizslas who had their “fragile” tails docked in order to prevent later breakage which could arguably result in more pain and suffering. At one time it was erroneously believed that docking the tail would help create stronger backs, make the dog faster, and help keep them from contracting rabies. The ears were modified to give guard and hunting dogs a more alert or threatening appearance. If you look at the difference between a Boxer with altered ears and one with natural ears, it is easy to see why the owner of a guard dog would choose the more threatening visage of cropped ears. Additionally, it was thought that ear cropping would increase the ability of the dogs to hear burglars, poachers, and trespassers. In fighting and baiting dogs, the tail and ears were cropped to keep them from being easy targets for their opponents. These modifications continue today because they are what we expect the dogs to look like, however there are several countries have banned the surgeries as unnecessary and cruel.
Dew claws are also removed from the front legs of many breeds, particularly lap, sleeve, purse dogs, and hunting dogs. The reasons are fairly obvious. Small breeds have them removed so that they don't scratch their owners or catch and tear their clothes, purses, or furniture fabrics. Hunting dogs frequently have them removed so that they don't get torn off while hunting in the field. On the other end of the spectrum are the dogs where dew claws are important for their work. Great Pyrenees and Beaucerons (an uncommon breed that looks like a Doberman x German Shepherd) have double sets of dew claws on their hind legs and these are preserved so that they can use them as climbing hooks (natural pitons) when they clamber over rocky territory while herding and protecting their flocks of sheep. Removal of the dew claws on these breeds is ground for disqualification in the show ring.
In the last month I have been made aware of the tremendous amount of plastic surgery that is 
being done on our pets, primarily dogs. Much of the cosmetic surgery is for health reasons. One of the most common operations deals with a condition called entropic eyelids Entropion is a medical condition in which the eyelid (usually the lower lid) folds inward. It is very uncomfortable, can result in blindness over time, and corrective surgery is always recommended. The eyelids are correctly repositioned and tacked in place. Retrievers, Bloodhounds, Bulldogs, Chows, Mastiffs, Shar Peis, and Rottweilers are among the breeds affected by this (usually genetic) condition.
Other eye problems are treated almost exactly the same way as they are in humans. Electroretinography (ERG) is used to determine the health of the retina prior to performing cataract surgery and to determine the cause of some types of vision loss. Retinal detachment or intraocular tumors can be found using ultrasonography. Ocular prosthetics, fake eyeballs, are available for those patients that require eye removal. Laser therapy, using Nd:YAG medical laser, is used in the treatment of glaucoma. Cryotherapy (freezing) is used in the treatment of eyelash disorders and treatment of some eyelid tumors. One animal eye clinic notes that cataract surgery is the most common microsurgery performed in their hospital. Electroretinography and ocular ultrasonography are performed prior to surgery. Then the cataractous lenses are removed using phacoemulsification, and artificial lens implants (intraocular lenses or IOL's) are implanted to restore the ability to focus normally. In a nutshell, our dogs no longer have to go blind because of cataracts and can take advantage of the same medical procedures we have to save our own eyesight. WOW!
Dogs with excessively droopy eyes and sagging skin can experience heath issues related to their appearance. As recently as 10 and 15 years ago there was no permanent solution, but now there are cosmetic surgery procedures to improve these dogs’ quality of life by radically improving their health. Bloodhounds, Bulldogs, and Shar Peis are just three breeds that are prone to the problem of excessive skin folding and falling into their eyes. This can cause blindness for all practical purposes...eventually the dogs can't open their eyes under the weight of the skin covering. For them, a face lift or tuck is necessary. Frequently the weight of excessive skin pulls the lower lid down, allowing dust, grit, bugs, wood chips, etc to enter the fragile eye socket and endanger the eye itself. To correct this the lower lid is tacked back up around the bottom of the eye and the heavy folds of skin are reduced or eliminated. A related procedure, a chin lift, is used to tighten the skin around the mouth. This is welcome news for owners of St. Bernards, Newfoundlands, and Mastiffs who are notorious droolers. Not only does the operation help stem the tide of floor puddles, but it reduces the ability of the skin to become irritated or infected in places where the skin never gets dry.
