Introduction
Barking is a natural means of communication for a dog, however can develop into a problematic behaviour. Excessive barking can occur for a variety of reasons including genetics, boredom, poor socialization, and separation from the owner. Debarking is an invasive surgical procedure, performed to help silence this problematic behaviour. This may be considered by owners as a last resort, in an attempt to keep their companion or remain in their current living arrangement. In all cases of excessive barking, a veterinarian should be consulted in conjunction with a certified, experienced trainer or behaviourist to determine the underlying cause(s) and recommend a treatment program to mitigate excessive barking. Behaviour modification
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programs, anti-bark collars, removal from triggers and other non-invasive options are available prior to considering debarking. If behavioural pharmacology (i.e., administration of drugs) is indicated as an addition to behavioural modification, as might be the case with separation anxiety-induced excessive vocalization, a qualified veterinarian must be consulted (1). Regardless of which method of treatment an owner/veterinarian decides, the ethical implications of each treatment must be considered in order to protect the five freedoms of animal welfare, and to prevent any unnecessary harm to an animal. Defining Debarking Debarking, also known as ventriculocordectomy, is an invasive procedure in which a partial or complete removal of the vocal cords is performed.
It is performed to muffle or completely eliminate the sounds produced by a dog barking excessively. It is a cosmetic/convenience procedure, as this is for the convenience of the owner and there has been no medical benefit reported (2). This procedure can be performed via two methods: the oral approach, or the laryngotomy approach (3). The oral approach involves anesthetizing the patient and inserting surgical tools into the oral cavity of the patient. These tools are passed through to the vocal cord region of the larynx, where a laryngoscope exposes the vocal cords. A surgical tool, such as a tonsil punch, is used to remove a portion of the vocal cords. The laryngotomy approach involves an incision through the skin, subcutaneous tissue and directly into the larynx, thus bypassing the oral cavity. A laryngoscope exposes the vocal cords, and a second incision is then performed to remove the portion of the vocal cords from the larynx. The cut-edge of the tissue is then sutured to the laryngeal tissue, to prevent blockage of the airway. These sutures are removed approximately two weeks later. Both of these options come with their respective advantages and disadvantages, and the procedure used is decided by the owner and/or the familiarity of the vet with the surgical procedure or tools …show more content…
available. Advantages to Debarking As mentioned previously, this procedure is performed for cosmetic purposes, and as such, is defined as having no medical benefit or advantage.
The only medical based considerations for performing a ventriculocordectomy would be if a tumor were to form on the vocal cords and was obstructing the throat region or if there were paralysis of the laryngeal muscles leading to suffocation (4, 5). There are some non-medical based benefits that can result from this procedure. Cessation of the noises associated with barking is a major benefit that results from the removal of the vocal cords. This in itself has several associated benefits, including an alternative option to having to relinquish and/or euthanize a pet or a solution for when behaviour management has been unsuccessful (6). This in itself, could help prevent decreases in the number of breeds known for being more vocal that others (ex. hound, terrier, toy or herding groups) Some owners may be neglectful if their dog will not stop barking, and may abandon, restrain, or isolate their pets in order to have some quiet. Therefore by performing the surgery, the animal will not be subjected to these types of mistreatment as a way of the owner coping with the problem. There is also the benefit of less noise pollution in neighbourhoods and kennel facilities, leading to less hearing damage and frustration amongst neighbours. Less noise pollution in neighbourhoods will lead to less complaints from neighbours, which may result in a
tenant or home owner being reported, fined and/or evicted for the noise complaints. Debarking does offer several advantages that are largely to the benefit of the owner, however the procedure does have several drawbacks for the owner and pet that need to be considered.
In a 1973 case, Perin v. Hayne, the District Court System of Iowa addressed the question of whether a cervical fusion performed on a female patient resulted in a paralysis of a vocal chord. (Showalter 160.). In this particular case the plaintiff, Perin, began consulting Dr. Robert A. Hayne for a cervical fusion surgery. Perin underwent the cervical fusion surgery to eliminate the pain, weakness, and numbness in her back, neck, right arm, and hand, which was caused by two protruding cervical disks. Subsequently, Perin alleged she suffered paralysis of a vocal chord because of an injury to the right recurrent laryngeal nerve during the surgery. In a consultation in 1968, Dr. Hayne took on the cervical fusion surgery for the plaintiffs pain, weakness, and numbness in her back, neck, right arm, and hand. The results from this surgery had resolved the plaintiffs injuries. Soon after, the plaintiff admits that even though the surgery resolved her previous
Located deeper into the throat of the sea lion are its larynx and trachea. The larynx of the sea lion serves four important functions. It facilitates swallowing, facilitates breathing, prevents food from ge...
It involves the removal of attention that the animal may be seeking through the undesirable behavior. This technique is especially effective in dealing with dogs that jump up on people to gain attention. Ignoring the behavior and only rewarding the dog with attention when it is not jumping up are the keys to conditioning the animal away from the
There are dog-training techniques you can follow so that you can handle it easily such as dog whispering, reward training and clicker training.Knowing these techniques all will make Effective Dog Training easier to manage.
