A Meta-Review of Evidence Against the Use of Choking Collars and Collar Corrections
© Dog Friendship - November 4, 2011
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SUMMARY:
This meta-review (not yet submitted for peer-reviewed publication) included a search of databases including PubMed, British Veterinary Journal, American Veterinary Medical Association Journal, the internet and follow-up with existing known sources in November, 2011.
Evidence was compiled in a table and assigned a strength value. There is strong evidence (A or B+) that choking collars and collar corrections can contribute to increased intraocular pressure (dogs with eye conditions should wear a harness), paralysis and disc/cervical injury, increased aggression, traumatic respiratory emergencies and collapsed tracheas.
There is weaker evidence needing further study indicating that choking collars and collar corrections can cause postobstructive pulmonary edema (POPE) and fractures of the lateral bones of the larynx.
It is also clear that additional rigorous studies would benefit both veterinarians, animal behaviorists, dog trainers and pet owners.
Author/Citation/Date / Comment / Evidence Strength* see legend
* A – Academic Peer-Reviewed Study or Meta-Review, B – Veterinary or Behaviourist Writing or Company Survey, Evidence of Injury in Alternate Species, C – Anecdotal Evidence, D - Other
J Am Anim Hosp Assoc.2006 May-Jun;42(3):207-11.
Effects of the application of neck pressure by a collar or harness on intraocular pressure in dogs.
Pauli AM,Bentley E,Diehl KA,Miller PE.Source: Department of Surgical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin53706, USA.
/Abstract
The effect on intraocular pressure (IOP) from dogs pulling against a collar or a harness was evaluated in 51 eyes of 26 dogs. The force each dog generated while pulling against a collar or a harness was measured. Intraocular pressure measurements were obtained during application of corresponding pressures via collars or harnesses. Intraocular pressure increased significantly from baseline when pressure was applied via a collar but not via a harness. Based on the results of the study, dogs with weak or thin corneas, glaucoma, or conditions for which an increase in IOP could be harmful should wear a harness instead of a collar, especially during exercise or activity. PMID: 16611932 / A+J Invest Surg. 2005 Sep-Oct;18(5):241-5.
Relationship between upper airway obstruction and gastroesophageal reflux in a dog model.
Boesch RP, Shah P, Vaynblat M, Marcus M, Pagala M, Narwal S, Kazachkov M.
Source: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, USA. / Abstract
The association between gastroesophageal reflux (GER) and upper airway obstruction in children is recognized but not well understood. Our objective was to determine if the creation of a model of upper airway obstruction in dogs would cause GER and to determine if the GER is related to intrathoracic pressure changes. Five dogs underwent evaluation with esophageal manometry and pH probe at baseline and 1 week after creation of an upper airway obstruction. Airway obstruction was created by placement of a fenestrated cuffed tracheostomy tube, which was then capped and the cuff was inflated, requiring the animals to breathe via the fenestrations. The negative inspiratory pressure (Pes) (+/- SD) increased from 11.8 +/- 4.8 cm H(2)O at baseline to 17.6 +/- 4.9 cm H(2)O 1 week after creation of an airway obstruction (p = .029). None of the dogs had GER at baseline with a reflux index (RI) value of 0.0; however, 1 week after creation of airway obstruction, three out of five dogs had GER, with a mean RI value of 21.2 +/- 21.2. There was a significant (p = .023) correlation (r = .928) of the changes in Pes and RI values following airway obstruction. Upper airway obstruction (UAO) does cause GER in this canine model. Severity of GER is significantly correlated with Pes changes.PMID: 16249167 / A-
DR Lane - Veterinary Record1974;95:176doi:10.1136/vr.95.8.176-a British Veterinary Association. / Chokechain fatality
AnimalsDogDiseases mortality Dogs Male Neck Injuries / B+
Dr. Julie Kaufman, DVM
The Retriever,
LEARN’s newsletter, available at in November, 2007. / Dr. Julie Kaufman, specializing in animal chiropractic, (
has treated dogs with “KNOWN” [her emphasis] injuries directly caused from a choke-chain; from a sudden jerk or pull from the leash/chain/rope; or from being tied outside. A collar puts pressure on the neck in what, too often, results in injuries to the dog. Dr. Kaufman explains, “One dog was completely paralyzed in both front legs following a jerk on the collar. She had several discs blown as a result and eventually regained movement after weeks of chiropractic and acupuncture [treatments]. In fact, neck injuries from collars are so common that we see new cases every few weeks.”
