Caudectomy, another name for tail docking, is the surgical removal of a section of the tail.
The term “tail docking” is not used to describe caudectomy when it is carried out for medical reasons. It may be medically beneficial for the pet if part of the tail is removed if a dog (or cat) breaks his or her tail in a way that prevents adequate healing. Similarly, a caudectomy can be beneficial medically for a pet who has a serious wound or infection on their tail. Caudectomy is occasionally done to ensure that tumors on the tail are adequately removed or to help treat skin infections under the tail brought on by too many skin folds.
Caudectomy is known as tail docking when it is carried out for cosmetic purposes rather than medical ones. Tail docking is a cosmetic procedure, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Although it is done to change a dog’s physical appearance to meet certain breed standards, it has not been shown to benefit the animal in terms of health. Tail docking, therefore, remains a controversial procedure.
The tails of some working and hunting dogs (like German short-haired pointers) were traditionally docked by their owners because it was believed to lessen the possibility of trauma or injury to the tail while the dog performed his or her duties. Additionally, it was believed that having the dog’s tail docked would help keep it clean while it was working. However, limited scientific evidence exists to support these assertions.
The standard for the specific dog breed determines how much of the tail is removed during a tail docking. The remaining tail segment typically ranges in length from 14 inch (for a Norwich terrier, for instance) to 1 14 inches (for a giant schnauzer). A scalpel can be used to surgically separate the bones in the tail. Suture material can then be used to close the tiny incision. Laser surgery or electrosurgery are also options. However, in some cases a constricting band is used.
Most often, tail docking is done on puppies between the ages of three and five days. Prior to surgery, the area can be numbed with local anesthesia (with or without sedation), but the procedure is occasionally carried out without it. The surgery should be delayed until the dog is 8 to 12 weeks old if it is not carried out before the dog is 5 days old. If there is going to be surgery, general anesthesia is advised.
General anesthesia is used if a medical caudectomy is performed on an adult dog. Depending on the condition being treated, the tail’s length may be reduced.
Pet owners rarely need to provide any care because tail docking is typically done when puppies are just a few days old, prior to being sold or adopted.
If a puppy’s tail is docked later on (between 8 and 12 weeks old), there might still be a suture there when it is bought or adopted. If so, until the wound has fully healed, the puppy should not be allowed to lick it. Similarly, the dam or other littermates might attempt to lick the area, which should be avoided. Notify your veterinarian right away if any swelling, discharge, or discoloration of the area is noticed.
If a caudectomy was performed on an older animal for a medical reason, there will probably be sutures or bandages to keep the area clean. Sutures should be regularly examined for bleeding, swelling, or discharge if they are present. If there is a bandage, it should be regularly examined for moisture, slippage, or soiling. An Elizabethan collar might be required if the animal tries to lick the affected area. This collar, which has the shape of a cone, goes over the pet’s head and prevents access to the back of the body. If necessary, your veterinarian can fit your pet with the appropriate-sized collar.
Thank you for your question. At her age, an amputation would be more appropriate than a tail docking. It is not uncommon to perform this procedure on dogs whose tail tips have circulation issues. It would be best to make an appointment with a veterinarian because they can look at the tail and let you know what would be involved in the amputation since I cannot see her or examine her. I hope that all goes well for Sadie.
A dog’s tail can be surgically removed through a caudectomy. This may occasionally be carried out for medical reasons or for aesthetic reasons. The term “tail docking” is commonly used when the procedure is cosmetic. When a puppy is just a few days old, the straightforward procedure of tail docking is frequently carried out.
For many years, my Sadie has been biting her tail. She’s actually shortened her tail by quite a bit. We do try to keep the bandage on when she breaks the skin, but this month, she wasn’t willing to do so because she was in heat and chewed on it more than usual. I’m aware that having a GS tail doxxed is uncommon, but she has been making herself miserable for years. To put an end to this once and for all, I want to have her tail doxxed.
Medical caudectomy, on the other hand, is slightly more complicated. A veterinary surgeon who holds board certification from the ACVS should perform the procedure. In many cases, the tail’s severe infections or injuries can be treated by having the tail removed. Some jurisdictions only permit the use of caudectomy for medical purposes. In fact, the practice of breed standard tail docking has been outlawed in many nations.
