The  Long and the short of tail docking
by Dr Jane Frazer, by the South African Veterinary Association.

Members of the public  may be surprised to learn that all dogs are born with tails and that the removal  of puppy’s tails is an unnecessary and painful mutilation. While it may appear  strange to see a Rottweiler with a tail, it is only because what we are  accustomed to - it would be equally odd to see a Labrador without a tail!


Why  Dock Tails?

The practice of docking dogs’ tails has been  around for hundred of years and for a variety of reasons. Maybe the most  understandable would have been to reduce the likelihood of injury of those dogs  used for ratting, fighting and hunting. However, it was also thought that  docking of the tail prevented rabies, increased the speed of the working dog and  even avoided the payment of tax!

The establishment of the kennel club in  the early 1900’s resulted in recognition of pedigreed dogs that had to conform  to the so called breed standards. One way to ensure uniformity was to encourage  cropping of ears and docking of tails so that the dogs tended to looked alike.  This practice became the norm and the fashion of cropped ears and docked tails  was carried out as a routine procedure.

While many would try and insist  that there are still valid reasons why certain breeds should have their tails
docked, the reality is that there is no logical explanation why any animal  should be mutilated for the sake of fashion. Many breed clubs will insist that  the tails are easily injured, especially in working breeds, but there is no  evidence to suggest that this is in fact the case. There are other equally  ludicrous reasons given from the tact that wagging tails can cause damage in the  home to improving hygiene in long coated breeds.

Why  have a tail?

Many might consider that the tail is a  useless appendage, but it is worth looking at it more closely. Anatomically the  canine tail consists of a number of vertebrae at the end of the spinal column  supported by many muscles and tendons allowing for very efficient movement.
The tail has a rich and intricate nerve supply- motor nerves which are  associated with the movement of muscles, and sensory nerves which conduct  messages to the brain.

The tail is an important means of counterbalance  when the dog is moving, jumping, etc. and helps to stabilize the vertebral  column. Removal of the tail compromises the dog’s ability to balance the entire  spinal column. One only needs to watch a working dog to appreciate the masterful  use of the tail as the dog moves.

The tail is also an essential part of  canine communication. The dog is a pack animal and relies on body language and  voice to signal its intent. Without a tail a dog has lost one of its prime opportunities to indicate emotion such as joy, fear, and aggression. Watch a  Boxer express happiness – they will wag their whole body while a Boxer with a  tail will only wag the tail!
It has been shown that docking of the tail may affect the muscles involved in defecation. It is also quite possible that  certain animals may experience continual pain and discomfort following limb  amputation. It has been speculated that there may be a higher incidence of  urinary incontinence in bitches of docked breeds.

How  is a tail docked?

For those who are not familiar with the  tail docking procedure it is a barbaric practice. The procedure would normally  be done between 2 and 4 days of age. According to fashion a certain proportion  to the tail must be removed and may be anything from one third to the whole  tail. This would be carried out using a scalpel, scissors and some breeders will  use rubber bands, which restrict the blood supply to the tail but must cause  excruciating pain. No anaesthetic is used, as both local and general anaesthesia  could be highly dangerous in very young puppies.

There are a number of  complications that may arise after the procedure. The pup may go into shock and  there may be haemorrhage< infection and even death. There is also the  possibility that there may be persistent pain to irritation of the nerve  endings. There is very definitely distress as the pups will cry and attempt to
move away. The extreme shock of such a procedure on a newborn pup cannot  underestimated.

Is the procedure painful?
In recent years there has been  greater understanding of the mechanisms of pain. it was originally thought that
newborn pups would not feel pain or that it would be momentary. This has been  shown to be quite untrue and in fact there may be an even greater sensitivity  due to an increased number of nerve endings. The complex pain pathways which may  be undeveloped in the newborn pup may be affected detrimentally by the  procedure. Proportionately the pain that a pup will experience will be far  greater than that experienced by an adult.

The only situation where  amputation of the tail may be necessary in an adult dog would be where there has
been irreversible damage. A qualified veterinarian would carry out this  procedure under strict surgical conditions and with a general anaesthetic.

Ear  cropping

Ear cropping is a procedure performed on puppies  to alter their appearance and is purely cosmetic. It results in the ears being  held in an erect position and tends to give the dog a fierce expression.

To submit any animal to painful cosmetic mutilation is against all coded of  welfare. Unfortunately there will always be those who will carry out such a  procedure if there is a demand.

What can be done to stop tail docking?

Many European countries instituted bans on tail docking and ear cropping some years ago. Tail docking
has been banned in Australia and this has been very successful with a very proactive education programme.

The World Small Animal Veterinary Association has recommended that the procedure should be phased out and has encouraged all member associations, which includes South Africa, to instigate measures to make the docking of dogs’ tails illegal except for therapeutic reasons. This commitment is part of a drive to improve the welfare of animals worldwide.

The Kennel Club continues to allow docked and undocked dogs in the same classes and does little to discourage
the practise. Ear cropping in South Africa is considered unethical practise but is still done on some breeds. Education of the public is essential, and demanding that puppies be left undocked will create pressure on breeders to discontinue tail docking. Animal owners concerned about welfare of their pets can go a long way to putting an end to these distasteful practices.