Docking Tail

[VanGogh76]

Dog has managed to get happy tail for a second time and I'm now considering getting him docked as it's a medical reason, the vet however has said that they will only take a 1/3 of the tail off which

a) still leaves a load of tail to potentially catch whilst he's out working
b) looks bloody ridiculous

Any recommendations for vets around the Surrey area

 

[countrryboy]

Wot breed of dog is it?
1/3rd off might be enough

Iv had 2 adult dogs tails amputed, ( both lab X's, wire and Springer) both nae bother but my vets are real decent 1s and know the craic and took them fairly short.
I should say I never asked for it short, just told them to cut to wot ever they thought best, wasn't bothered about looks.
A mate has his Springer done at the same time had had to be done a 2nd time as wouldn't heel as just getting damaged again.

 

[Farmer_J]

Our pup came 1/4 docked, will see how it holds up in the season but so far no problems.

 

[Sonicdmb73]

A third is about standard for Spaniels now. My Cocker has had about two thirds off as was the way then. My much younger Springer has had a third off. I don’t see it as detrimental, so far no damage at all.
However I do know that it can be hard to get a tail to heal. I bred from my then Springer many years ago. Being a bit naive and had not checked if my vets would dock. They refused even though I was keeping one to work. Long story short dog got tail damage and it was a pig to get healed. The vets then offered amputation to prevent further tail damage. I hit the roof, told them in no uncertain terms that had he been done as a pup. Suffice to say I have a different vet.
My advice is speck to your vet, it might be they are concerned about infection or possible further amputation. If the first doesn’t heal. It was a risk explained to me by my Vet.

 

[dunwater]

As above, 1/3 off is standard dock and generally enough to prevent further damage.

 

[jimmy milnes]

I've had 3 GSPs now first 2 were docked at half an never had a problem, but the 3rd I've imported and has probably a quarter or maybe a third off, she got happy tail from the box in the truck so I've been having her on the back seat an alls well now totally healed up..

 

[dunwater]

This is about right..

 

[wildfowler.250]

Dog has managed to get happy tail for a second time and I'm now considering getting him docked as it's a medical reason, the vet however has said that they will only take a 1/3 of the tail off which

a) still leaves a load of tail to potentially catch whilst he's out working
b) looks bloody ridiculous

Any recommendations for vets around the Surrey area

I haven’t docked pups since graduating for various reasons depending on practice policy / changing legality etc but have done tail amputations,(which are a bit grim). There’s a difference between getting a tail docked in a pup and an amputation in an adult dog,(I’m not aware of a length restriction for that). I avoid getting involved in these sort of politics but it might be worth querying the length and discussing the differences with your vet between an elective docking with restrictions and an amputation due to repeated injury.

 

[countrryboy]

I'd agree with the above, both my tail amputations are quite literally stumps, 4 or 6" long.

And the vet chose that length but they healed no problem and bar bother since, which is it u want as a big op, well full anesthetic.
As both mine were mongrals they got the snip as well.

 

[User00025]

Personally I find the whole thing a bit ridiculous. Prior to the woke brigade and vets being the only ones to dock tails most of us did our own.
I must have docked quite a large number of both Spaniel and Terrier pups over 40 or so years. Vets do it no differently to how I did it, in fact not as well some times. It was always half off on Spaniels and two thirds on terriers, never lost a pup all done at three days old. It makes me sick to see a Spaniel covered in blood from "Happy tail" and I think it's total cruelty for a vet not to dock such dogs.

 

[VanGogh76]

 

[VanGogh76]

Thanks for the advice, I'm going to try and keep it from amputation as long as possible as it has pretty much healed up, despite his ability to bash it into anything and everything

 

[countrryboy]

I resorted too the 25mm pipe lagging and just duct tapped it on ( althou I put some proper tape on the tail 1st) was the best thing I found to try a le a tail heal if hitting of solid things in house.
Sometimes putting a sock on top of lagging helps stop them chewing it.
U might get away with the narrower stuff on ha tail.

I mind once the vet put an empty syringe over a labs tail, think it hit a door style o ay ou off vets and smashed and actually cut his tail a wee bit.
Thought it was a silly idea.

Is it dogs tail getting cut working? Or just normal day to day life?
If working just get it done now, gives it plenty off time to heal before shooting season,
,otherwise u might have it injured throu season again and off longer after op.

 

[VanGogh76]

I resorted too the 25mm pipe lagging and just duct tapped it on ( althou I put some proper tape on the tail 1st) was the best thing I found to try a le a tail heal if hitting of solid things in house.
Sometimes putting a sock on top of lagging helps stop them chewing it.
U might get away with the narrower stuff on ha tail.

I mind once the vet put an empty syringe over a labs tail, think it hit a door style o ay ou off vets and smashed and actually cut his tail a wee bit.
Thought it was a silly idea.

Is it dogs tail getting cut working? Or just normal day to day life?
If working just get it done now, gives it plenty off time to heal before shooting season,
,otherwise u might have it injured throu season again and off longer after op.

I don't know if he caught it on a retrieve or just bashed it. It's the second time it's happened and he's nearly 3 so I'm hoping his tail should be hardened. He picks up rabbits all year, along with pigeon shooting, deer stalking and finding foxes when the thermal loses them in the long grass, so we don't really have an off season! It seems to have healed up I just put gauze on him and tried to use vet wrap, but that's a whole different story... Turns out a small plaster works best