What does tails docked mean

In the opinion of the AVMA, this is insufficient justification for performing a surgical procedure. Q: What forms of tail removal would not be considered cosmetic? Some breeders, both historically and currently, would prefer problematic conformation to be corrected via breeding alone.

An argument might be made for removal of the tail of a dog on the basis of repeated prior injury. However, such a justification must be supported by evidence such as empirical data or impartial expert opinion based on extensive, directly relevant experience.

Cambridge University Press, ; The wanton mutilation of animals. The Nineteenth Century, a Monthly Report, ; Drury WD. Gill: London. Hallock C. The Sportsman's Gazetteer and General Guide. Forest and Stream: New York. Shields G. The American Book of the Dog. Rand, McNally: Chicago.

The Airedale Terrier Reviewed. Coren, S. Simon and Schuster, ; 8. Youatt W, Lewis EJ. The Dog. Bennett PC, Perini E. Tail docking in dogs: can attitude change be achieved? Aust Vet J ; Sonntag, Q.

Cosmetic tail docking. Vet News ;Feb Tail docking in dogs: a sample of attitudes of veterinarians and dog breeders in Queensland.

Lytton, N. Moissac, JE. The fight against cosmetic surgery. Canadian Veterinary Journal ; Lee RB. Cox: London. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads.

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Getting Started. Neuromas are often very painful. The tail is a major communication tool between dogs. Thus the tail also serves as a protective mechanism for dogs, part of the various strategies employed by dogs to communicate with one another; establish boundaries and to avert aggressive encounters.

The tail also communicates important messages to humans during human-dog interactions. Thus the tail plays an important role in public health and safety. Therefore tails must not be removed for any reason other than for therapeutic purposes. The few remaining advocates of tail docking give a range of unconvincing explanations to defend their views. For instance, they say that some heavy coated breeds need to have their tails docked for hygiene reasons even though many undocked breeds have thick coats and regular care is all that is necessary to maintain good hygiene.

Another explanation is that docking prevents tail damage in hunting dogs. But most docked puppies are kept as family pets and are never used for hunting and research has shown that docking does not reduce tail injury in the general dog population. Furthermore, many breeds of hunting dogs do not have docked tails, and the length of the tail in docked breeds varies according to the breed standard.

The excuses put forward to support tail docking are plainly unfounded. There is simply no excuse for reviving this painful tradition. Cosmetic tail docking has also been banned in a number of countries including Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, Finland, Germany and Denmark.

Several other European countries including Cyprus, Greece, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and Austria have also ratified a European Convention that prohibits the cosmetic docking of tails. In the United Kingdom tail docking can only be carried out by a registered veterinary surgeon.