docking older pups tail

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3dognight

Super Boxer
Does anyone know if its ok to dock an older pups tail? Someone I know stated that they would dock the boxers tail, if they adopted an older one and it hadn't been done already. I'm sure its not too common of a practice on an older pup since most are docked when they are new babies. Any thoughts on this? I just want to educate the person if this is a bad idea.
 

Donna1969

Boxer Insane
I may be wrong but

I believe after a certain age (and I believe its days) docking a tail is considered amputation. Someone please correct me if I am wrong, I thought I read it here.
 

Maxwell's Ma

Boxer Insane
Donna1969 said:
I believe after a certain age (and I believe its days) docking a tail is considered amputation. Someone please correct me if I am wrong, I thought I read it here.

It is considered an amputation and very hard on a dog. It is only done if there is an injury or other medical reason.
 

Donna1969

Boxer Insane
thats what I thought

a "normal" docking is done in the early days after birth but after that time frame its considered an amputation. If its done for injury/medical reasons you can have it done but not just because you'd rather have a docked tail. Thanks for the clarification
 

gmacleod

Elusive Moderator
Staff member
Unless there is a medical necessity (eg. someone slammed the dog's tail in the car door and it's hanging by the skin) you should not amputate a dog's tail.

When docking is done at just a couple of days old, the nerves are not fully developed. Aside from that meaning that the dog suffers little pain (not even anasthetic is given), it also means that they are unlikely to suffer any ongoing nerve problems that are so commonly associated with amputations. Ask any person with a limb amputated about "phantom pains", or do an internet search - you should soon see why amputations aren't something you do for cosmetic purposes or to protect what's on your coffee table. It should be done ONLY if it is a medical necessity.

Bear in mind also that this is a major surgery, and involves all the risks of anasthaesia. Unneccessarily and without benefit to the dog.

It is certainly not common practice to perform amputations on dogs of any age for cosmetic reasons and I'd be surprised if you found a vet willing to perform that sort of uneccessary surgery anyway.
 

scrlt

Boxer Booster
My vet told us it is cruel to dock after a certain amount of time. Our Roxy wasn't docked as a baby. So full tailed she will remain. My sis-in-law also has a boxer who wasn't docked at birth(he was a rescue also) and his tail is like a whip. LOL. He has knocked things off of tables on occasion just by using his tail. Must be careful.
 

3dognight

Super Boxer
Thanks everyone, this is pretty much what I thought/expected. I just wanted confirmation from those "in the know".
 

Arty

Boxer Booster
Arty's tail was not docked. But then again he is a boxer/lab mix. Needless to day, he had a boxer tail and that thing is deadly.
 

CondoPup

Banned
If it helps, tell the people you're getting the information for, that in many European countries they do not dock the tails - I believe it is illegal (one of our British moderators could confirm this). So, there are plenty of natural boxers out there happily wagging their full tails.
 
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