For dogs who need more dental help than just a routine scaling, there are now veterinary dental specialists. One specialist's website offers the following list of services: endodontics (standard and surgical root canal, fractured tooth treatment, missing teeth, root abscesses, and evaluation of worn/discolored teeth), periodontology (treatment of all stages of periodontal disease, teeth scaling and polishing, root planing/curettage, periodontal surgery ie. guided tissue and bone regeneration), orthodontics (the correction of painful dental/skeletal malocclusions, orthodontic appliances and surgery), prosthodontics (cast metal, porcelain fused to metal and all ceramic crowns, tooth-colored fillings, dental implants and bridges). Their services range from conventional intraoral radiography, skull/TMJ imaging to the interpretation of advanced imaging modalities, including CT and MRI. They are equipped for conventional film and digital imaging. They can deal with tooth extractions, palate defects, oronasal fistula repair, oral tumor resection and TMJ disorders. Veterinary dentists are experts in treating facial trauma, including repairing and reconstructing complex jaw fractures.
If your dog is a “mouth breather” or is tired after only a minimum amount of exercise or maybe snores even when awake, he may well be a candidate for rhinoplasty (a nose job). Unlike human rhinoplasty which is often done for aesthetic reasons, brachycephalic dogs – dogs with shortened noses and mouths – suffer from several conditions generally referred to as Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome. This syndrome includes Stenotic Nares (narrow nostrils that prevent normal respiration), Collapsing Trachea (closure of different parts of the trachea during breathing resulting in a dry, hacking cough), and Everted Laryngeal Saccules (tiny sacs in front of the vocal chords dropping into the trachea and cutting off air) to Elongated Soft Palate (excess tissue hanging down from the soft palate - back top of the mouth - and shutting off normal air flow). These conditions are caused by their abnormally shortened facial features. Brachycephalic dog breeds include Bulldogs, Boston terriers, Pekingese, Boxers, and Pugs. In mild cases no surgery is required but for dogs with severe conditions it is absolutely necessary to restore quality of life.
Another nasal condition that is commonly called Collie Nose may also be helped out by nose tattooing! Collie Nose is an autoimmune disease causing the unpigmented part of the nose to become raw and scabby when exposed to sunlight. Veterinarians commonly prescribe sun blockers or sun screen for the nose. However, a few veterinarian web sites discuss the fact that artificial pigmentation provided by tattooing can help protect the nose from further damage.
There are a few cosmetic services that are performed for reasons that don’t strictly fall into the “health improvement” category. These include the replacement of testicles with Neuticles, fake eyes, and some tooth replacements. Dog owners’ egos and sensibilities are the primary impetus for these procedures. Take Neuticles, fake testicle implants, for example. I have heard enough men say that they didn't want their dogs laughed at by other dogs and I believe that they are far too 
emotionally attached to their dog’s testicles. But as one friend said, “If inserting Neuticles will help make a man decide that it is okay to neuter his Pitbull or Rottweiler, then I have no problem with it,” and I concur. I know several dogs with fake eyes. The owners all said they didn't want to see an empty socket, which may seem petty but is understandable – we grow to love the way our dogs look, so why not do what you can to keep their appearance ? I found one owner who said that he did it because his dog was a therapy dog and he didn't want children to be afraid of what might be viewed as a deformity. False teeth are an option if your dog loses some of his natural ones, although they aren’t really necessary. I've known older dogs who have had as many as thirteen teeth removed and still managed to eat very well. However, I know plenty of owners who insist that their dog would starve without a particular front tooth, usually the canine (you know, the most visible one). They were willing to spend thousands of dollars to have a titanium implant for Fido. One owner had a color-matching cap put on one of her dog's teeth so that he would continue to look good in the show world. I don’t doubt that her dog was able to eat just fine and looked great in the ring.
Finally we get to the purely cosmetic services for pets. The world of canine plastic surgery is huge and growing in the United States, Europe, Russia, Brazil, and Japan. Brazil has long been a leader in plastic or cosmetic surgery for people and the transference of these procedures to pets has followed right along. It seems as if the wealthy, worldly, glitzy society not only has to be physically perfect, but their pets must be so too. Some of our dogs have been promoted from mere pets to family members, while others are extensions of their owners’ psyche and reflections of their vanity. In Los Angeles, there is one doctor dubbed the “ Veterinarian to the stars,” and he states that occasionally he has to gently explain that “liposuction for pets is not an option,” but breast reduction for floppy-bosomed bitches following pregnancy is not uncommon. Another veterinarian solves the problem of droopy ears with injections of Restylane (a filler used in humans for wrinkle removal). Another veterinarian used Metacril (another filler that is not approved for use on humans in the US) to straighten bent ears and Botox to fix inverted eyelashes. These veterinarians justify their work by saying that symmetrical, beautiful dogs are better loved than those that aren't perfect. And who are we to judge? If plastic surgery helps owners love their pets more, who are we to say how they spend their money?
Thankfully most of the cosmetic surgery performed on dogs is to correct health problems and improves the quality of their patients' lives. Most veterinary specialists provide help and hope for our furkids, and for that I am truly appreciative.
