Tail Docking

Tail docking of dog Tail docking today is the amputation of a dog's tail at varying lengths to suit the recommendations of a breed Standard. Docking involves the amputation of the puppy's tail either with scissors, a knife or with a rubber band. The cut goes through many highly sensitive nerves in the tissues including skin, cartilage, and bone. This procedure is usually performed without any anaesthetic at between three to five days of age. The procedure can be performed by either a registered veterinary surgeon or by an experienced dog breeder. In many countries veterinarians are declining to perform this unnecessary procedure, meaning that breeders are now docking more dogs. The puppy has a fully developed nervous system and a well-developed sense of pain. While the puppy cannot tell us that it is in pain, many biological markers show that pain is occurring. Some breeds today have individuals that are occasionally born with deformed or short tails. This is a genetic abnormality, not usually found in the wild and is caused by intensive inbreeding of selected strains of dog to refine certain inherited characteristics BREEDS CONTAIN BOB- TAIL GENE. French Bulldogs, Boston Terriers, Corgies, Polish Lowlands, English Bull Dog and Australian Shepherds. If you know of any other breeds that should added to this list please let us know. What is the current basis for carrying out preventive tail amputation/partial amputation on working dogs? A: Some commentators consider a long tail to be a potential hazard for some breeds of working dogs. For example, it has been suggested that: •

A guard dog could be seized by the tail to thwart its attack.15

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Hunting dogs, such as pointers, may damage their tail tip in underbrush.7,4,16

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Long-haired dogs may become more soiled if they have a hanging tail.17

These justifications for docking working dogs' tails lack substantial scientific support, with the exception of some suggestive, but inconclusive, data relating to German Shorthaired Pointers before and after a docking ban in Sweden.18 Differences between breeds that are docked and those that are not are often minor. For example among the very similar Pointer, German Longhaired Pointer and German Shorthaired Pointer, only the German Shorthaired Pointer is traditionally docked.19 Some argue that subtle differences in the morphologic types of their tails justify this distinction. Docking of toy spaniels' tails, such as those of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, is now allowed, but was not typically performed in the ancestral breeds.20

Q: Why is tail docking currently carried out on non-working dogs? A: Tail docking of some breeds may be based on a belief that their non-working members experience risks similar to working dogs; more commonly, however, it is to conform to a distinctive breed appearance or standard. Survey data indicate that preventive tail docking of pet dogs is unnecessary.21 Therefore tail docking of non-working dogs, even if their breed was originally developed for working purposes, is considered a cosmetic procedure unless evidence exists to the contrary. Q: Do dogs need to have tails? A: It is natural for most dogs to have tails based upon their descent from a tailed species. However there is no strong evidence that naturally bobbed or surgically docked dogs are physically or psychologically disadvantaged. There is some early, but inconclusive, data that raises questions as to whether docking impairs communication with other dogs22 or may increase the risk of developing incontinence.23 Q: Is tail docking painful? A: Tailing docking is painful.24 The intensity or duration of the pain under ideal or typical circumstances is difficult to quantify. Q: Why does AVMA policy oppose cosmetic tail docking? A: The essential question is not "How harmful is the procedure?", but rather "Is there sufficient justification for performing it?" Performing a surgical procedure for cosmetic purposes (i.e., for the sake of appearance) implies the procedure is not medically indicated. Because dogs have not been shown to derive self-esteem or pride in appearance from having their tails docked (common reasons for performing cosmetic procedures on people), there is no obvious benefit to our patients in performing this procedure. The only benefit that appears to be derived from cosmetic tail docking of dogs is the owner's impression of a pleasing appearance. In the opinion of the AVMA, this is insufficient justification for performing a surgical procedure. Q: What forms of tail removal would not be considered cosmetic? A: The naturally bobbed animal is not considered "docked." Bobbed genetics exist in many pedigreed breeds (e.g., Old English Sheepdog, Australian Shepherd17) and have been introduced into others (e.g., Boxer25). Some breeders, both historically and currently, would prefer problematic conformation to be corrected via breeding alone. Removal of a dog's tail for medical reasons is not referred to as "docking." The most common reason for amputation or partial amputation of a dog's tail is traumatic injury where repair of the entire tail is not possible or advisable. Amputation may also occur in the case of tail deformities that negatively impact a dog's function or increase risk of injury. An argument might be made for removal of the tail of a dog on the basis of repeated prior injury. Precautionary removal of the tail of a young puppy needs to be based on compelling evidence that the animal is at high risk of tail trauma due to congenital defect, breed and/or planned working activity. However, such a justification should be supported by evidence such as empirical data or impartial expert opinion based on extensive, directly relevant experience.

AMPUTATION OF TAIL IN HORSE

INDICATIONS: Injury,Malingnant tumour,To prevent the horse over the reins,And to improve the appearance of the hind-quarters.IT is the fashion to dock hackney horse. Except for the first two indications,the operation should bestrongly condemned as it is cruel to deprive a horse of the of this ornamental appendage as s protection against flies about the hind parts of the body. PREPARATION: Turn backthe hairs at the site of operation, and maintain them in position by a string tied round tail.Clip the hairs below this point. SITE: IN case of a malignant disease or injury, at a point well abovethe site of lesion or at the base of appendage.Otherwise leave sufficient tail to cover the vulva in mare and about the same length in horse. AIM at performing the section through an intervertebral joint. CONTROL: IF the docking knife is to be used have a teitch applied and a fore-foot held up or a side fetter or service hobbles put on. Inject local aneasthetic hypodermically in 4 places equidistant round the tail just above the site of operation. ALTERNATIVE PRECATION: TO have the horse standing in a stall close to the trevis with the held out behind heel-post,while operator stands to left of the latter; TO have the tail held over a half-door,which serves as sa protection againts a kick from the patient. PROCEDURE: