Is tooth extraction an ethical form of bite prevention?

Re: Is tooth extraction an ethical form of bite prevention?

Noweia — Fri, 23 May 2014 17:42:59 GMT

Second what everyone else has said, and can verify that carnassials do hurt.

Re: Is tooth extraction an ethical form of bite prevention?

Virginia Campbell — Fri, 23 May 2014 17:41:49 GMT

Yes, I think it's unethical to perform a major procedure on a dog that will not work. This question has been asked on VIN many times and is invariably answered with a montage of gruesome photos of damage inflicted by incisors, cheek teeth and even the power of the jaws alone in dogs that had been subjected to full mouth extractions (one that sticks in my mind is a photo of a vet's arm after a "bite" by a large breed dog a couple of days after full mouth extractions. Black and blue from wrist to elbow).

It is unethical not to treat the stress that the other dogs in the house must be experiencing by removing the aggressor.

It is unethical not to acknowledge and treat the stress that the aggressor is experiencing by removing it from the house.

I think your suggestion of rehoming the dog is unethical too. It has already repeatedly attacked members of its own family (the other dogs); attacked a human; and is strong enough to inflict serious injury. It is not fit to live in society and needs euthanased. The only other solution for society to be safe from this dog (basically treat it like Hannibal Lecter - isolate it from its own kind and from human family life; never, ever allow it to set foot outside without a muzzle and a strong short lead attached to a strong person and never, ever let it off that lead) would severely compromise its freedom to express normal behaviour. Kill it.

Re: Is tooth extraction an ethical form of bite prevention?

Cat Henstridge — Fri, 23 May 2014 14:58:18 GMT

In fact, I've written a blog about this very subject this week!

http://www.catthevet.com/prevention-better-cure-euthanasing-dangerous-dogs/

Re: Is tooth extraction an ethical form of bite prevention?

Sammy82 — Fri, 23 May 2014 14:55:24 GMT

Removing the canines is unethical in my eyes, although if the alternative is PTS it might not be quite so bad. But the point is that the dog will still be able to do a lot of damage with his remaining or even no teeth. I remember seeing a cat during my EMS that had been bitten by a dog with no teeth at all. It had no open wounds, but fractured vertebraes with associated spinal cord damage.

Not a dog I would want in my house or neighborhood. At least the owners seem to be sensible enough to have it under control when out walking.

I totally agree with Cat, after being bitten a couple of times by apparently "nice" dogs my tolerance towards dangerous dogs has definitely faded, especially when children are involved.

Re: Is tooth extraction an ethical form of bite prevention?

Louise6732 — Fri, 23 May 2014 14:42:53 GMT

I agree with what the others have said, tooth extraction is not an option.

I always wonder how happy these wound-up barking aggressive dogs are, and whether they enjoy a decent QoL or whether they are on tenterhooks 24/7 and have chronic stress!

Re: Is tooth extraction an ethical form of bite prevention?

Cat Henstridge — Fri, 23 May 2014 14:32:23 GMT

I'm afraid I would agree with the neighbour! Euthanase it! Or spend a lot of time, money and effort getting proper behavioural help and training and probably getting it out more, so it isn't full of energy and being driven to distraction in the garden!

I saw something similar last night, a GSD x Akita (sigh), owned from 4 weeks (double sigh) by a young man who wanted a 'tough' dog (triple diple sigh). When he got to 6 months old it got too much for him and he dumped it on his mother. The dog is now 4, is a nightmare to walk, tries to kill anything that moves but is apparently 'lovely' in the home. We had a looong chat and although this dog has never actually bitten anything or anyone, he is an accident waiting to happen and I discussed PTS. I used to take quite a hard line and be very reluctant to euthanise these dogs but I am much more willing to do it now (older, wiser and a mother), there are plenty of great dogs in rescues that won't rip your face off soon as look at you!

Re: Is tooth extraction an ethical form of bite prevention?

vetbl.locum — Fri, 23 May 2014 14:30:17 GMT

This dog is out of control and is a danger to all

Needs euthanasia not dental work

Re: Is tooth extraction an ethical form of bite prevention?

Claudia Niehoegen — Fri, 23 May 2014 14:06:37 GMT

Thank you for your rapid responses. They confirm what we thought.

I wouldn't want to live with the responsibilities such a dog brings, neither as an owner nor as the vet who might have expressed reservations about the tooth extractions but nevertheless went along with the client's wishes and therefore implicitly condoned them. But sometimes I worry I might reach for the pink juice too quickly...

Re: Is tooth extraction an ethical form of bite prevention?

Hannah Wynne Richards — Fri, 23 May 2014 12:29:17 GMT

Agree with everybody else.

Wynne

Re: Is tooth extraction an ethical form of bite prevention?

Kate Richardson — Fri, 23 May 2014 12:10:23 GMT

When are people going to accept that this behaviour from a dog is unacceptable regardless of cause. Do they not see the news? This dog has the potential to kill a child. It needs to be euthanased.

Re: Is tooth extraction an ethical form of bite prevention?

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Fri, 23 May 2014 11:52:05 GMT

Above all: it doesn't work. Bites from the carnassial teeth are horrible. Even the incisors inflict some nasty damage.

It's also unethical because removing four healthy canine teeth is a massive surgical operation........... which would be justified if it were going to do some good, but it isn't.

Re: Is tooth extraction an ethical form of bite prevention?

Bob Russell — Fri, 23 May 2014 11:13:16 GMT

No - won't work!

Re: Is tooth extraction an ethical form of bite prevention?

Mark Hedberg — Fri, 23 May 2014 10:46:58 GMT

A, it's unethical (in my opinion) and B, it's ineffective; there are plenty of other teeth in the dog's mouth that can do plenty of damage, it's not just the canines!