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Reprinted with permission from Dr Steven Metcalfe from Applecross Veterinary Hospital. A huge thank you to Dr Metcalfe for allowing us to reprint your fabulous and informative article.
Debarking (Ventriculocordectomy)
Author: Dr Steven Metcalfe BSc BVMS(Hons) MSc MACVSc (Applecross Veterinary Hospital)
The barking dog presents a serious problem in crowded urban or suburban areas. When all attempts to break this habit fail, surgical removal of the vocal cords may be necessary. The procedure is humane and should be considered no more radical than sterilization. Although no known adverse psychological effects accompany debarking it is still performed as a procedure of last resort.
Debarking surgery does not produce total voice loss. After surgery, the animal can still produce a raspy noise that may be equally as irritating to persons near the pet, though it is quieter than barking.
Debarking is performed under general anaesthesia with surgical removal of the vocal cords through the mouth. Enough tissue is removed from the vocal cords to disrupt normal function and reduce the volume of barking.
The recognised complications with debarking include formation of significant scar tissue. This may mean that the bark gradually returns in as quickly as few months or by as long as 2-3 years. Our current estimates show that this occurs in between 5-25% of dogs.
The second complication from scar tissue formation is that mucus clearance from the windpipe may be impeded. This may result in recurrent respiratory tract infections. Although this is recorded as occurring in up to 60% of dogs after surgery, our experience suggests that less than 20% of dogs develop any significant problems of this nature
The third complication from scar tissue formation is that airflow into the windpipe may be impeded. This may result in exercise intolerance.
Our recent experience involves performing the procedure in two parts. The first surgery involves removing either vocal cord but not both. In approximately four weeks the second surgery is performed to remove the remaining vocal cord. This four week delay allows the first side to heal prior to the second surgery and therefore minimises the bridging scar tissue that may form between the two sides. Scar tissue formation is also minimised by the use of corticocosteroid drugs (Dexamethasone and Prednisolone) prior to and after surgery.
© Copyright Karen 2010, Last Updated 5 September 2010.