Debarking

by Aimee Amodio | More from this Blogger

12 May 2009 11:14 AM

I had never heard of debarking before it appeared on an intake form at the vet's office: is your dog debarked? The lady checking me in said that if I didn't know what it was, then my dog wasn't debarked. But that wasn't enough of an answer for me.

Debarking is a surgical procedure that removes tissue from a dog's vocal cords. The end result is that NOT that the dog cannot bark -- the bark is simply quieter. A friend of mine who has encountered a debarked dog said it is a hoarser sounding bark. Other sources call it a "husky sounding bark". I haven't heard a debarked dog myself, but I suspect that the sound of the bark varies from one dog to another (whether at full volume or debarked).

The surgery itself can be done in one of two ways. The veterinary surgeon may remove vocal cord tissue through the mouth or through an incision in the throat. During the procedure, the dog is under general anesthesia. Risks and side effects are similar to those with other surgeries, including: reaction to anesthesia, infection, bleeding, and pain. With this particular surgery, there is a chance that the removed vocal cord tissue can grow back. Scar tissue can form and interfere with throat action, requiring surgical correction.

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) suggests debarking only as a last resort, after behavior modification has failed. In some places (like the United Kingdom) debarking is illegal. There are a lot of options that responsible pet owners can try before subjecting their pet to surgery. Figuring out the reason behind the barking can help stop the problem.

• Some dogs bark out of boredom. You may find that more walks, more playtime, or more toys help cut down on the barking.
• Some dogs respond well to bark collars that emit a spray or light shock when the dog is barking.
• Some dogs respond well to sonic "alarms" that emit high-pitched noises when the dog is barking.
• Some dogs react to sights or sounds outside the house. Closing windows and shades or playing "white noise" may help cut down on barking.

It bears repeating: debarking DOES NOT eliminate barking. Your dog can still bark after the surgery. It is usually a quieter bark, but he or she can still make noise.

If barking is a problem, you should talk to your veterinarian or a behavioral specialist about your options.

Learn more about Aimee Amodio

Aimee is a fiction writer... dog lover... music lover...

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