We don't know about muzzling to prevent eating cat stool. We have a baby gate with a little kitty door in it. Works great!

Sounds like a good idea to prevent biting though.

Riley & Tiki March 19th, 2008 08:31:00 AM

Most adopted greyhounds come with their track muzzle, which is a soft plastic cage muzzle. It's great to have -- I've used it when children visit, when I've put a different greyhound in the back of my car with my dog, and when running many greyhounds together. It's a huge piece of mind and I'd get one for any future dog no matter what breed.

Liza March 19th, 2008 08:33:00 AM

I'd never used a muzzle until I got my third dog Amos. He spent the first three years of his life without human contact and obviously doesn't like to be touched or picked up by people. We're working on him with positive training, but sometimes you've just got to handle your dog. The muzzle definitely comes in handy for trips to the vet and for grooming. Oh, this is reminding me that I need to give him a bath... who knew a chihuahua could get so stinky.

I'd worked with trainers before who were very anti-muzzle. In fact, I tried to buy one for my pit-mix years ago and was told that they were cruel and I shouldn't use them. Luckily, my trainer now is all for them, and we've done lots of exercises that encourage him to put his nose in the muzzle for a treat. Now when I get the muzzle out he often comes towards it and sticks his nose in it.

Jen (SLC) March 19th, 2008 09:08:00 AM

Oh, I forgot! The use of a cage muzzle is excellent also for dogs that self-traumatize themselves. The Doberman who gets around every e-collar after surgery, for example. This truly works wonders for the obsessive-compulsive flank-suckers and lick-granuloma cases, though I also use drugs for this last category of patients.

Dr. Patty Khuly March 19th, 2008 09:20:00 AM

Oh wow - I hadn't ever thought of a basket/cage muzzle in those cases, Dr. Khuly. Now I have a suggestion for owners of pets that manage to rip out sutures despite e-collars, bitter apple spray, etc.

anna March 19th, 2008 10:33:00 AM

In Italy, dogs can ride buses, trains and trams -- but they must wear a cage muzzle. I'd happily make that trade-off to be able to take my dog everywhere!

Here's a picture of my Dutch friends' sweet Galgo, Anna, wearing her muzzle and riding a tram to the top of a mountain in the Italian Alps for a lovely hike:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/henk/976786823/

Gina Spadafori March 19th, 2008 11:40:00 AM

Wow. This makes me extremely uncomfortable. Especially the part about muzzling a fear-aggressive dog so you can walk him in public. The muzzle does absolutely nothing to help the dog feel more comfortable. Why put him in that situation in the first place?

katie March 19th, 2008 11:57:00 AM

"Especially the part about muzzling a fear-aggressive dog so you can walk him in public. The muzzle does absolutely nothing to help the dog feel more comfortable. Why put him in that situation in the first place?"

No yard, but gotta pee anyway?
Exercise?
Keeping others safe while you work on problem behavior?

Plus the dog may be uncomfortable, but at least he gets to stay alive.

AdoptedAPBTs March 19th, 2008 12:14:00 PM

When our dog took her 'Growly Dog' class, we were required to put her in a cage muzzle so the dogs could interact safely. Our teacher had us snip out the very front cross-section (it's soft plastic) so that it was easier to shove in the treats. Now Miss Growly wears it to the vet, and I've loaned it to a friend so she could try it out on her therapy dog who has a lovely personality but likes to eat rocks. I will admit still feeling a little embarrassed when she wears it, but it's certainly better than someone getting bit.

Our dog's also a compulsive licker, but she dislikes the muzzle more than the e-collar, and I think she'd work harder to get it off.

lin March 19th, 2008 02:17:00 PM

This is an interesting post. I never thought of muzzles as being cruel.

I'd be a little worried, though, if a muzzle was regularly being used in a situation where, if it failed, there could be serious harm done to a person or animal. For instance, if there was any doubt about whether a dog might hurt a child, I wouldn't feel comfortable if the solution were to put a muzzle on and assume that everything would be alright. A muzzle is a tool, and tools can fail - it could be sized improperly, put on incorrectly, something could break. There are too many variables to depend on it always working with a dangerous dog.

Also, though a muzzle might prevent a bite, a dog could still knock someone down, and injure them, especially if that someone is a small child.

I had a friend whose adopted greyhound somehow managed to maul a neighbor's chicken badly enough do that the chicken had to be put down, though the greyhound was wearing cage muzzle. I don't know how it happened because I wasn't there and my friend didn't want to talk about the incident much. I'd hate to think what could have happened if the dog were going after a toddler instead of a chicken.

But I can see how cage muzzles would be useful at times, and their use shouldn't be avoided just because they look off-putting.

FarmFashion March 19th, 2008 03:09:00 PM

FarmFashion: Your comment makes a great point: There's no substitute for common sense...and supervision...when it comes to safety.

Dr. Patty Khuly March 19th, 2008 04:48:00 PM

We had a client at the animal hospital that I worked for that had a large German Shepard that was dog aggressive. Around people and children the dog was great, but get him around other dogs in a confined space such as the vets waiting room and he turned into a beast.

The owner did not live in denial of this problem. She spent time with dog trainers to correct her pet's problem and yet she couldn't resolve it, so she did the next best thing. If the clinic was extra busy for whatever reason, the owner would put the muzzle on before entering the clinic. If she came in on a quieter day, the dog would carry his own muzzle in and once both of them were seated, he would drop it at her feet and wait for his human to put it on him.

