tail cutting operation

[evelyn1157]

can anyone tell me the details about the operation for cutting the tails of dogs like rott weilers ,boxers,etc?thanx

[Logan]

All I can tell you is that I hope you won't consider it. Hopefully in the future, this will go away completely. It must hurt.

[evelyn1157]

i find it cruel too. why did this trend of cutting off tails start anyway? i juz wanted to know how they do it.

[AdoreMyDogs]

It's not pretty. First they take puppies away from mom dog, otherwise mom dog would FLIP out if she had to hear what the vet and assistants hear. The puppies are usually less then 7 days old at the time of the surgery.

An assistant picks up a pup, turns it's butt towards the doc and with surgical scissors, he proceeds to cut the tail off. It's usually off in 3 slices, sometimes 4, depending on the size of the pup. The puppy is not put under any sort of local pain killer, nor is it anestasized. You can never imagine the sound that comes from those tiny babies. It's worse then you could ever imagine.

Doc then proceeds to stitch up the bloody stump.

I can't lie, I like the way docked tails look on the breeds who typically get it done, but I wouldn't EVER do it to a dog! Not ever!

[Pam]

Leslie...no anesthesia? I never knew that! Poodles have their tails shortened and mine have been no exception. I confess I never thought much about it before as it was done long before I ever saw them. If it was up to me to actually have to do the cutting, their tails would still be long! It's much the same way I feel about eating meat. I enjoy a good steak, but if I had to personally kill the cow I would never have another one. We get sort of detached from what is really going on when these things are done by others.

[evelyn1157]

oh my goodness!!!!! what do u mean it comes off in 3 slices
graham looks so happy

[lizbud]

Leslie,

Just for the record, tail docking without anesthesia is
illegal in Indiana.. Was recently a case in the local paper
about some bozo who actually did this & was reported
by the neighbors. The guy was arrested and the puppies
(pit bulls) were turned over to a local shelter. Of course
all the publicity about the case spurred many people to
call and offer them good homes. More people called to
help than there were pups.

[AdoreMyDogs]

Originally posted by lizbud
Leslie,

Just for the record, tail docking without anesthesia is
illegal in Indiana.. Was recently a case in the local paper
about some bozo who actually did this & was reported
by the neighbors. The guy was arrested and the puppies
(pit bulls) were turned over to a local shelter. Of course
all the publicity about the case spurred many people to
call and offer them good homes. More people called to
help than there were pups.

Liz, that is so terrible, but so typical of some people. Yuck! Unless things have changed since I worked in the vet field, puppies that are between a few days old and a week old are considered to "not be able to register pain", regardless of the blood curdeling screams that comes out of their little mouths. All the people who are "pro" tail docking always use this as an excuse to make it easier on themselves. They do not give pain killers because the puppies "can't register pain". I do hope things have changed, but from what I understand, it is still the opinion that pups are without feeling. Sick, isn't it? The whole issue of cosmetic surgery on dogs is sad.

[lizbud]

Leslie,

I believe you are right about the age of the
pups involved. Breeders will automatically dock
tails on days old pups. I'm sure it must be very painful, but they're thinking of the "breed look"
and probably figure the pups will recover
quickly. Oh, the incident here in Indy, the jerk
was not arrested for doing it without painkillers,
but for 'acting as a Vet' without a license and
also animal cruelty charges.He cropped the ears
of the pups with a sizzors and left them untreated
(no stitches or bandages). So it was 'cropping'
not 'docking' that was involved. I for one, would
never have either done to any dog I had. Liz.