Shock collar: Difference between revisions
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From the electric shock itself, nerve damage or burns could potentially result, particularly with extended use at high power levels. The [[electrostimulation]] article provides more detail about the risks associated with electricity and the human body. | From the electric shock itself, nerve damage or burns could potentially result, particularly with extended use at high power levels. The [[electrostimulation]] article provides more detail about the risks associated with electricity and the human body. | ||
One of the most common risks associated with electric shock is not the shock itself but secondary reactions to it. The person who is shocked could potentially have an involuntary reaction being shocked, such as falling or flailing. The surprise, stress, or pain caused a secondary effect of the shock could potentially result in vasovagal syncope (fainting. | One of the most common risks associated with electric shock is not the shock itself but secondary reactions to it. The person who is shocked could potentially have an involuntary reaction being shocked, such as falling or flailing. The surprise, stress, or pain caused a secondary effect of the shock could potentially result in vasovagal syncope (fainting). | ||
It's important to consider the risks of wearing the collar, even if it is not activated. Ensure that body-safe materials are used such as stainless steel or titanium; contacts made of nickel should not be used as this can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Repeated exposure to nickel can cause an allergy to develop even if one did not already exist. | It's important to consider the risks of wearing the collar, even if it is not activated. Ensure that body-safe materials are used such as stainless steel or titanium; contacts made of nickel should not be used as this can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Repeated exposure to nickel can cause an allergy to develop even if one did not already exist. | ||
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As the neck is the only connection from the head to the rest of the body, it contains numerous critical organs and nerves. These include, but are not limited to, the vocal cords, vagus nerve, carotid artery, jugular vein, and spinal cord. When a shock collar is worn on the neck, as with any collar, it should fit comfortably and not restrict breathing or circulation. | As the neck is the only connection from the head to the rest of the body, it contains numerous critical organs and nerves. These include, but are not limited to, the vocal cords, vagus nerve, carotid artery, jugular vein, and spinal cord. When a shock collar is worn on the neck, as with any collar, it should fit comfortably and not restrict breathing or circulation. | ||
While vagus nerve stimulation is an an accepted medical treatment that involves delivering electrical impulses to the vagus nerve, the electrical output of a shock collar is very different than devices used for vagus nerve stimulation and cannot be directly compared. A known risk of vagus nerve stimulation is the risk of bradycardia (excessively low heart rate) or even cardiac asystole (stopping of the heart), but this is considered rare.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Capilupi |first=Michael J. |last2=Kerath |first2=Samantha M. |last3=Becker |first3=Lance B. |date=2020-02-03 |title=Vagus Nerve Stimulation and the Cardiovascular System |url=https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6996447/ |journal=Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine |volume=10 |issue=2 |pages=a034173 |doi=10.1101/cshperspect.a034173 |issn=2157-1422 |pmc=6996447 |pmid=31109966}}</ref> | While vagus nerve stimulation is an an accepted medical treatment that involves delivering electrical impulses to the vagus nerve, the electrical output of a shock collar is very different than devices used for vagus nerve stimulation and cannot be directly compared. A known risk of vagus nerve stimulation is the risk of bradycardia (excessively low heart rate) or even cardiac asystole (stopping of the heart), but this is considered rare.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Capilupi |first=Michael J. |last2=Kerath |first2=Samantha M. |last3=Becker |first3=Lance B. |date=2020-02-03 |title=Vagus Nerve Stimulation and the Cardiovascular System |url=https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6996447/ |journal=Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine |volume=10 |issue=2 |pages=a034173 |doi=10.1101/cshperspect.a034173 |issn=2157-1422 |pmc=6996447 |pmid=31109966}}</ref> With direct stimulation of the vagus nerve, the risk of vasovagal syncope is higher. | ||
