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felinefractious · 1 month

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Hi! I was wondering if you have any thoughts or resources on the Highlander/Highland Lynx breed? Or what, if any, is the difference between the two?

I've read that they're two different breeds, but that that may only be the case because of different registry requirements..??

Also, are they really truly domestic? Every where I've read has said that they most certainly are, but that they're also crossed with Jungle Curls? That bit has left me a bit confused...

https://www.petfinder.com/cat/sampson-71366971/wi/new-richmond/gregorys-gift-of-hope-inc-wi432/

This pretty little guy is up for adoption at a shelter near me, and I'm contemplating going to see him (if he isn't snapped up in the next week lol), but I'd like to cover all my bases for breed research first!

He apparently came in fully intact and was recently neutered which seems.... Strange to me. The people who surrendered him supposedly bought him from a breeder out of state?

I'm not by any means 100% certain, but i did look at a few Highlander catteries and I THINK I may have found his breeder? At the very least they have a king that very well looks like he could be this guy's sire

https://www. highlanderswildnwonderful.com/ Kings.html

I do still wonder why he would be sent out as a companion fully intact though... Or why he wound up in a shelter and not returned to the breeder...

Anyway! I'd love to hear thoughts/opinions resources for potential health issues

So far I've only read that they require frequent ear cleanings and have some UTI issues, but the stumpy tail does make me a little nervous... It doesn't seem to be the same thing as manx, buuuuuut......

Woah, amazing find!

From what I understand - and if this isn’t correct someone more familiar with the breed is welcome to correct me - but the Highland Lynx is essentially the outdated name for the breed more widely known as the Highlander.

The exception largely being the Rare and Exotic Feline Registry which has decided the Highland Lynx is still the Highland Lynx and the Highlander is the same thing but backcrossed to the Desert Lynx use in the breeds foundation.

Which doesn’t make sense to me, it should just be considered an allowable outcross…? But whatever. I don’t respect that registry anyways.

As for their domestic vs hybrid status it’s true that the Jungle Curl is a Jungle Cat and American Curl but it seems like the Highlander falls more into the Toyger realm… there are technically wild caat hybrids in the ancestry but they’re far enough removed that it isn’t super relevant.

Even after 4 generations a cat is largely considered domestic or “SBT” (Stud Book Traditional) and these guys are generally even further out than that.

Before I get into the health of the breed I just need to make a small correction to their description… this handsome fella is not chocolate, he’s black sepia - often called brown or sable, sometimes called natural.

The toe beans tell, and he has many beans to reveal his secrets.

Currently we are not aware of any issues related to curled ears the way there are with folded ears but anecdotal evidence suggests that they’re more fragile and.. yes, require more frequent cleaning. Dirty ears and ear infections are definitely something to be mindful of.

As much as I enjoy polydactyl cats I’m not a fan of deliberately breeding for the trait, the nails on these extra digits can be difficult for the cat to maintain and are more prone to becoming ingrown. Some cats even require an onychectomy (declaw) of the excess digits due to reoccuring problems.

[Image Source]

So acclimating to having their paws handled and tolerating routine nail clips is an absolute must.

And finally… the tail.

Your concern about the relation to the problematic manx gene is warranted.

There are presently two types of tail mutations documented in domestic cats: the “natural bobtail” manx gene due to T-box mutations and the “asian bobtail” due to an HES7 mutation. The latter is not presently associated with the same issues as the manx gene.

HES7 mutations are not present in the Highlander.

Two T-box variants have been identified in the Highlander breed, meaning the mutation for their bobtail is the same as those responsible for the manx. Standard Highlander’s can have no tail to a short tail, those with a long tail are considered non-standarf and are largely used only for breeding purposes due to the lethal nature of T-box mutations when homozygous.

Some Highlander lines owe their bobtail appearance to a “novel variant,” meaning no known mutation has been identified. As this variant or variants are currently unidentified we can’t confidently say which gene (if either of them) it’s most closely related to or if there are similar issues associated.

All that being said not all manx gene cats will present with related problems and for those who do the severity is variable, some may have minor issues that can be managed with diet or medication while others may be… pretty severely effected.

I imagine at this age they would have a good idea of if Sampson has any issues and to what degree they’re present if he does.

