[Lou]

Skeeter has just turned 5 months and will soon be old enough to neuter. I plan on having his tail docked (actually it would be an amputation at this point) and possibly have the dew claws on his front legs removed. The vet acts like it isn't any big deal and is fine with doing it.

The breeder and I had a miscomunication and she thought that I wanted tail and dewclaw left alone while, in fact, I asked that they be done. Now I'm torn about the whole thing. Is it cruel to remove them at this age? I have tried to get used to the tail and I just can't. Call me shallow but that is how I feel. As far as the dew claws are concerned I think they are an accident waiting to happen. My shi tzu has had one of hers caught twice now and the poor thing goes through misery.

So, since the little guy has to go under anesthesia anyway why not get all of it done at once? I wouldn't have him put under just for the tail though. Any thoughts?