Tail Docking in Dogs

For hundreds of years, dog owners have chosen to dock, or surgically remove, a portion of their dogs’ tails in order to achieve a certain look or style. While it was initially believed to have a certain purpose, like preventing rabies or increasing speed, most owners dock their dogs’ tails today for therapeutic or cosmetic reasons, sparking a debate on whether or not it is ethical to do so. In fact, the American Veterinary Medical Association recently came out against tail cropping for solely cosmetic purposes.

If you have questions concerning docking your dog’s tail, you should seek professional advice. Contact your local Austin Veterinarian Clinic today for the advice you need.

Tail Docking Methods

There are at least 17 breeds of dog with naturally docked tails, including Doberman Pinschers, Boxers, and Pointers. Tail docking is almost always performed on very young puppies and is performed without any anesthesia. The two most common methods of tail docking are:

• Using a rubber ligature to constrict blood supply until the tail eventually falls off

• Surgically clamping and severing the tail with a scalpel or scissors (most common)

If vets amputate the tail, they close the wound with one or two sutures. While the majority of owners dock tails for cosmetic reasons, some have it done because of medical problems like repeated injuries, infections, or cancers.

Contact Us

Professionals suggest that owners only dock the tails of young puppies. If you have any questions regarding tail docking or other pet concerns, contact your local Austin Vet Clinic today.