If you’re prepared to deal with potential health issues should they arise I think it would be lovely to adopt him, you’re not contributing to the breeding of more if you go through a rescue and are equipped to educate others on why “Yes, mine is awesome but no you don’t actually want one.”

Like Dr. Frank Bozelka and his rescue Scottish Fold. His videos are hilarious and informative, by the way, I definitely recommend giving him a follow.

It would also be good for him to be placed with someone aware of and prepared to accomodate possible breed-related issues instead of someone who just wants a fancy cat… but I understand this can also be overwhelming, so absolutely no judgement if you decide to pass.

But if you do adopt him I’d love to see more pictures! I want to squish his cheeks.

#ovinnik #asks #cat breeds #cat genetics #highlander

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shurple · 1 year

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ALRIGHTY this isn't usually the type of thing i post on this blog but i wanted to share an idea w fanartists

so kitty softpaws was declawed when she was younger! this is not something that should be done to cats and is illegal in most places

the equivalent of declawing on a human is cutting your finger off at the first knuckle. it's really painful to the animal and causes a slew of other health problems.

my point is that kitty as a human would be missing her fingertips

little diagram i did ^-^ hope this helps or inspires someone to make fanart

very good video with more details about kitty's disability:

youtube

link to an article abt declawing:

#🎐.txt #kitty softpaws #puss in boots #puss in boots the last wish #pib the last wish #pibtlw #piblw #fanart #disability #cw animal abuse #tw animal abuse #gijinka #humanized version

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felisglacialis-stuff · 1 year

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Fossil findings suggest cave lion hunting for fur in Spain, ~16.800 years ago

Here is a summary and some citations of the following paper:

Under the skin of the lion: unique evidence of upper paleolithic exploitation and use of cave lion (Panthera spelaea) from the lower gallery of La Garma (Spain). Marián Cueto et al, 2016. PlosOne.

Links:

- The original paper - A printable PDF version - Popular scientific artible

The researchers carbon dated and analysed human caused cut marks on the distal phalanges (claws) of one cave lion individual found in Spain. The cut marks and location of the claw bones found in the archeological site, indicate the use of cave lion fur by which the claws are meant to remain attached to the pelt, although this is hard to confirm from fossil analysis. The results suggest that paleolithic humans living around 16800 BP in Spain hunted and skinned cave lions. The data are insufficient to draw conclusions about the scale in which this happened. The authors say that cave lion hunting could have been sporadic given the very few fossils found with human caused cut marks. However, they also say that by means of extrapolation from both archeological data as well as from data on modern lions, that cave lion (and generally large carnivore) hunting could have happened at larger scale which may have contributed to cave lion extinction in Europe.

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Abstract (the author's summary) "Pleistocene skinning and exploitation of carnivore furs have been previously inferred from archaeological evidence. Nevertheless, the evidence of skinning and fur processing tends to be weak and the interpretations are not strongly sustained by the archaeological record. In the present paper, we analyze unique evidence of patterned anthropic modification and skeletal representation of fossil remains of cave lion (Panthera spelaea) from the Lower Gallery of La Garma (Cantabria, Spain). This site is one of the few that provides Pleistocene examples of lion exploitation by humans. Our archaeozoological study suggests that lion-specialized pelt exploitation and use might have been related to ritual activities during the Middle Magdalenian period (ca. 14800 cal BC). Moreover, the specimens also represent the southernmost European and the latest evidence of cave lion exploitation in Iberia. Therefore, the study seeks to provide alternative explanations for lion extinction in Eurasia and argues for a role of hunting as a factor to take into account".

Some citations from the discussion

"In Western Europe there are also cave lion fossils (e.g., (49) and references therein, (50, 51) but only a few has human modifications (52). Those remains with evidence of anthropic taphonomic damage indicate exceptional lion hunting events and exploitation related to use of the skin, tendons, and teeth as raw materials (14,27) ."

"An interesting note is that these marks are present in same zones associated with the modern veterinary operation of declawing (onychectomy surgery) of domestic felines (53). Moreover, this is also the technique used by modern hunters when skinning their prey when the aim is to keep the claws attached to the fur."

"The presence of carnivores in Pleistocene and Holocene sites is commonly associated with fur use (e.g. 54,65). The inferred exploitation patterns can be linked with large and small carnivore pelt exploitation (e.g., 15,17,19, 25, 66, 67), according to historic, ethnographic, and actualistic observations for fur procurement resulting in usable carnivore skins (68, 70), which are also applicable to the _LG_ cave lion remains."

