Cosmetic Surgery for Dogs?
Lucas post-op
Lucas has had a histiocytoma once a year since we adopted him, 3 total. Luckily, it’s a benign skin tumor, and the surgery is relatively easy. The first was on a toe, which left him with a shallow nail bed on that one toe, but our vets in DC took amazing care of him during his recovery, and we haven’t had any problems with the nail bed. The second occurred shortly after we moved to Indiana, and was on the front of his leg. We hadn’t had much time to find a vet so went to the first one that was recommended to us.
The surgery went fine, but when he went back to have the sutures removed, the vet tech asked if we’d like to schedule a surgery to have the scar fixed. At the time John joked, “Nah, chicks dig scars.” But later, we questioned why anyone would subject their dog to an elective cosmetic procedure. The extra anesthesia and the recovery with all the inherent risks of infection… to fix a scar he isn’t even aware that he has? Though we declined the surgery, we kept questioning who would do that? But if they offer it, then some people must, right?
Then I saw this article on Dolittler today: Five Tips to Minimize Scars Post-op. I was amazed to find out that people elect NOT to have surgeries for their pet due to the risk of scarring. I don’t know… it just seems as though the surgery is far more important than the possible scar or even fixing the scar that appears.
Is it just me? Does this seem crazy to anyone else?
(For his third histiocytoma, btw, we have since found a new vet who we ADORE!)
That’s the thing about dogs. They don’t really notice scars. They don’t care. It’s like they’re people, only perfect. Heck, I think having pets that are broken in some way makes them a little more lovable. I was considering adopting a cat with 1 eye (during a visit to you & john, if I recall correctly)… And my cat now, Oliver, has a tail that was apparently broken in 2 places toward the tip and healed bent – almost like a door was shut on it. It’s strange, but it adds personality and I love him for it.
I think you’re perfectly sane for not wanting your dog to get cosmetic surgery. It’s wasteful. And I think your intuition is right: a vet trying to push that is just trying to take advantage of naive pet owners.
Although now that I think about it, I’ve seen some cats that could really benefit from a tummy tuck.
Lucy’s Christmas gift this year is to have he ear’s shortened, he stinkyness removed, and her evilness reduced by 50%.
Cosmetic surgery on animals makes me want to smash things. The people who do that to their animals is a good place to start.