Once the dog and his owner were safely in a exam room, the muzzle came off and it was business as usual. If there was a wait for her to pay her bill, the muzzle was reapplied so she could bring him out to the car without incident. If it was quiet and there was nobody around, the dog was allowed to carry his muzzle back out to the car without it being worn on his face.

This owner turned into a favorite client of mine depsite the odd looks she got from other clients.

Stacy March 19th, 2008 06:13:00 PM

It only took a few minutes to teach Hero to retrieve treats that are stuffed into the cage muzzle, although for things like a class, I can see that snipping out a window for easier treating would be a good idea. Unfortunately, Hero can whip even a well fitted plastic cage muzzle off with one swipe and does just because he can.

Juli March 20th, 2008 12:24:00 AM

Are we suggesting here using a cage muzzle to prevent unwanted behaviours such as chewing? In other words, leaving a dog unattended with said muzzle attached? Would not a crate or an x-pen have also provided the same level of safety when said Cavalier's guardian was otherwise too occupied to notice she was chewing behind the garage refrigerator?

I'm a huge fan of cage muzzles. Read again... HUGE. In particular, the kind with the leather strap that comes straight down the center of the forehead, making it *next* to impossible for the dog to remove. Those horrible little nylon dealies should be outlawed IMO. My favourite cage muzzle is the thick leather, padded, stainless steel construction, sturdy well made variety.

But to recommend a dog be left alone with one on to prevent inappropriate chewing or consumption? I have to question that line of thought...

kim March 20th, 2008 07:47:00 PM

I've been a sighthound owner (greyhounds & borzoi) for 30 years & not a dog has entered this house or been raised here that didn't know how to wear a muzzle. One borzoi I raised ate rocks & post op at 8 months of age after one rock settled to stay in his stomach to stay, this big boy never went out into the yard without a basket muzzle on his face.

Just last year when two youngsters came stay, the borzoi had to have dental surgery which ended up in the removal of his 4th pre-molar (only a couple of months in his jaw) & a bone implant put in. Because I had to protect his mouth from sticks & stones & because it wouldn't have been fair for the greyhound youngster to be free to mouth the borzoi, both puppies wore their muzzles & never once did it stop either of them from having a wonderful time playing.

The muzzle, rather than being the tool of torture, is instead the great equalizer & when well-used is a most effective tool to have on hand.

Ellie March 21st, 2008 12:42:00 PM

As I've previously posted, Patty, the cage muzzle should not be forgotten. We need to see more of these. Great post.

TorontoVet March 23rd, 2008 11:56:00 AM

Dr. Khuly, I don't know if you get comments on ooold posts, but I wonder if you have any suggestions for brands/models of muzzle?  You did say you had a preference, and I was wondering what the good ones are.

Thanks!

Galadriel January 2nd, 2009 12:14:16 AM

I need some advice. My lab Honey just came home from the hospital after nearly dying because she was eating junk. I want to send her in the yard, but im afraid. She eats anything...twigs, rocks, even brick!!! I have a crate for her, and a regular muzzle, but I need to know which muzzles would be good for what circumstances. She also will eat anything in the house, too...basically anything not nailed down. I can't keep her crated forever, and she misses going out with her dog friends in my yard...help!

Nina March 8th, 2009 09:24:02 AM

My German Shepherd has had ample exposure to people and was raised with cats and a Golden Retriever. She is well-behaved and I've never had an incident with her. Nonetheless, she has a ferocious bark and, let's face it, she looks intimidating to many people. I am seriously considering using a muzzle to put OTHERS at ease and to nearly eliminate the possibility of harm coming to other dogs or cats or people that happen to act badly. While walking my dog, I've often had unleashed dogs get too close. I live in a rural community, so while the population isn't so dense, some of the people are about controlling their pets in town. The key for me is finding a comfortable muzzle for her. I've done some research online and found a multitude of muzzles that allow drinking and don't impede breathing. Of course, I agree that training is paramount, training that is tailored to your dog and its breed. However, as one person wrote, Europe allows dogs in restaurants and other places, often with additional requirements, such as being well-trained, leashed, or muzzled. Assuming these do not harm the pet, doesn't the overall benefit of socializing the animal and perhaps mitigating some of the fear about certain breeds outweigh the added training, expense, or stigma muzzles may present?

Craig March 21st, 2009 04:22:10 PM

April 2/09

I have a 9 year old pug who has had surgery for the 3rd time because of eating "foreign objects".  The yard is all fenced but he eats whatever he finds there, including what has fallen out of the neighbours' trees (a crow's nest).

Since pugs don't have muzzles and their faces are flat, what kind of muzzle would fit him?

Christine

Christine April 2nd, 2009 09:19:17 AM

I grew up watching "Lady and the Tramp" and always thought cage muzzles were cruel.  Then I got Max.  He's an 8 year old german shepherd love-bug who is other dog aggressive.  I spent years and $$$ with dog trainers, dog behaviorists and classes that helped very little.  He's a great dog on his own "turf" and with no other dogs present, but add a dog or put him in a new situation and he gets aggressive.  For years, we had a vet that came to the house and a groomer that did the same, but since moving, neither has been available.  And EVERYTHING is new to Max.  The cage muzzle has been invaluable.  Recently, as we dealt with perianal fistulas and found out no E-collar would deter him from that area, we've used the muzzle to promote healings during active outbreaks.

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