"The hypothesis of the presence of a single lion would suggest a sporadic, isolated, and rare event of large carnivore hunting, as indicated (although other scenarios cannot be excluded, like scavenging) in ancient chronologies (15). However, the well-defined pattern inferred from the locations of the cut-marks and scraping traces permits us to infer an experienced procedure and a high knowledge of animal anatomy. Furthermore, the presence of the remains of other carnivores, such as bears (_Ursus arctos_), at the site that also show anthropic modifications, reveal the successful hunting of dangerous carnivores, as has also been observed at other Magdalenian sites (e.g., 52,67,82)."

"The potential linkage of the presence of a cave lion skin in such an archaeological context with ritual activities (35) allows us to infer a probable important role of the cave lion during the Magdalenian period among human groups."

“Although these remains are not sufficient to allow conclusive statements to be made, they sum the data to highlight the role of human activity in the extinction of carnivores, as has been suggested for other geographical areas, in addition to other factors such as climate change, prey numbers, or species replacement (e.g., 23-30) also summarized in (31))."

"Modern case studies have demonstrated that a decrease in extant African lions can be related to direct human intervention through rapid habitat destruction, depletion of resources, and over-hunting (91,92) In this sense, we associate this well-defined lion skinning exploitation pattern from _LG_ with a previously practiced activity reached through intense hunting during the Upper Paleolithic. A tentative proposal might be to link this knowledge to an important role in human culture resulting in a key factor that should be taken into account to understand cave lion extinction."

Conclusion "In conclusion, we suggest that this outstanding evidence of specialized and patterned skinning exploitation of cave lions in the Upper Paleolithic, as inferred in _LG_, can be viewed as a complex hominin-carnivore interaction scenario. Its association with ritual activities provides key evidence for approaching behavioral issues in relation to cultural traditions and speculative alternative explanations to cave lion extinction during the Late Pleistocene, assuming a role for human hunting as a determining factor, among others. Further research will be needed to test this hypothesis, for answer to the questions addressed in order to contribute to the debate with new data, although the problem is a complex one."

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> The numbers are the references that you can find in the original paper. > I may post more summary/citation compilations like this about various topics.

#scientific article #scientific paper #paleobiology #cave lion #hunting #science #biology #human-carnivore interaction

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physiomed · 11 months

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Nerve Damage After Toenail Removal!

Nerve damage may happen after toenail removal! Toenail removal, medically known as onychectomy or nail avulsion, is a common procedure to alleviate painful conditions such as ingrown toenails, fungal infections, or trauma. While this procedure is generally considered safe and effective, like any medical intervention, it does carry potential risks. One significant concern that can arise after…

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#nerve damage after toenail removal

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thatcatblogonline · 1 year

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Where Can I Declaw My Cat For Free?

As loving cat owners, we constantly seek our feline companions’ best care and well-being. One aspect that often divides opinions within the cat owner community is the practice of declawing. While declawing has been controversial for many years, it remains a commonly discussed subject among pet owners. Declawing, or onychectomy, involves surgically removing a cat’s claws. Although it is a…

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#Cat Issues #Cats Related Questions

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richmondgarza31 · 2 years

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Why THE BRAND NEW Declaw Technique CONTINUES TO BE Not Acceptable