Laryngospasm, an uncontrolled or involuntary muscular contraction (spasm) of the laryngeal muscles (including the vocal cords) could theoretically be triggered by electrical stimulation to the neck, but there is limited research about the mechanisms of action or the long-term effects of electrical stimulation on human laryngeal function.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Lundy |first=D. S. |last2=Casiano |first2=R. R. |last3=Landy |first3=H. J. |last4=Gallo |first4=J. |last5=Gallo |first5=B. |last6=Ramsey |first6=R. E. |date=1993-12 |title=Effects of vagal nerve stimulation on laryngeal function |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8293068 |journal=Journal of Voice: Official Journal of the Voice Foundation |volume=7 |issue=4 |pages=359–364 |doi=10.1016/s0892-1997(05)80259-0 |issn=0892-1997 |pmid=8293068}}</ref> | Laryngospasm, an uncontrolled or involuntary muscular contraction (spasm) of the laryngeal muscles (including the vocal cords) could theoretically be triggered by electrical stimulation to the neck, but there is limited research about the mechanisms of action or the long-term effects of electrical stimulation on human laryngeal function.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Lundy |first=D. S. |last2=Casiano |first2=R. R. |last3=Landy |first3=H. J. |last4=Gallo |first4=J. |last5=Gallo |first5=B. |last6=Ramsey |first6=R. E. |date=1993-12 |title=Effects of vagal nerve stimulation on laryngeal function |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8293068 |journal=Journal of Voice: Official Journal of the Voice Foundation |volume=7 |issue=4 |pages=359–364 |doi=10.1016/s0892-1997(05)80259-0 |issn=0892-1997 |pmid=8293068}}</ref> | ||
Revision as of 19:36, 1 May 2025
| Health risk | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Legal risk | Mild |
A shock collar, sometimes known as a remote training collar or e-collar, is a type of collar that is designed to deliver an electric shock to the neck of a dog. They are sometimes worn by humans for erotic electrostimulation. There are no commercially available collars designed for use on humans.
Background
Shock collars have two metal contacts that press up against the skin. When activated with a remote, the collar sends an electrical signal through these contacts, passing through the body in between them. Many models also include vibrate and/or tone functions as well.
Different manufacturers use different electrical signals and voltage levels in their shock collars. One manufacturer produces collars that can reach up to 8 kV.[1]
Appeal
Practitioners of this kink may be interested in the psychological aspects of control or ownership. Even if no shocks are administered, feeling the shock collar on the body can create a feeling of being controlled by another person. This kink is particularly popular in the furry community; this may be because of it involves the use of a device designed for animals on humans, which can help deepen the experience of role-playing as an anthropomorphic animal.
Some practitioners believe that the use of shock collars as a correction or punishment is safer than impact play as it does not expose the parties involved to the risk of repetitive strain injury.
Methods
Some common placement locations for shock collars include:
- The ankles
- The calves
- The thighs
- The testicles
- The neck - see notes on risks below
Risks
Health risks
There are three primary areas of health concern with the use of shock collars:
- Effects of the electric shock itself
- Secondary effects of the electric shock
- Effects of wearing a collar with metal prongs pressing into the body
From the electric shock itself, nerve damage or burns could potentially result, particularly with extended use at high power levels. The electrostimulation article provides more detail about the risks associated with electricity and the human body.
One of the most common risks associated with electric shock is not the shock itself but secondary reactions to it. The person who is shocked could potentially have an involuntary reaction being shocked, such as falling or flailing. The surprise, stress, or pain caused a secondary effect of the shock could potentially result in vasovagal syncope (fainting).
It's important to consider the risks of wearing the collar, even if it is not activated. Ensure that body-safe materials are used such as stainless steel or titanium; contacts made of nickel should not be used as this can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Repeated exposure to nickel can cause an allergy to develop even if one did not already exist.
