You’ve probably seen dogs with wiggly little nubs instead of long tails — Cocker Spaniels, Boxers, Rottweiliers, and many other breeds. Most of them weren’t born that way. Tail docking is a surgical procedure often performed on puppies to remove most of the tail.
Puppies can have their tails docked up to eight days of age, but the procedure is most often performed on puppies between two and five days old. The puppy will be placed on his back and an incision will be made near the base of the tail. At this point, the tail is mostly cartilage, not bone. Stitches will close the skin over the tail tissue. Only local anesthesia (if any) will be used.
For dogs eight weeks old and older, a general anesthesia will be needed to induce unconsciousness. The incision in the tail will be made between vertebrae, not through cartilage. Stitches will close the skin and the surgery site will be bandaged.
In both cases, the surgery is relatively quick — a half hour or less, depending on preparation time and anesthesia used. Tail docking comes with few complications and risks; the most frequently reported problems are reactions to general anesthesia (if used), post-operative infection, and stitches opening over the incision. Aftercare on the owner’s part includes keeping an eye on the incision and stitches, to watch for infection. Your veterinarian may use absorbable stitches, which do not need to be removed; otherwise, your pet will need to go back to the vet in 5-7 days for removal of stitches.
Is tail docking a cruel procedure? The answer depends on who you ask. Those in favor of docking will cite one of three reasons:
- To avoid tail damage. Did you know that an over-enthusiastic wag can cause tail injuries? Tail injuries can be difficult to treat; my brother’s dog Lily lost half of her tail to an infection that just wouldn’t clear up.
- To promote hygiene in long-haired dogs.
- To adhere to breed standards for show dogs.