In January 2018, the American Veterinary Medical Association Journal published a letter from Dr. Kerry Yoon of Hawaii, who claims to have designed a "new, painless" declaw procedure. He is so confident that his unique technique is "pain-free" he hasn't EVER given any pain meds to the numerous felines and kitty cats he has mutilated. I make sure lots of humane-minded vets are manufactured to grumble. However, JAVMA selected only two letters of opposition to publishing. I'm pleased that mine was one of them. Both letters exist the following (at the very least up until AVMA makes us take them down. I am shocked that JAVMA would definitely print the letter from Dr. Kerry Yoon explaining his alternate strategy to declawing. By doing this procedure, Dr. Yoon runs on the nail trimmer and deliberately leaves a distal phalanx piece in place. Thus, the only actual distinction between his method and the main one first defined in 1952 is that he uses an electrocautery system to destroy any germinal cells that might continue being, which he claims protects against claw regrowth. Nevertheless, because germinal cells aren't visible to the naked eye, there is no chance to tell if the objective of ruining these cells is completed. Significantly, a 2014 research located that claw regrowth was much more usual by using a guillotine (nail clipper) method for onychectomy than with utilizing a scalpel or laser technique. However, the guillotine strategy for the reason that research did not contain electrocauterization of the germinal cells. If claw regrowth will not occur, leaving a fragment of the distal phalanx in position promises to trigger pain, lameness, along with other issues. In a 2016 research, Gerard et al. in concluded that their results "sustained the hypothesis that onychectomy is linked to a boost internal soiling behavior of pet cats." Similarly, a retrospective accomplice study including 137 declawed and 137 non declawed cats discovered radiographic evidence of preserved distal phalanx pieces in 63% (86/137) of the declawed felines. The declawed kitties had greater chances of back pain, undesirable elimination behaviors, in addition to hostility should they had retained distal phalanx fragments than if they didn't. Furthermore, declawed pet cats had greater likelihood of biting and undesirable elimination behaviors than did non declawed control cats. Dr. Yoon reports in his letter that postoperative issues have already been following the rare usage of his strategy. Nevertheless, "absence of evidence is not proof absence," as the claiming goes, and it is not clear whether issues would undoubtedly have been reported by the cats' proprietors and also recognized. For instance, joint lameness will not be recognized by customers, and felines may be in pain without revealing recognizable signs because of the well-known stoicism. I do not think that JAVMA must have published. A description of the strategy without clinical research of its short- and lasting consequences. Dr. Yoon flaunts that his technique is painless, yet that claim and also the claim that the treatment will not impact stride can, I believe, be dismissed uncontrollable. The AVMA has condemned the declawing of restricted unique and also wild indigenous felines due to issues that the discomfort and also suffering related to declawing might be intensified in these populations (6) and has also specified that "discomfort management is essential (not elective) along with required" for declawing of domestic pet cats, suggesting that the task causes discomfort and in addition suffering in domestic pet cats additionally. The JAVMA editors should repent releasing a letter that will likely cause even more pet cats to suffer. Record on alternative declawing method doesn't have information Regarding Dr. Kerry Yoon's recent letter defining his alternative approach for declawing domestic felines, I've numerous concerns and issues. Initially, Dr. Yoon shows that his approach maintains the link of the Exor ligament (i.e., the tendon of the deep digital exor muscular tissue) to the distal phalanx, "permitting the cat to keep up a typical position." Nonetheless, there is absolutely no mention of the extensor tendon's stability (i.e., the normal digital extensor muscle). Preserving the flexor ligament without any counteracting extensor ligament could be bad for the figure's function and, if you ask me, can bring about contracture of the flexor ligament later in life. Second, the postoperative care summary indicates that felines are "discharged the same day without any evidence of limping." This needs clarification, since it suggests that analgesia is not regularly supplied and that a lack of lameness has been utilized as the pen for insufficient pain. This treatment needs never be executed without ample postoperative analgesia. There were many breakthroughs in identifying discomfort in felines over the past five years that entail evaluating them more than lameness. Third, it is uncertain if the approach defined would end all horn-generating epidermal tasks. I have performed around 100 declaw alteration treatments previously four years to get rid of tiny and big residues of the distal phalanx. Many pieces that still had active horn-producing epidermis additionally had irregular cells listed below the skin that was not at first glance noticeable. Better, the cells that form the several the different parts of the nail in cats stem from several locations, and I'm doubtful that blindly cauterizing the phalanx is really a reliable method for stopping subsequent horn-generating tasks. The external coronary horn hails from the dermis that lines the inner surface area of the ossi ed unguicular hood, which lies close to the distal phalanx's extensor process. It could undoubtedly be challenging, otherwise impossible in my own point of view, to get to with electrocautery alone. By comparison, the single horn hails from the dermis on the palmar aspect of the unguicular procedure. Many other nail components originate from different websites. Lastly, much like other partial amputation techniques, you will find a minor factor in considering the capacity for interruption of the distal phalanx's growth plate. To my knowledge, there is no released research study concerning the effects of distal phalangeal growth plate disruption in cats, but this, in theory, can result in uncommon bone development or a lack of bone growth. calico vs tortoiseshell cat

