Introduction and Objective
One of the problems in housing dogs in urban areas is barking sounds. Occasionally, veterinarians solve this problem with cutting vocal cords (debarking). But this method has some issues such as irreversible to primary situation, and post operation problems. In addition, this method has not been verified by animal protection groups. Therefore, in this study trying to find safe, reversible and noninvasive methods instead of surgical debarking.
Method
In this study, botulinum type A was used as a nervous paralytic combination. Two different doses of the Clostridium botulinum type A toxins are tested. Injection of 200 units in 4 adult dogs (A group), 250 units in other 4 adult dogs (B group) and NaCl 0.9% for control group (C group) were performed in site of vocal cord muscle duke that is exactly where vocal fold. Then dogs hospitalized and results of injections were evaluated for a month.
Results and Conclusions
Results show that Clostridium botulinum type A toxin causes significant changes to stop barking of dogs (p < 0.05).
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A
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B
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C
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Before
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59–60 (dB1)
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57–63 (dB)
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56–61 (dB)
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After injection
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40–38 (dB)
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10–12 (dB)
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56–60 (dB)
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After 1 month
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57–58 (dB)
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56–62 (dB)
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56–58 (dB)
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1 = decibels