Dr. Kaufman often uses a model dog skeleton to illustrate how pulling will affect the jointsegments. This helps dog owners visualize how a small tug can easily injure or even slightly dislocate a segment of the spine. She adds, “Since research indicates that it only takes the weight of a dime to depress a nerve’s function by 50%, it’s understandable how a tug on a narrow collar could cause major pressure and trauma to a small area of the neck. If you catch the neck at a critical angle, you could affect a disc, cause nerve or muscle injury or worse.” / B+
Premier
The Retriever,
LEARN’s newsletter, available at in November, 2007. / Company found in a recent survey that 96% of Veterinarians report having seen or heard of a
collar-related injury or death within the last year / B+
(no description of survey methodology)
Dr. Karen Overall, DVM
Journal of Veterinary Behavior (2007) 2, 103-107, Editorial / Absolutely, without exception, I oppose, will not recommend, and generally spend large amounts of time telling
people why I oppose the use of shock collars, prong collars, choke collars, and any other type of device that is rooted in an adversarial, confrontational interaction with the dog. Without exception, such devices will make my anxious patients worse and allow the anger level of my clients to reach levels that are not helpful and may be dangerous. / B+
Dr. Raymond Bouloy, of Manzano Animal Clinic in Albuquerque, NM
/ According to veterinarian, Dr. Raymond Bouloy, of Manzano Animal Clinic in Albuquerque, NM,"The cinching down of a choke chain can cause many cervical problems".Dr. Bouloy's personal experiences with choke chain injuries occurred mostly during five years of practice at an animal emergency clinic. / B
Colorado state University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Retrieved November 4, 2011 / The location and most common types of traumatic respiratory emergencies in small animal veterinary patients:
Larynx and major extrathoracic airways: Commonly caused by collars, bite wounds, and gun shot injury / B+
Becky Lundgren, DVM
Date Published: 5/14/2008 6:29:00 PM
Veterinary Information Network / Cervical (Neck) Disk Disease
Cervical (neck) disk disease is an intervertebral disk pressing on the spinal cord, causing pressure and pain. It's essentially the same condition asintervertebral disk disease, except it occurs in the neck instead of in the back.Intervertebral disks are located between the vertebrae (bones of the spine). Each disk has two parts, a fibrous outer layer and the jelly-like interior. When disk herniation occurs, the interior either protrudes (bulges) or extrudes (ruptures) into the vertebral canal, where the spinal cord resides. The onset of herniations can be either acute or chronic. Generally speaking, when this type of herniation happens in the neck, disk disease is the most likely cause, although it can be due to trauma (falling off furniture or a deck, getting hit by a car, collar trauma, etc.). Small chondrodystrophic breedsÂ- those with a long back such as dachshunds, for exampleÂ- are the breeds most typically affected, although other breeds can be affected. It's more common in middle-aged pets.When the spinal cord is compressed by cervical disk material, the dog or cat can experience signs ranging from mild (neck pain) to severe (complete paralysis of all four legs and with no pain perception).Usually, the neck signs appear suddenly. The neck muscles may tense up or shiver, the pet's nose may point toward the ground, the pet's back may arch, and there may be muscle tremors in the neck and shoulder. The pet is usually reluctant to move his head from side to side or to lift his chin. Sometimes nerve control of urinary and bowel functions will be affected.Other signs may include clumsiness and paralysis. Severe damage to the spine will have severe effects and a worse prognosis than mild damage. Chronic spinal cord damage also has a worse prognosis.An acute onset is an absolute emergency, and the pet should be seen immediately by a veterinarian.Diagnosis
After obtaining your pet's medical history, your veterinarian will perform a general physical examination and then a neurological examination. The veterinarian will see how much pain perception your pet has; inability to feel any pain is not good. Radiographs are usually taken, although they may not be definitive. If possible, a myelogram (where dye is injected into the spinal canal), MRI, or a CT scan will be run.
Treatment
Treatment options depend on how severe the problem is. If the situation is mild, it may be treated with just medication, typically anti-inflammatories or glucocorticoids, and crate rest. If the problem resolves on therapy, but recurs when treatment is finished, surgery may be required.More serious cases may require surgery, although surgery is not an instant cure. The surgeon will remove the extruded disk material to take pressure off the spinal cord. Surgery does nothing to the cord itself. It takes time for the spinal cord to heal, but the good news is that the neck portion of the spinal cord is more tolerant of pressure from the extruded disk material than the back portion is.Strict crate rest is necessary for either medical or surgical management. If your pet is not confined to strict crate rest, the herniation could recur and possibly be worse than the original episode. After surgery, your pet will probably require a month of crate rest. Another month of restricted activity may then be necessary. During that month, the use of steps should be avoided, and there should be no heavy exercise. If you customarily use neck collars or choke collars on your dog, those should not be used for another three months; body halters would be less likely to cause trauma to your dog's neck.
Prognosis
Your pet's prognosis depends, of course, on his particular case. Generally speaking, if he could walk at all before surgery, his post-surgical prognosis is excellent. If he couldn't walk, but still had some deep pain sensation, the post-surgical prognosis is good to excellent. If he lost deep pain sensation completely, the prognosis is guarded. / B+
J Crit Care. 2010 Sep;25(3):508.e1-5. Epub 2010 Apr 22.
Postobstructive pulmonary edema.
Udeshi A, Cantie SM, Pierre E.
