For example, when a chronic neuroma forms at the amputation site. Neuromas are often very painful. The tail is a major communication tool between dogs. Thus the tail also serves as a protective mechanism for dogs, part of the various strategies employed by dogs to communicate with one another; establish boundaries and to avert aggressive encounters. The tail also communicates important messages to humans during human-dog interactions.
Thus the tail plays an important role in public health and safety. Therefore tails must not be removed for any reason other than for therapeutic purposes. The few remaining advocates of tail docking give a range of unconvincing explanations to defend their views. For instance, they say that some heavy coated breeds need to have their tails docked for hygiene reasons even though many undocked breeds have thick coats and regular care is all that is necessary to maintain good hygiene.
Another explanation is that docking prevents tail damage in hunting dogs. But most docked puppies are kept as family pets and are never used for hunting and research has shown that docking does not reduce tail injury in the general dog population. Furthermore, many breeds of hunting dogs do not have docked tails, and the length of the tail in docked breeds varies according to the breed standard.
The development of coccygeal cartilage to bone may have also contributed to the docking failure. This is more pronounced in poor resource setting of many African countries where money is a prime factor, and docking is done to enhance sales of puppies [ 7 ].
The process enhanced chemical restraint of puppy and eased administration of epidural nerve block to provide intra-operative and postoperative analgesia [ 34 ]. Cosmetic tail docking is cruel to puppies, and other species, especially when done without anaesthesia.
Veterinary and Animal Welfare Associations in African countries should therefore move a legislative process that could lead to a ban of the procedure. Bennett PC, Perini E. Tail docking in dogs: a review of the issues.
Aust Vet J. Hedlund CS. Surgery of the integumentary system. In: Fossum TW, editor. Small Animal Surgery. Louis MO : Mosby; Google Scholar. The European Convention for the protection of pet animals and tail docking in dogs.
Rev Sci tech Off Int Epiz. CAS Google Scholar. Morton D. Docking of dogs: practical and ethical aspects. Vet Rec. Wansbrough RK. Cosmetic Tail docking in dogs. Animal Welfare Act Chapter 45 p. Accessed 11 September Akinrinmade JF.
J Vet Med Anim Health. Article Google Scholar. Accessed 19 September Risk factors for tail injuries in Great Britain. The tail injury justification of canine tail docking: Prevalence, causes, treatments and risk factors of canine tail injuries in New-Zealand.
Accessed 19 September, Behavioural observerations of puppies undergoing tail docking. Appl Anim Behav Sci. Amputation neuroma of docked tails in dogs. Vet Pathol. Fitzgerald M. The neurobiology of fetal and neonatal pain.
A Textbook of Pain. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone; Res Vet Sci. Moloney V, Kent JE. Assessment of acute pain in farm animals using behavioural and physiological measurements. They will be docked as puppies to help prevent these injuries from occurring when they are adults.
There are many dog breeds that commonly have their tails docked as newborn puppies. These include doberman pinschers , rottweilers , various spaniels, Yorkshire terriers , German shorthaired pointers, poodles, schnauzers, viszlas, Irish terriers, airedale terriers, and others. If an adult dog needs its tail docked it is because it has an injury or other medical reason for the amputation.
Tail docking in adult dogs should not be done simply for aesthetic reasons. Tail docking is painful even in puppies. Cutting through skin, muscle, nerves, and between bones is never a non-painful procedure, even if a puppy is only 2 days old. It will still feel the procedure but many breeders do it without anesthetics or sedation since the puppies are easily restrained.
This is a controversial procedure but still widely accepted by many. Adult dog tail docking is even more painful though and should never be performed without anesthesia and by anyone other than a veterinarian. Tail docking is not without complications, even if performed by a veterinarian. Tail docking in puppies is much less difficult then tail docking in an adult dog but regardless of the age of the dog when the tail docking is performed, it is at risk for bleeding, unmanaged pain, and anesthetic complications.
Puppy tail docking only requires a cut of the scissors and a few stitches or some skin glue but it is recommended to numb the area prior to the procedure if anesthesia is too high of a risk. Not all breeders choose to do this though. Adult dog tail docking requires general anesthesia and is a more complicated procedure since the bones are fully developed. They truly care about you as their clients but more importantly, they care about your fur family. They have shared tears, laughter, and hugs with me on multiple occasions.
If you are looking for that special vet, one that will hug your pet as much as you do, then you must give AHC a try. Phone: Fax: Email Us: ahc fidmail.
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