On dogs, the most common injury resulting from shock collar use is pressure necrosis (a localized injury to the skin and/or underlying tissue as a result of pressure) from the prongs of the collar. This is generally a result of improper fit of the collar or prolonged wear.[2]
Use on the neck
As the neck is the only connection from the head to the rest of the body, it contains numerous critical organs and nerves. These include, but are not limited to, the vocal cords, vagus nerve, carotid artery, jugular vein, and spinal cord. When a shock collar is worn on the neck, as with any collar, it should fit comfortably and not restrict breathing or circulation.
While vagus nerve stimulation is an an accepted medical treatment that involves delivering electrical impulses to the vagus nerve, the electrical output of a shock collar is very different than devices used for vagus nerve stimulation and cannot be directly compared. A known risk of vagus nerve stimulation is the risk of bradycardia (excessively low heart rate) or even cardiac asystole (stopping of the heart), but this is considered rare.[3] With direct stimulation of the vagus nerve, the risk of vasovagal syncope is higher.
Laryngospasm, an uncontrolled or involuntary muscular contraction (spasm) of the laryngeal muscles (including the vocal cords) could theoretically be triggered by electrical stimulation to the neck, but there is limited research about the mechanisms of action or the long-term effects of electrical stimulation on human laryngeal function.[4]
Other risks associated with shocking the neck could include brain damage via hypoxia (baroreceptor activation at carotid sinus) and brain damage via electroconvulsive seizure. With that said, in medical literature, there are no documented cases of shock collars directly causing fatalities or permanent injury on humans.
Wireless security
In addition to health risks of the use of the shock collar, it is also important to consider that because shock collars use wireless communication, anyone in range with the proper tools and knowledge may be able to activate the collar, either by exploiting weaknesses in the protocol or simply recording and replaying the signal.[5] In some cases, this may be able to bypass any safety systems that are built in to the shock collar module. More expensive name brand shock collar modules may provide some protection against these attacks.
Risk mitigation
Take steps to ensure that the person wearing the shock collar is only shocked when intended. If the shock collar being used is not waterproof, ensure that it does not get wet, as damage to the internal electronics could cause unknown results. Consider what protections that the shock collar has against inadvertent activation; specifically, does it have features like an automatic timeout to prevent it from getting stuck on?
Ensure that the person who is wearing the shock collar is not placed in a position where a secondary reaction could result in injury; particularly, be careful of stairs, ladders, or sharp objects. Combining the use of shock collars with bondage can be helpful to mitigate this.
To reduce the risk of skin irritation or pressure necrosis, ensure that body-safe materials are used, and ensure that the prongs make good contact without pressing too deeply into the skin. Some manufacturers offer "comfort pads" that can reduce pressure on the skin and increase the contact area.[6]
Most practitioners of this kink recommend avoiding the neck if possible and instead placing the collar on other areas of the body. If that is not feasible, avoid the front and back of the neck and instead use the sides.
Known incidents
Medical case reports
RACKWiki incident reports
References
- ↑ Dhont, Philippe (2016-12-20). "The electrical signal in e-collars" (PDF).
- ↑ "Product Safety". PETT Partnership. Retrieved 2024-08-15.
- ↑ Capilupi, Michael J.; Kerath, Samantha M.; Becker, Lance B. (2020-02-03). "Vagus Nerve Stimulation and the Cardiovascular System". Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine. 10 (2): a034173. doi:10.1101/cshperspect.a034173. ISSN 2157-1422. PMC 6996447. PMID 31109966.
- ↑ Lundy, D. S.; Casiano, R. R.; Landy, H. J.; Gallo, J.; Gallo, B.; Ramsey, R. E. (1993-12). "Effects of vagal nerve stimulation on laryngeal function". Journal of Voice: Official Journal of the Voice Foundation. 7 (4): 359–364. doi:10.1016/s0892-1997(05)80259-0. ISSN 0892-1997. PMID 8293068.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ↑ Kuester, Tim. "DEFCON23 / WCTF: Shock Collar as a Service". GitHub Gist. Retrieved 2024-08-15.
- ↑ "TITANIUM COMFORT PAD". Dogtra.com.