#calico vs tortoiseshell cat #calico and tortoiseshell cat

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ask-a-vetblr · 3 years

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I hope you don't mind answering this - you can definitely ignore it if you want - but in regards to declawing cats, I heard about an alternative called a tendonectomy, can you give us your opinion on that? To me, it seems that it avoids a lot of the severe side effects of declawing - arthritis, paw confirmation change, maybe behavioural, etc, so why isn't it a common alternative? Why or why wouldn't this be an okay alternative? (Btw, i'm against declawing, I'm just curious)

Another ask in the inbox at the same time:

Quick question, since the hot topic this week is about de-clawing. Is there a procedure where the tendons that control the claws flexing are cut, instead of the toes amputated? When I was 4, we had a cat that my parents had gotten ‘declawed’ on his front feet (I was 4, and had no knowledge nor say in the decision.) But, this cat still had his claws- you could feel them when you held his paws, but he wasn’t able to bring them out to scratch. Is this an alternate procedure, or not a thing?

gettingvetted here.

Performing a tendonectomy on a cat is an alternative to onychectomy ("declawing"), which amputates the end of each digit. Tendonectomy may be considered less painful for the cat than onychectomy; however, it is not recommended by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and is illegal in many countries.

In a tendonectomy, a small portion of the tendon in each of a cat's toes is surgically removed to prevent the cat from extending the claws. Thus, the cat is no longer capable of scratching.

Claws will continue to grow following tendonectomy, and because the cat can no longer extend the claws to scratch, the cat will not wear down the claws as before. Therefore, among other considerations, the cat owner should evaluate the ongoing maintenance required in the form of regular claw trimming thereafter when considering this procedure.

In terms of studies on the impact of onychectomy versus tendonectomy, the American Veterinary Medical Association compared the outcomes of the two operations in its August 1, 1998 issue. Their report considered owner satisfaction and drawbacks such as pain and future complications. Cats who underwent tendonectomy displayed significantly lower pain immediately following the procedure versus those who underwent onychectomy. However, both procedures showed an equal frequency of other complications, such as bleeding, lameness, and infection. Cats took the same number of days to recover from both operations (as measured by normalcy in walking), and owners were equally satisfied with both options.

One complication to watch out for later on in the cat's life with a tendonectomy is the nails getting brittle. Nails that are more brittle are prone to splitting and shattering when trimmed by the owner, which is quite painful for the cat.

#anonymous #tendonectomy #declawing #onychectomy #Anonymous

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alketaire · 5 years

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Just found out that my dad (who is even more of an InfoSponge™ than I am) didn’t know that declawing cats is actually Not Great so here’s the broken news:

That’s the ideal declawing surgery. The distal phalanx = everything from the last knuckle out. I picked this picture because you can see in that last diagram that the people saying “it’s like cutting off your fingertips at the knuckle” are 0% exaggerating. Furthermore, as you can see in the first diagram, it’s the bone that they walk on - removing it exposes the bone behind it to stress it’s not built to handle. If those little details aren’t enough to shift the balance towards finding a behavioural solution, I’ve got more specifics of the potential outcomes under the cut.

Short-term physical complications occur in between 3 and 50 percent of declawed cats, and run the gamut:

days to months of pain

claw regrowth (read: abscesses and pain, not just “the claw came back”)

systemic disease (secondary to pain and stress)

infection or necrosis of remaining toe bones

tendon dysfunction resulting in being unable to extend the forelimb without corrective surgery

other complications that can occur with any surgery, such as temporary paralysis or lack of blood flow due to tight bandaging, improper healing, infected or reopening wound, and so forth.

Keep in mind that these are the risks if the surgery goes perfectly, using the tools, materials, and procedures with the lowest risks. As few as less than half of declawing surgeries in North America meet that ideal.

Long-term, cats may have to deal with difficulty balancing, jumping, and walking (because they’re missing the bones they walk on).

Afterwards, there’s the reported behavioural issues, with sources reporting a range from no change to an increase in:

Attempts to scratch

Biting

Peeing and pooping outside the litterbox

Aggressive behaviour (growling, hissing, etc.)

