Case ReportSevere brain damage after punitive training technique with a choke chain collar in a German shepherd dog
Section snippets
Case description
A 1-year-old, male intact, German shepherd dog (weight 40 kg) with incoordination and circling to the left was presented at our small animal clinic. Four hours before presentation, the dog had been disciplined by the owner because of misbehavior during training. The dog was suspended a few feet in the air by its choke chain collar, a common form of punishment among dog handlers (Miller, 2008). By the owners' reckoning, the action was terminated after approximately 60 seconds when the dog
Imaging
Magnetic resonance (MR) tomography was performed with a 1.0 Tesla system (Gyroscan Phillips, Hamburg, Germany) and a knee coil. The T2-weighted scans showed (Figure 1A-C) (sagittal, field of view [FOV]: 222 mm, 15 slices, slice thickness: 4.0 mm, GAP: 0.3 mm, repetition time [TR]: 1756 milliseconds, echo time [TE]: 108 milliseconds, matrix: 360 × 360 and dorsal: FOV: 222 mm, 18 slices, slice thickness: 3.5 mm, GAP: 0.3 mm, TR: 1969 milliseconds, TE: 108 milliseconds, matrix: 320 × 320) a
Discussion
Swinging or lifting a dog off the ground by the collar (helicoptering or hanging) is a highly controversial form of punitive training technique occasionally applied by dog handlers or trainers (Miller, 2008). Dog handlers in favor of this technique still believe that its correct application “takes the drive and fight out of the dog” and does not cause any pain (Leerburg, 2010). It has been widely recognized by most veterinary behavior specialists that this form of punishment should be avoided
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Postmortem radiological imaging and autopsy of a manually strangled dog with a neck twist
2022, Forensic ImagingCitation Excerpt :Jugular vein compression causes venous return to be obstructed, resulting in brain congestion [1], whereas carotid artery compression causes blood flow to the brain to be impeded [23]. These events cause hypoxic ischemia, which results in the loss of consciousness associated with cerebral hypoxia and death [7]. Although human and animal physiology and anatomy are different, the assessment of the dog's unnatural death was based partly on medical forensic literature due to a lack of veterinary data.
Post-mortem analysis of injuries by incomplete hanging in dog (Canis familiaris) through radiographs and forensic necropsy
2020, Forensic ImagingCitation Excerpt :Owners should be careful with the collars they choose for their pet animals, since they may potentially act like a tourniquet and strangle the animal (U.S. Patent 5791, 297) [38]. Grohmann report that a punitive dog training technique employing choke collars may lead to severe brain damage [39]. Regarding the pathophysiology of deaths caused by hanging, it is interesting to mention the study conducted by Brinkmann et al. [40], who investigated cases of death by obstructive asphyxia in ten dogs strangulated by ligature, which initially presented an excessive and distinctly biphasic post-strangulation reaction.
Developing a Plan to Treat Behavior Disorders
2018, Veterinary Clinics of North America - Small Animal PracticeCitation Excerpt :One case report describes injuries sustained by a German Shepherd disciplined and held above ground with a choke chain collar.59 The neurologic examination revealed severe ischemic brain damage after strangulation.59 Intraocular pressure was significantly increased from baseline values when a force was applied to the neck via a regular collar and leash but not when applied via a harness and leash.60
Do aversive-based training methods actually compromise dog welfare?: A literature review
2017, Applied Animal Behaviour SciencePrevalence of hyoid injuries in dogs and cats undergoing computed tomography
2017, Veterinary JournalCitation Excerpt :This was the rationale for our hypothesis that small breed dogs and cats would be less commonly affected. Other investigators have found that collar usage can result in increased intraocular pressure (Pauli et al., 2006), cerebral ischemia (Grohmann et al., 2013) and sublingual hematomas (Manus, 1965) in dogs when used inappropriately. Since this was a retrospective study, we did not have detailed information on frequency or type of collar used for most dogs.
The effects of using aversive training methods in dogs—A review
2017, Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and ResearchCitation Excerpt :One study showed increased intraocular pressure in dogs while pulling against a collar (Pauli et al., 2006). Importantly, 1 extreme case report of the effects of a specific punitive technique on the physical health of a 1-year-old German Shepherd dog was found (Grohmann et al., 2013). The dog was hung several feet in the air with a choke collar for approximately 60 seconds and subsequently lost consciousness.