Source: Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Fla33136, USA. / Abstract: Postobstructive pulmonary edema (POPE; also known as negative pressure pulmonary edema) is a potentially life-threatening complication in which pulmonary edema occurs shortly after the relief of an upper airway obstruction. The incidence of POPE has been reported to be as high as 1 in 1000 general anesthetic cases and commonly presents as acute respiratory distress that requires immediate intervention. This review examines the 2 subclasses of POPE and describes the etiologic factors, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, diagnostic criteria, and treatment strategies associated with each. The aim of this review was to equip clinicians with the knowledge base necessary to identify patients at increased risk for POPE and to expeditiously diagnose and treat this potentially catastrophic complication.PMID: 20413250 / B-
/ Olderstudy showing impact of tracheal compression on thyroid / B-
(no direct link to collars)
J Zoo Wildl Med. 2007 Jun;38(2):317-22.
Diagnosis and treatment of presumptive postobstructive pulmonary edema in a Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi).
Fiorello CV, Cunningham MW, Cantwell SL, Levy JK, Neer EM, Conley K, Rist PM.
Source: Department of Small Animal Clinical Scienc es, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida32610, USA. / Abstract
A free-ranging, adult male Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi) was immobilized and evaluated for hematuria following routine capture. Prior to anesthetic recovery, the panther was fitted with a telemetry collar. After an initially quiet recovery, the panther began thrashing in the transport cage, and was again immobilized. Pink foam was evident from the nostrils, and crackles were ausculted over the chest, indicating pulmonary edema. Postobstructive pulmonary edema was diagnosed based on history, clinical signs, radiographic evaluation, and blood gas analysis. The animal was treated intensively for several hours with diuretics, oxygen, and manual ventilation. The panther responded rapidly to therapy and was released back into the wild 48 hr after presentation. Postobstructive pulmonary edema, also called negative-pressure pulmonary edema, may be underrecognized in veterinary medicine. In this case, the telemetry collar, in conjunction with anesthetic recovery in a small transport crate, may have contributed to tracheal obstruction. Wildlife veterinarians and biologists should be aware of the risk of airway obstruction when placing tracking collars, and animals should be continuously monitored during anesthetic recovery to ensure the presence of a patent airway.
PMID: 17679517 / B-
Jean Zuniga, MD, PhD, Web search November 4, 2011 / According to neurologist and animal welfare advocate, Jean Zuniga, MD, PhD, these collars can actually cause permanent damage in the dog. / B-
Accessed November 4, 2011
/ COLLAPSING TRACHEA
Many small breed dogs, including but not limited to short-nosed varieties suffer from variations of this condition. Briefly, the trachea or main "wind-pipe" in the throat will partially collapse, often under mild excitement or exercise, creating an airway obstruction, which producessignsof episodic coughing and hacking by the dog.
While the exact cause is poorly understood, there seems to be some degree of weakness inherent in the cartilage which makes up the rings of the trachea. The condition which often gets worse with age can be made worse by obesity, otherchronic respiratory conditions, being tugged upon by the collar andheart diseasewhich leads tofluid accumulation in the lungs.Diagnosisis based on history, clinical signs and X-rays.((Tracheal Collapse))
Tracheal collapse is caused by a progressive weakening of the tracheal rings.During Tracheal collapse, the tracheal back muscle collapseson itself during breathing. This therefore causes an obstruction to airflow in the trachea. The dog eventually choke.
SYMPTOMS
The first symptoms can begin from the age of one year OLD.
dry hacking cough occurs when the dog plays, is excited and pulls on his collar.
Cough is frequently aggravated by hot weather, stress and excitement.
In time, more the disease get worse, the cough becomes more frequent, even if the dog makes little effort.
In severe cases, wheezing and breathing becomes difficult, even Fainting can occur from lack of oxygen.
Exercise intolerance
narrowing of the trachea may even be visible at the entrance on the chest radiograph in inspiration
Eventually cough irritates the larynx, which has the effect of making your little dog cough even more!
Diagnosis is made with radiographs where the profile of the trachea appears with a variable size between the throat and the lung environment and different depending on whether it is inspiration or expiration.
On expiration, the rings of the trachea takes the form of a U open.
On inspiration, the rings of the trachea takes the form of a 0 crashed. / B+
April 2003: Bonnie Dalzell websites
(c) 2003 by Bonnie Dalzell, MA
e mail is bdalzell at Q I S dot net
used with permission. / Study of Prong Collars in Germany (cannot find study or author)
(Information about study taken from an Anne Marie Silverton Seminar)
- 100 dogs were in the study. 50 used choke and 50 used prong.
- Dogs were studied for their entire lives. As dogs died, autopsies were performed.
- Of the 50 which had chokes, 48 had injuries to the neck, trachea, or back. 2 of those were determined to be genetic. The other 46 were caused by trauma.
- Of the 50 which had prongs, 2 had injuries in the neck area, 1 was determined to be genetic. 1 was caused by trauma.