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SALT LAKE CITY -- Recent reports say the popularity of plastic surgery for pets is on the rise. But what should a pet owner consider before putting their dog under the knife?
The main question a pet owner should ask themselves is whether the procedure is really for the dog or if it's just to please the owner.
In some cases a nip or a tuck are completely justified medically. For instance, some Bulldogs and Boston Terriers may need work on their nose to help them breathe. Other dogs may need dental work to help them eat. Also, some female dogs may need vulvoplasty to avoid problems with the urinary tract.
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But other procedures are strictly for show, like some cases of ear-cropping. Dr. James Barton with Sugarhouse Veterinary Hospital says this can be agony for the dog.
"The bigger the dog, like Danes and [breeds] like that, the more blood [there is] and the more difficult it is," he said.
That's not to say there are no justified cases of ear-cropping. Some Cocker Spaniels have problems inside their ear canals, and the pain can be relieved through a procedure on the ear. But other pet owners have the procedure done to give their dog a sleeker look.
"It's the perceived presentation, like Dobermans and Great Danes, they want those ears a precise way," Dr. Barton said. "Man, the dog goes through hell to get that done."
Fortunately, very few people in Utah are asking for procedures that he considers unethical. It's a very different picture than he saw when he began his career and was working on the east coast.
"I had a lady walk in and wanted to put her dog to sleep because it was a different color than she wanted," he recalled. He adamantly opposes testicular implants for dogs. He says they serve no medical purpose whatsoever.
E-mail: pnelson@ksl.com