So, uh, don’t. Nail caps, scratching posts, training, and regular nail trimming are way better options than an unnecessary surgery.

source a source b source c image source

#declawing #onychectomy

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matoitech · 2 years

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anyway if anyone knows of any actually good adult werewolf books for the love of god please help me im dying over here

#OR ILL JUST HAVE TO KEEP WORKING ON ONYCHECTOMY I GUESS. MAKE WHAT U WANNA SEE IN THE WORLD ETC

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dtegarden · 3 years

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Don’t declaw your kitty!

A DECLAWED CAT The city of Pittsburgh may soon pass a law banning the declawing of cats. The proposed ordinance change describes onychectomy, the medical term for declawing, as “painful, cruel, dangerous to cats and very seldom medically necessary.” If this bill passes, Pittsburgh will soon join the cities of New York, St. Louis, Austin, Denver, Beverly Hills, Berkeley, Culver City, Burbank,…

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#animal cruelty #animal news #ban declawing #caring for your cats #cats #declawing #oppose animal cruelty

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nbcnews · 5 years

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New York becomes first state to ban declawing of most cats

Declawing, a procedure known as onychectomy, involves amputating the first segment of a cat's toes. The procedure was widely popular in the United States for decades to prevent damage or injury from cat scratches, but in recent years animal rights activists and some — but by no means all — veterinary groups have called for its prohibition.

#new york #cats #declawing #United States #animal rights

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keepingyourpetalive101-blog · 5 years

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Is Cosmetic Surgery in Animals Necessary?

In the veterinary field there are always moral questions that must be faced. Often this involves what an animal’s owner feels is necessary and what a veterinarian believes is in the best interest of the animal. A controversial topic in the animal care field is cosmetic (also known as elective) surgery in animals. While some deem it unnecessary or even animal cruelty, others feel such procedures are justified. There are various types of cosmetic surgeries and they are done for a multitude of reasons. Many are well known to the general public, such as declawing, while others, such as cow tail docking, are less familiar. Certain procedures have historical significance in regards to show animals. Others surgeries arose with the increase in pet ownership and care. According to research done by Dana Atwood-Harvey, people have come to think of companion animals more as members of their family rather than just an animal. There is less social distancing between human beings and pets than there was several decades ago. Cats, for example, were once strictly outdoor animals kept on rural properties to deter rodent infestations. Once cats started to be considered companion animals and were brought into the home, certain natural behaviors became unwanted. Clawing and plucking being one of the main natural (yet destructive) behaviors which lead to the popularity in declawing.

Problem

The mindset of those who oppose cosmetic surgery for animals is that animals are living sentient beings that feel pain. Animals cannot give consent to surgery and are totally at the mercy of the owner. Therefore it is often or always a moral issue and the animal should not be changed for aesthetic reasons of any kind. According to Sandra Neumann, The World Small Animal Veterinary Association does not condone elective surgery and they themselves state that: “Surgical operations for the purpose of modifying the appearance of a companion animal for non‐therapeutic purposes should be actively discouraged. Where possible, legislation should be enacted to prohibit the performance of non‐therapeutic surgical procedures for purely cosmetic purposes.” (Neumann 2008). On the other hand, people who are for cosmetic surgery feel that animals should be used to enhance the lives of human beings. There is also the view that some cosmetic surgery is necessary for the animal’s well-being or holds historical significance.

Here I will outline the pros and cons of cosmetic and provide three examples of : declawing in cats, tail docking in cattle, and general cosmetic surgeries in dogs. The declawing of cats is an example of an elective surgery that is felt by most to be unnecessary and painful to the animal. Tail docking in cattle is also explored to show some positive health effects that can arise from elective surgery. Historical purposes of cosmetic surgery (particularly ear cropping and tail docking) in dogs will be discussed as well to help the reader understand some non-health related benefits of these practices.

Declawing in Cats

Most of the general public is familiar with the declawing of cats. Usually a cat owner will resort to this procedure because their pet is destructive to objects in the home environment. Sometimes the cat is aggressive and causes injury to people or other animals in the household. Many people however are not familiar with how this particular cosmetic surgery is performed and tend to think of it as simply trimming a cat’s claws. The surgery itself is actually more complex than that and can be very painful to the feline if not done properly.

