So to take that to one of the two logical conclusions:
1. Tail injuries are not a welfare issue for dogs. They are not causing them pain or distress. Therefore there is no need to dock dogs tails in the first place.
2. People are going against their legal and moral responsibilities to the animals under their care and not seeking veterinary attention when the animals require it. It is a criminal offence to cause pain or suffering to an animal by not seeking professional care. Obviously if tail injuries were painful and distressing then their would be a justification in prophylactic docking.
Your call.
[Personally I'd argue that all but the most minor do require veterinary treatment, but what do I know]
I don't go to the Doctor or A&E when I cut my finger, bruise my leg or strain a muscle etc. I twisted my hip 2 weeks ago stalking still limping but not been to the doctor unless it is serious the body over time will repair itself FACT !! so why do we have to rush to the VET when animals have injuries that time will heal. As I said the small animal owner is now the vet's cash cow.
When I was a youngster there was 1 small animal vet in a 12 mile radius he opened Tuesday and Thursday only 5pm to 7pm. You took your dog to be inocculated at 12 and 14 weeks then never saw the vet unless it was an absolute emergency as they made their money from large animals on farms. Small animals were just pocket money to vets as everyone paid cash as in those days flexible friends and check books did not exist If you wanted wormers,flea treatments, eye ointments,ear drops, milk suppression tablets for bitches that still lactated when pups were weening etc you went to the PET SHOP not the vet to buy your treatments. Dogs did not get castrated Bitches were not speyed. There was no such thing as Pet Insurance. My journey to the office was 17 miles and until I got to the built up area every farm had dairy herds due to changing farm practises all but the farm where I live the herds have gone. There are now 12 vetinary practises where there was 1 all specialising in small animals open 5 days aweek from 0930 am til 1800pm with some open Saturday am and costs have gone through the roof. I loaded for a chap that supplied vets with vetinary drugs he told me that dog vacines for the now 6 & 12 week inocculations cost 50p and vets charge £40-60. A friend rang his vet for a worming tablet and was told bring your dog in this he did and for the vet to give one worm tablet was charge £17-00 Drontal wormers £1-55 Cestem wormers £1-20 per tablet.
A dog man I picked up with had a Labrador that tore a ham string he took it to the vets and was told that it needed an operation and physio aftercare and would cost £4k (£4000-00) he said no and took the dog home. Next shoot he was told to take the dog to a vet that still did large animals approx an hours drive away the operation was done for £180-00 HUGE difference in price. The vet said keep the dog on regular short walks to aid recovery no physio was carried out. I had a dog that developed entropion and was quoted £3k by the animal eye hospital I took it to the same vet where the Lab went job done £90-00. The same vet charged £8-00 for the two puppy inocculations.
When micro chipping first started in the area approx 14 years ago vets were charging £40-00 I asked how much to chip my 7 dogs thinking that I may get it done cheaper but was quoted £280-00. The local authority where I worked the Enviromental Health Dept Dog Wardens introduced a disc register whereby you registered your details and were given a disc with a number on so that if your dog got lost and had the disc on its collar it was returned to you. I asked if they could get micro chipping done they looked into it and contacted the dogs trust. Micro chipping events were organised through out the Borough and published in the local press and on notice boards and cost £5-00 per dog. I arrived with my dogs to find massive que and a wait of arround an hour when the chap that was doing the chipping saw I had 7 he did them for £25-00. Vets then offered free chipping if you had your dog/cat inocculated at their practise.
My wife has her own dogs I bought her a Border Terrier pup for Christmas her vet asked did she want to bring the pup to puppy socialising class each month good job I was with her as I asked how many pups attended the vet replied oh it is to socialise the pup with the vet I asked how much and the cost was £27-50 per visit each month until six months old with a free health check at six months. I declined at six months old the vet text my wife to say bring pup in for health check so I rang and aked why the reply was we now recommend neuturing. My wife vet also recommended Advantix for flea/tic treatment so she bought it. I came to order effipro (same as frontline) my wife said she wanted advantix I rang the online vet drug supplier and was told to order advantix a prescrition was required. My wife's vet wanted £40-00 for the prescription.
Tell a farmer his cow is going to cost £4k and he would say to the vet your having a laugh and would ring the nacker man before the vet left the farm drive.
So do not tell me the small animal owner is not the vets cash cow.
Jimbo