While you've heard of celebrities getting plastic surgery to maintain their youthful looks, you may not be as familiar with pet plastic surgery. Some animal plastic surgeries are purely cosmetic, but plastic surgery for pets may also be performed due to medical necessity. Find out more about plastic surgery for pets.
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What are plastic procedures for pets?
Plastic surgery for pets is intended to improve the function and/or appearance of specific tissues, most commonly the skin. Plastic surgeries may be performed to repair congenital defects, address health issues, or for cosmetic reasons.
Definition and types
Medically necessary or advantageous plastic surgeries may improve your pet’s appearance but also enhance the animal’s overall health and wellness. Examples of plastic surgeries that may medically benefit your pet include:
- Entropion repair. Some dogs have eyelids that roll inward (entropion), causing their eyelashes to scratch their eyes. Entropion surgery seeks to create a more normal eyelid orientation.
- Stenotic nares revision. Brachycephalic (flat-faced) dogs often have very narrow nostrils, obstructing their ability to breathe through their nose. Stenotic nares revisions widen the nostrils to improve breathing.
- Wrinkle removal. Wrinkle removal is usually done in dogs who get a lot of skin infections within the folds of their skin.
- Reconstructive surgery. Reconstructive surgery could include skin flaps or grafts to speed the healing of a large wound.
Cosmetic procedures
When considering veterinary cosmetic procedures, the focus is on procedures that make an animal more appealing to their owner without providing a true benefit to the animal. Examples of veterinary cosmetic surgery include:
- Tail docking
- Ear cropping
- Declawing
- Debarking
- Placement of prosthetic eyes
- Placement of prosthetic testicles after neutering
- Removal of small benign masses or skin tags that aren't causing health issues
History and evolution
Some pet plastic procedures date back to ancient Greek and Roman cultures. There are statues from these cultures that depict dogs with cropped ears.
As unique breeds have developed, so have breed-related health issues. The rise of brachycephalic dog breeds, such as pugs or English bulldogs, corresponds to the need for brachycephalic surgeries, such as the aforementioned 'nose job.' Similarly, breeds like Shar-Pei need entropion surgery to preserve ocular function and comfort.
Why are these procedures gaining popularity?
As the role of pets changes from guard dog or barn cat to household family member, people are willing to spend more money and time on their pet's health. While aesthetics may be an appealing reason for some owners, the true rise in the popularity of plastic surgery is related to health and medical reasons.
Aesthetic reasons
Most veterinarians will not perform plastic surgery so that pet owners can keep up with the latest pet cosmetic trends. While seeing a Doberman Pinscher with beautifully cropped ears on social media may tempt some owners to follow suit, this is an example of a procedure your veterinarian may decline to perform. This is because there are risks associated with anesthesia, and surgeries are painful. Without a benefit to the animal, it's hard to justify putting them through animal cosmetic surgery.
However, some veterinarians may be willing to perform cosmetic enhancements for pets while the animal is already under anesthesia for something else. For example, if your dog has a cancerous tumor removed and also has an unsightly wart-like growth, your veterinarian may be willing to remove the growth while the dog is already under anesthesia. Your vet may also be willing to place a prosthetic during another procedure, such as an eye removal or neuter.
Health and medical reasons
Dog plastic surgery is commonly performed for health and medical reasons, with breed-specific issues driving the rise in the need for these surgeries. Entropion surgeries and brachycephalic surgeries are common examples.
Cat plastic surgery can also be driven by health needs, such as entropion surgery or a surgery for eyelid agenesis (when a cat doesn't develop eyelids).
Examples of health benefits that can be gained through plastic surgery for animals include:
- Improved breathing
- Reduction of infection in deep skin folds
- Improvement of eye ulcers and irritation
- Improved wound healing
Safety and ethical considerations
Animals cannot consent to pet cosmetic procedures, so pet owners and veterinarians need to weigh the benefits against the risks to the animal. The ethical issues in pet plastic surgery should also be considered.
Safety of plastic surgeries for pets
If a pet will be undergoing plastic surgery, the veterinarian should discuss the safety of animal plastic surgery with the owner. Risks can include:
- Incision infection
- Bleeding
- Significant pain
- Disfigurement or undesirable aesthetic results
- Scar formation
- Allergic reaction to anesthetics
- Inhaling vomit while anesthetized
- Cardiac arrest
- Death
To reduce these risks, your veterinarian might perform a full physical examination prior to surgery, run blood work to check systemic health, place a tube in your pet's windpipe (endotracheal intubation) for easier breathing during surgery, and insert a catheter in a vein for fast administration of fluids and medications.
Additionally, a veterinary technician or assistant will monitor anesthesia, sterile surgical instruments and aseptic surgical techniques will be used to minimize infection, and fasting your pet the night before surgery will be recommended to reduce the risk of vomiting under anesthesia.
Your veterinary team will have a plan to maximize plastic surgery safety for pets. However, due to the nature of surgery, risks and complications can occur even if proper precautions are taken. Make sure to discuss any safety concerns you have with your veterinarian.
