QC vets ban cosmetic surgery

[spinster]

QC's order of veterinarians have banned cosmetic surgery, so now only vets in Alberta and Ontario are allowed to perform: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/02...26.html?m=true
I suspect it is just a matter of time before such surgeries will be banned in those provinces as well.

[Stuart22]

I am quite confused why the same logic does not apply to spaying and neutering. I had two beagles neutered and one female spayed. The only health benefit was the vets retirement fund.

[terrym]

This might hurt Quebec breeders. My Brittany is a tail docked breed and I would buy from the USA instead if having a pup with a tail. I don't think I would be the exception.

[vom Dufenshmirtz]

I don't have spaniels anymore, but I am curious would the breeder (not a vet) chopping pup's tails be in violation of some law..?

[spinster]

It will be illegal to dock your own pups.
In French: http://www.oodmag.com/community/show...561#post955561

English google translation:
Ban believes the Quebec Order of Veterinarians for cosmetic surgeries on animals
February 4, 2016
The Board of Directors of the College of Veterinary Surgeons of Quebec adopted on 19 January a position prohibiting the practice of cosmetic surgeries on animals.
Indeed, from 1 January 2017 it will be forbidden to veterinarians in Quebec to practice following surgery for cosmetic purposes or for breeding practices and considers the ouster practices cropping of ears and tail docking in dogs and cats ; tail docking of cattle; docking in horses.
Tail docking is to shorten or to the removal of the tail of the animal. The cropping of ears, for its part, is a procedure in which an animal's ear is cut.
Any person - other than veterinary surgeons - who performs these surgeries in Quebec will be prosecuted for illegal practice of veterinary medicine and exposed the consequences prescribed by law.
To read the position statement, click here...

[welsh]

I am quite confused why the same logic does not apply to spaying and neutering. I had two beagles neutered and one female spayed. The only health benefit was the vets retirement fund.

Spay and neuter has practical utility. Cosmetic surgery does not.

Before anyone starts ranting about tail injuries in dogs: in doing so, you're saying the procedure is not cosmetic. That's the argument Quebeckers need to make to their vets: that the surgery in their case is not for cosmetic purposes or for breeding standards.

This might hurt Quebec breeders. My Brittany is a tail docked breed and I would buy from the USA instead if having a pup with a tail. I don't think I would be the exception.

I have a breed that is normally docked, with an undocked tail. No issues. I'm inclined to look on all the fuss over this with a jaundiced eye, based on personal experience.

[spinster]

Welsh...the stand of the Quebec Veterinary College is docking that it IS cosmetic. Considering that for rare breeds most pups go to households that do NOT hunt, it might be difficult for a breeder to justify getting the pups docked...that is assuming that you can find a vet, willing to challenge the policy of the veterinary association and risk losing his/her license to practice.

[dilly]

Is tail docking cosmetic? I thought it was done for practical reasons...

[jaycee]

Is tail docking cosmetic? I thought it was done for practical reasons...

That may be a fine line differentiating the two , cosmetic and practical.

[welsh]

Welsh...the stand of the Quebec Veterinary College is docking that it IS cosmetic.

Do you have a source on that? I don't see that in the original article and the machine translation posted above doesn't suggest it, either.

The problem that arises with these rules, usually, is the difficulty of finding a vet who understands that there is a utility argument for docking working dogs.

Is tail docking cosmetic? I thought it was done for practical reasons...

In most breeds, it is purely cosmetic.