Which vets dock tails

Dog tail docking is done at the age of days. This then leads to the argument that the procedure causes no pain. The shrieking sound given by puppies when the tail is chopped off and during stitching is an indication of pain during the procedure, says the RSPCA. The dog may also feel pain as the sound heals due to damage and inflammation of the severed tissues.

Overall, the subject of docking in dogs remains controversial with advocates of the same seeing no ground for its banning. Opponents such as the American Veterinary Medical Association however discourages not only docking but also ear cropping. Dog tail docking is illegal in the UK, Australia and other parts of Europe but remains unregulated — albeit controversial — in most parts of the U.

Even in countries and areas of jurisdiction where dog tail docking is illegal, there are numerous exceptions when tail docking may be permissible by law.

These include:. Some dog breeds are so commonly docked that docking appears natural to them. These tend to fall within the Terrier and Spaniel category. The list below includes some of them:. We are likely to see more and more undocked dogs in these categories in the future as more and more countries ban the practice. This is usually attributed to a genetic mutation that causes some puppies to be born with short tails. The photos below portrays dogs with docked tails:.

If you still feel that you want to go ahead and dock your new canine friend, this question may then follow in your mind: how much does dog tail docking cost? The price for tail docking varies widely depending on the method used, location and other factors. You may also incur an additional office visit cost. Registered users won't see this advert. Sign up for free! Menu for this breed Breed info Photos Forum Want more?

Find dog breed info Dog Forum Forums Quick Links. Members Quick Links. Breedia Dog Forum. I have a litter of Doberman Pinscher pups that were born a few days ago. Sadly, my veterinarian is refusing to dock their tails. She is one of those tree huggers that thinks it's "cruel" to dock their tails. I am so upset. I asked her for a referral to a vet that does dock tails and she says that she won't do that, as she doesn't condone the practice.

She said she will remove dewclaws, but is going to charge me for local anesthesia! I told her that they are newborn puppies and can't feel anything, yet she is so ignorant that she thinks they need local anesthesia and refuses to remove the dewclaws without!

I didn't even bother asking her about ear cropping! Does anybody know how to remove dewclaws and tails at home? The last thing I want is puppies with tails. That brings down their purchase price dramatically and they look like gross mutts! Your vet is in line with what is allowed by law here in the UK, except for the shortening of tails in bona fide working gundog lines. As you mention ear cropping, I presume you are in the US, and so can only suggest that you either try some other vets, or ask the stud dog's owner, or your bitches breeder for advice.

It has been claimed that tail docking is not painful as long as it is done correctly by an experienced vet before the puppy is five days old. This is because the nervous system has not been fully developed at this point, and this is why the procedure must be done before this time. It is also painful for puppies any older than five days old to have their tail docked, and it is mandatory in most places that any tail docking performed past this age be done with the dog under anesthesia because of this.

In addition, some tail docking has led to chronic pain in dogs later in life due to nerve problems that occur as the dog grows. As a result, many countries have removed tail docking from every breed standard for dog shows. This way, your purebred can still compete in dog shows even if they do not have a docked tail. Here are some countries where tail docking in dogs is either wholly banned or tightly regulated. As of now, tail docking is not illegal within all of the United States.

However, many states have rules and regulations surrounding this practice, and most American vets do not condone this practice for aesthetic reasons. Many states are even considering passing a state law making the procedure illegal within their state. Here is a short list of some different Poodle mixes that sometimes have docked tails. Of course, you may also find some of the above mixed-breed dogs without a docked tail, especially in areas where tail docking is illegal or discouraged.

This is not only because it is unnecessary and only serves an aesthetic purpose, but it can potentially cause long-term problems for the dog.