The term used in veterinary medicine is called onychectomy and refers to the breaking or remove of the distal phalanx from its normal position (Atwood-Harvey 2005). If the reader were to look down at their own hand, the area from the tip of the finger to the third knuckle is the bone known as the distal phalanx. This is the bone that is removed during onychectomy. Either the entire bone is removed or, in some cases, the bone is broken in half and the portion containing the nail bed is removed. Figure 1 provides a visual of what this bone looks like in a cat and the specific portion that is removed.

Figure 1. Removal of Cat Distal Phalanx

This procedure is deemed by many as unnecessary and is believed to cause much pain to the animal. Some alternatives have recently come on the market to replace this procedure without any surgery. Usually training and re-enforcing the cat to go to scratching posts or proper surfaces is advised. Many deterrent sprays are available to repel the cat from certain areas. Sometimes these are not helpful to frustrated owners and they simply want to impede the cat from being able to scratch at all. Soft, colored, plastic caps called nail caps have become a popular alternative to declawing. The nail caps are glued to the end of each of the cat’s claws, making them blunt. When the nails grow out, the nails are trimmed and new nail caps are put on. Declawing is a particular cosmetic surgery that could be eliminated considering that alternatives such as these are now available to pet owners.

Tail Docking

The term “tail docking” usually brings to mind images of dogs. However, tail docking is and was often used in agricultural animals such as sheep, horses and cattle. The animal that will be explored for this subject will be cattle.

In the dairy industry, tail docking is implemented for various reasons such as improved cleanliness of cows and dairy personnel, better udder cleanliness, reduced leptospirosis for personnel, reduced mastitis, and better milk quality (AVMA 2014). While in beef cattle it is mostly used to reduce injury, especially in slatted floor feedlot operations. In these feedlots the cattle can trap their tails in between the slated floors and cause the animal to injure itself (AVMA 2014). An open wound or injury from such an incident can easily become infected. Also if a beef cow becomes stuck due to a trapped tail, personnel can become injured while attempting to help the animal. Some of the concerns when it comes to theis procedure are similar to thoughs in any cosmetic surgery. There is always the worry that the animal will suffer pain during or after the procedure. Also there is a risk of infection if the docking is not accomplished properly.

Figure 2.

Source: Schreiner, D. (2002). Responses to Tail Docking in Calves and Heifers. Journal of Dairy Science, 85, 3287–3296

The procedure itself is performed in various ways; however the use of an elastic band (referred to as an elastrator band) is the usual method and is used in 92% of dairies (AVMA 2014). Surgically cutting, cauterizing irons, and emasculators are also used. The elastrator band method involves placing a thick rubber band around the cow’s tail. The position and length at which you leave the band varies depending on the particular facility and indented use of the animal. Some facilities may want to leave longer tail lengths than others. This cuts off the blood supply to the end of the animal’s tail and that tissue dies off. Research done to determine if any of the previously listed benefits of tail docking in cattle holds true does not appear to be conclusive. In other words, no one piece of evidence shows that there are more benefits than negative problems or vice versa when it comes to tail docking cattle (AVMA 2014).

Cosmetic Surgery in Dogs

Dogs have long been referred to as “man’s best friend” and were among the first of the domesticated animals to first appear living with ancient human settlements. They have been subject to a multitude of elective surgery since becoming companion animals. Tail docking, ear cropping, devocalization, implants, and even face lifts have all been performed on dogs. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) stated in a 2009 DVM News article that it: “opposes ear cropping and tail docking of dogs when done solely for cosmetic purposes.” and disagrees with the American Kennel Club (DVM 2009). The AKC encourages the cosmetic surgeries in order to uphold breed standards. In fact, the AKC does not view ear cropping or tail docking as a purely cosmetic procedure. "Mislabeling these procedures as 'cosmetic' is a severe mischaracterization that connotes a lack of respect and knowledge of history and the function of purebred dogs," was a statement given by the AKC when their policies were put to question (DVM 2009). It is difficult to argue the AKC as wrong. Many breeds with traditionally docked tails were done so because they pulled carts and the docking prevented a tail injury. Eliminating the tradition and the historical value of a breed should not be taken lightly. Such breed standards help remind society of their long standing relationship with animals.

Facelifts for dogs may sound ridiculous at first. When the medical problems of certain breeds are considered it may not seem as rash. Breeds such as Blood Hounds and Shar-Peis have many folds in their skin, especially around their face and eyes. If the skin folds are too loose then fur and dirt can enter and irritate the eyes (Castillo 2015). This causes infection and possible vision damage. A face lift, where some of the skin in tightened or removed would benefit the well-being of the animal.