Ethical concerns
There are many ethical issues in pet surgery, and whether pet plastic surgery is an appropriate choice is undoubtedly among them. Your pet cannot consent to a surgical procedure, so it is up to you as their legal owner to consent for them.
While most veterinarians and animal welfare activists agree that plastic surgery is appropriate when there is a medical benefit, the opposite is true of cosmetic surgery for dogs or cats done for the owner's benefit.
Without a medical benefit, it may be inappropriate to subject your dog or cat to the pain of a surgery and the risks of anesthesia. It is also unethical and, in some cases, illegal for a non-veterinarian to perform an appearance-altering procedure on an animal.
As mentioned, the AVMA opposes cosmetic tail docking or ear cropping. Similarly, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) advises against medically unnecessary cosmetic surgery for cats and dogs. Pet owners should discuss animal surgery ethics with their veterinarian when considering a cosmetic procedure.
Legal status worldwide
Pet surgery regulations vary by state and by country. While your veterinarian should be familiar with local laws, you should also take note. If an area is making specific plastic surgery trends for pets illegal, you may want to consider the ethics and safety of that procedure before pursuing the surgery, even if it's legal in your area.
Legality in different countries
No state in the United States has wholly banned cosmetic procedures for pets. However, there are specific rules in some states. For example, in 2019, New York State banned non-medical declawing of cats, a practice also banned in several U.S. cities and countries, such as England, France, and New Zealand.
Ear cropping of dogs, while legal in the United States, has several state-level restrictions. This procedure is also illegal in several countries, such as England and Wales.
Regulatory bodies and guidelines
Typically, the government determines the legal aspects of pet plastic surgery. However, specific veterinary groups, such as the AVMA, often develop and recommend guidelines. Animal welfare organizations and advocates will usually push their government officials for stricter animal welfare regulations, including regarding pet plastic surgery safety and legality.
How to choose a qualified veterinarian
If your pet is undergoing plastic surgery, finding a veterinarian who is comfortable meeting your animal's needs is crucial. You should never have plastic surgery performed by an unlicensed veterinarian.
Qualifications and certifications
A veterinarian performing a procedure should be licensed in the state in which they're performing the procedure. A general veterinarian can perform these procedures if they are comfortable with them. In the United States, a surgical specialist is a veterinarian certified as a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS). You can look for a veterinarian with a specific interest in reconstructive or plastic surgery.
Questions to ask your veterinarian
When searching for a veterinarian and determining if you want to pursue plastic surgery for your pet, consider asking the following questions:
- What are the benefits to my pet if they get this procedure?
- What are the risks of the procedure?
- What steps does your team take to improve the safety of the procedure?
- How should I expect my pet to recover from the procedure?
- Could you walk me through how you perform the procedure?
You can also ask your veterinarian about their experience and comfort level with the specific procedure. If your veterinarian is not comfortable performing a specific plastic surgery due to a lack of experience, you can ask for a referral to another veterinarian or surgical center. However, if your veterinarian feels the procedure is unethical, take the opportunity to reflect on your veterinarian's expert opinion before pursuing cosmetic surgery for your pet.
Final word
Pet plastic surgeries are not simply facelifts. They can improve function, comfort, and appearance. Make sure to consider the safety and ethics of plastic surgery on pets, especially if you're thinking about having a procedure done purely for cosmetic reasons. With the help of your veterinarian, you can determine if your pet might benefit from plastic surgery.
FAQ
Are plastic surgery procedures painful for pets?
Yes, plastic surgeries are painful for pets. Any surgical procedure will cause pain and discomfort. The veterinarian should provide appropriate anesthesia and pain medications during the procedure. You should also be given instructions on how to reduce pain post-surgery.
How much does pet plastic surgery cost?
Costs vary widely depending on the specific procedure being performed. For example, a basic nares revision or entropion surgery could be around $300 to $500, while a more extensive procedure, such as reconstruction following a significant injury, can easily be $1,000 to $2,000. Costs will also be higher if a surgical specialist performs the procedure.
What are the recovery times for pet plastic surgeries?
Most plastic surgeries require a recovery time of 10–14 days. However, some procedures, such as managing a large open wound with grafting and reconstruction, may take much longer. In some cases, multiple plastic surgeries may be necessary.
Are there any long-term effects of plastic surgery in animals?
Animals who receive medically necessary plastic surgery, such as entropion surgery, will often have long-term improvement in their condition. However, some procedures, like cosmetic tail docking, can result in chronic pain. Some dogs with cropped ears may experience more frequent ear infections, particularly during healing.
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Some plastic pet surgeries are performed for medical necessity, while purely cosmetic procedures are generally not recommended.
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Pet plastic surgeries are painful and come with anesthetic risks, so it's essential to weigh the benefits against the cons.
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You should familiarize yourself with regulations and find a veterinarian you're comfortable with before pursuing plastic surgery for your pet.
5 resources
- American Veterinary Medical Association. Ear cropping and tail docking of dogs.
- Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Factors associated with anesthetic-related death in dogs and cats in primary care veterinary hospitals.
- American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Position statement on elective (cosmetic) surgery.
- American Veterinary Medical Association. New York becomes first state to outlaw cat declawing.
- Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Dog ear cropping.
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