Surgery is for the Dogs Too!

Cosmetic surgery is no longer just for owners--it's for the dogs, too!  According to recent data calculated by the pet insurance agency PetPlan, more than 500,000 cases of cosmetic surgery for pets have been reported since 1995.

The recent data suggests the cosmetic surgery is going beyond the common practice of implanting neutered cats and dogs with Neuticles --the silicone prosthetics that mimic testicles— further reflecting an increase in the number of procedures that are not only aesthetic but also, breed specific.

For example, dogs with excessive creases or folds in the skin like Shar Peis or English Bulldogs, often suffer from severe skin infections on the face due to a bacteria build up in the epidermis crevices, and may undergo an entropion surgery, by which the dog receives an eyelid lift. This diminishes the extra skin folds, or eliminates them all together depending on elasticity in the animal’s skin. This procedure is the pet equivalent of a blephoraplasty in humans.

 Another common procedure among other breeds is the surgery to correct brachycephalic syndrome. This occurs when the roof of the mouth is too long for the length of the animal's muzzle, blocking the trachea. To treat it, vets us a procedure similar to septoplasty, where the veterinarian cuts a small wedge out of the black part of the canine’s nose and pulls the nasal openings wider. This is commonly used on breeds like pugs or French bulldogs.

Often for owners, a lack of research and knowledge of possible breed complications can lead to sticker shock after the vet bills pile up.  So, one must always ask, is it worth to prolong the cost of treatment or proceed to the corrective surgery route in a lump sum of effort and money? Either way, the data has shown that it is no longer an anomaly to want your pooch or kitty to look their best and stay as healthy as possible.