The US Census in 2000 has reported that, during the late 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century there has been a large increase in the number of elderly people living in the United States of America, which will likely result in an increased incidence of dementia. In recent years, dog-assisted therapy has been widely regarded as a generally accepted method of providing elderly residents with good feelings and an increase in self-maintenance behavior. The aim of this study is to examine the psychological and behavioral effects of dog-assisted therapy on elderly residents with dementia. I predict that dog-assisted therapy will help elderly people with dementia with their behavioral and emotional problems such as aggression, agitation and psychosis.
Having a dog can be a great experience for people who enjoy their company. These animals are usually friendly and active; they are intelligent and can develop a strong relationship with their owners based on love and care. However, having dogs is a big responsibility for the person who owns them, because they are animals, so they cannot support themselves. Dogs need someone who can feed them, give them love, and someone who can help them exercise. Moreover, these animals need big spaces in order to run and develop their muscles, so the owner has to know that he needs to take a walk with the dog several times a day.
Aggression directed toward owners is not a unique occurrence, and it is one that causes an emotional struggle between owner and pet. Assessment and treatment of this troublesome behavior problem must take into account the owners safety as well as practical expectations for improvement. Comparatively mild aggression may be...
The pharynx is a large cavity behind the mouth and between the nasal cavity and larynx. The pharynx serves, as an air and food passage but cannot be used for both purposes at the same time, otherwise choking would result. The air is also warmed and moistened further as it passes through the pharynx. The larynx is a short passage connecting the pharynx to the trachea and contains vocal chords. The larynx has a rigid wall and is composed mainly of muscle and cartilage, which help prevent collapse and obstruction of the airway.
In the field of therapy, there are numerous of therapy available out there for different type of individuals and situations as well. There is one type of therapy that usually contains people and animal, it is animal-assisted therapy is a therapeutic approach that brings animals and individuals with physical and/or emotional needs together to perform the therapy. Animal-assisted therapy tend to be focused on individuals either children or elderly for them to be able to connect with the animal thus feeling comfortable talking with the therapist. Pet therapy works for all ages, whether sick or not (Lanchnit, 2011). Although, this paper, most of the focus is on animal-assisted therapy towards children using dogs.
Some dogs are simply stubborn. With these types, it may take extra diligence on your part to succeed in training. Keep your dog leashed, even in house. By having a tether to your dog, you can easily redirect him from doing something he shouldn't without having to always revert to a time-out in the his crate.
Every pet owner knows there are enormous responsibilities that go along with having a domestic pet. In order to keep ones pets physically healthy they must be feed and given exercise properly and played with on a regular basis. It is also important to protect other people, property, or pets from your own animal. There is another responsibility that not all pet owners think about, however: spaying or neutering, or “fixing.” What does “fixing” your pet mean? Spaying- removing the ovaries and uterus of a female pet (Merriam-Webster, par.1.). Neutering- removing the testicles of your male pet (Merriam-Webster, par. 1.). This surgery solves more problems that pet owners may not be aware of. Due to overpopulation of homeless and animal sheltered
The voice is our primary mean of communication and expression. We rarely last more than a few minutes without its use whether it is talking to someone else or humming quietly to ourselves. We can use the voice artistically in many ways. For example, singing carries the rhythm and melody of speech. It creates patterns of pitch, loudness, and duration that tie together syllables, phrases and sentences. We use the voice for survival, emotion, expression, and to reflect our personality. The loss of the voice is a severe curtailment to many professions. It is affected by general body condition which is why we need to consider the location of the larynx and how that organ produces voice. Surprisingly, this complex biological design is mechanical in function. It is mechanical to the point that when it has been excised from a cadaver and mounted on a laboratory bench, the larynx produces sounds resembling normal phonation. (Titze, Principles)
Dog training actually helps in correcting undesirable dog behavior. Some of these undesirable behavior include: digging up your flowers, barking at everyone and so on. Training it will make it develop desirable behavior.
Politics has always been about image. A good image leads to power, it's that simple. Sometimes it is hard to draw the line between a leader who is genuinely interested in improving the lives of his people and one that is interested in filling a few more pages of the already crowded History book. A good example of this is the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in its transition time between 1953 and 1964. The tyrannical rule of Joseph Stalin in the USSR was finally over, and the nation sought a new leader; after nearly a decade, one man, Nikita Khrushchev, rose up from the ranks with new ideas for the nation, and an extreme anti-Stalin campaign. But was he truly enraged at the way Stalin ruled or was he using this image in an attempt to capture the same power as his predecessor? The link between the two leaders goes back many years, to nearly the beginning of the communist annexation of Russia. Even today, we find ourselves asking if the politicians we vote for say they will make a reform to actually help the people, or if they say it as an empty promise in a ploy to get elected or to gain power. Was Nikita Khrushchev a man for the people, or was he simply a puppet with motives unseen to the people that pulled his strings?
Canine shock collars allow citizens who have lack knowledge the ability to so call train a dog. The collars basically give the dog sometimes a warnig beep or sound, then if proceeding to do the action an electric shock to the neck. Hunters usually use this device to teach Canines to be aggressive to other animals and as punishment for wrongdoings when hunting. Shock collars can make Canines fearful of other animals, territorial, and also aggressive towards owners (Emmerson). The technology of shock collars allows humans to torture mans best friend, with electric shocks through the neck.