The area around the incision needs to be kept as clean as possible and checked for any signs of infection. To help with this measure, bandages may be used; they will probably need to be changed frequently. Two weeks following the procedure, a follow-up visit is required, at which time all sutures can be taken out. A tumor that has been removed will be given to a lab for analysis. Upon receiving lab results, a treatment regimen may be initiated.
The blood supply to the tail’s end is not as abundant as that to other tissues, and it is not as well suited for collateral circulation as many other tissues are. As a result, these injuries tend not to heal well. To protect the tail from further blows while it attempts to heal, veterinarians have developed all kinds of bizarre bandaging. However, any bandage is challenging to maintain, particularly given the motion at the tail tip and the likelihood of being chewed.
The bottom line is that it’s a surgery. When the puppies are young (days old), before the tissues have fully calcified, the surgery is less painful and the recovery is quicker, but it is still surgery. Even now, here at Tier 1 VMC, there are still veterinarians willing to perform this procedure. However, before pursuing this procedure, the benefits and drawbacks should be considered.
Our dogs have tails; they use them to express themselves; they aid in balance (especially during athletic maneuvers); and they can even act as a sort of rudder for a dog in the water. Dogs with docked tails get along just fine, but it’s best to be informed whether it’s an elective docking or a medically necessary amputation. Many veterinarians are still willing to perform the procedure with the least amount of pain and risk for the numerous breeds that still have their tails docked throughout the world. Many situations call for it, while others have a strong desire for it. In any case, your vet or the vets at Tier 1 VMC can assist you in navigating the situation. Just open the lines of communication.
Dr. The Tier 1 Veterinary Medical Center’s urgent care coordinator is Paige Wallace. Born and raised right here in the Mat-Su Valley, Dr. Wallace served in the US Army, where she received her education and veterinary training. She was a Captain with the 62nd Medical Brigade’s 218th Medical Detachment Veterinary Service Support. Dr. Wallace brings a wealth of knowledge and the ability to think on his feet to the Tier 1 VMC team due to his extensive experience treating trauma cases in remote locations with little access to resources.
Most of the tissue is still soft when puppies’ tails are “docked” or “bobbed” within the first five days. Docking early results in less pain and more rapid healing. However, the procedure is usually done without anesthesia. As a newborn, local anesthesia is only occasionally used because it is thought to be a less painful procedure. Additionally, a pup so young would be at a significant risk from sedation or general anesthesia. Because it is a full amputation and extremely painful, the procedure needs general and typically local anesthesia when done later in life.
Fortunately, the majority of veterinarians and the general public are beginning to disapprove of routine tail docking. Natural long tails and floppy ears are becoming more popular than the cropped ear and docked tail styles (which, in my opinion, are more attractive).
Because the spinal cord extends further down the vertebral column in young animals than it does in adults, other scientists and researchers speculate that they may be more sensitive to pain than adults.
Only a veterinarian and only under general anesthesia should perform tail docks on adult dogs, at which point it is regarded as a tail amputation.
In the U. S. tail docking by stating that it is “integral to defining and preserving breed character and/or enhancing good health,” according to the American Kennel Club (AKC). The message is clear: an undocked show dog is not likely to score highly for conformation because several breed standards advise that an undocked tail be “severely penalized,” even though the AKC has no rules that specifically require docking. Dog owners who want to compete in dog shows frequently experience extreme pressure to dock their dogs’ tails.
Some puppies experienced such high levels of stress during the procedure that they passed away from shock or blood loss.
FAQ
Can you dock a dog’s tail at any age?
Most often, tail docking is done on puppies between the ages of three and five days. Prior to surgery, the area can be numbed with local anesthesia (with or without sedation), but the procedure is occasionally carried out without it.
Is it painful to dock a dog’s tail?
A: Tailing docking is painful. It is challenging to gauge the degree or length of the pain under ideal or typical conditions.
How much does it cost to amputate a dogs tail?
Amputation of the hind leg costs between $150 and $1700; amputation of the tail costs between $1050 and 950; gastrotomy (stomach surgery) costs between $160 and $1850; and pyometra (uterine infection/removal) costs between $1625 and 1500.