On the other hand some cosmetic surgeries for dogs borderline on the ridiculous. According to a CBS news article, people can have testicular implants put into their do after neutering to make it appear that the dog is still intact. When removing the testicles, the scrotum is left intact and silicone implants are placed inside to make it appear that the testicles are still present (Castillo 2015). Devocalization is another very controversial surgery for dogs. For this procedure some or all of the dog’s vocal cords are surgically cut. This prevents the dog from making loud noises or barking excessively. Instead there is usually a rasping sound or all noise is eliminated. Such procedures are done solely based off of the desires of the owner. The question again arises: is this in the best welfare of the animal?

My position on elective surgery for animals is this: Some procedures are clearly beneficial while others seem border-line immoral. I do not feel all cosmetic procedures should be eliminated however a select few are not necessary. Cosmetic surgery on animals that have a significant health need due to injury, birth defects, disease, or to prevent the endangerment of their own health or human well-being should continue to be practiced. Cosmetic surgery in show animals in order to preserve historical information in regards to animal uses in human society should be preserved.

The devocalization and prosthetic testicles for dogs, along with similar aesthetic based procedures in other species does not have a clear moral standing and should not be practiced. The declawing of cats is clearly replaceable with training, nail caps, or other less drastic methods. Cosmetic surgery akin to the ones previously stated does not have a place in animal welfare. On the reverse side of the argument it cannot be overlooked that some elective surgery does have merit. Tail docking in cattle can improve health not only in the animals themselves but human handlers and consumers of cattle products. Facelifts and other similar procedures can correct or prevent health problems for certain breeds. And while tail cropping and ear cropping may not seem necessary there is a historical value to be learned when it is exhibited in certain breeds. Cosmetic surgery for animals is a double edged sword. The good and bad aspects of it should be carefully weighed and any legislation handling elective surgery should be specific to the species and its possible medical needs.

Recommendations

If or when considering cosmetic surgery for you own pet, trust the advice of your veterinarian. They have performed elective surgeries before and will make you aware of the possible risks and benefits for each type of surgery. Remember to do your own research beforehand about the particular surgery in question. This way you will have an idea of whether or not it is appropriate for your pet and if any alternatives exist. Do not perform cosmetic surgery on a companion animal simply to improve their aesthetic appeal. When considering legislative actions on cosmetic surgery for animals, research both sides of the argument and stay informed. As show cased in the previous sections, a procedure might be unneeded for one species while helpful to another. For example tail cropping provided health benefits for cattle but no direct health benefits for dogs.

References Cited

American Veterinary Medical Association. (2014). Literature Review on the Welfare Implications of Tail Docking of Cattle. Retrieved from https://www.avma.org/KB/Resources/LiteratureReviews/Documents/tail_docking_cattle _bgnd.pdf

Atwood-Harvey, D. (2005). Death or Declaw: Dealing with Moral Ambiguity in a Veterinary Hospital. Society & Animals, 13(4), 315-342. Retrieved from http://web.a.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=18&sid=ecfffdf4-a2ec-43b0- aca5-670bbdd23d72%40sessionmgr4003&hid=4001

Castillo, M. (2015, January 27) Implants and facelifts for your pet? Inside the pet plastic surgery industry, CBS News. Retrieved from http://www.cbsnews.com/news/implants-and- facelifts-for-your-pet-inside-the-pet-plastic-surgery-industry/

Cosmetic surgery policy: a timeline. (2009). DVM: The Newsmagazine of Veterinary Medicine, 40(1), 30. Retrieved from http://web.a.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=5&sid=ecfffdf4-a2ec-43b0- aca5-670bbdd23d72%40sessionmgr4003&hid=4001

Neumann, S. (2008). Cosmetic surgery: Customer service or professional misconduct. The Canadian Veterinary Journal, 49(5), 501–504. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2359499/

Schreiner, D. (2002). Responses to tail docking in calves and heifers. Journal of Dairy Science, 85, 3287–3296. Retrieved from http://milkquality.wisc.edu/wp- content/uploads/2011/09/responses-to-tail-docking-JDS.pdf

#pets #cosmeticsurgery #earcropping #declawing #taildock

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