Question about tail docking today...
 

I am taking my pups to get their tails docked and dew claws removed today and I have a few concerns on the method that the vets in my area are using. I wanted to get some opinions on this before I do this.

First of all...I have a mentor that breeds yorkies and she works at a vets office, so I was going to take the pups there to get this done. The only thing that bothers me about this is the method they use. They just cut the tails off and use sutures. I have read some threads on here that say not to get stitches because it is more painful for the pups and bleeds more. Is this true?

Second of all...The vet I normally use cuts the tails off and uses glue to suture the ends. The problem I have with this is I told the receptionist that I would prefer to have the pups tails not cut, but use the hemostat and clamp, then twist (I saw this on a youtube video and it looks alot less painful and there is less blood)... she told me that the vet would be doing it his way, not mine. I thought that was a little rude because these ARE my pups and I am looking out for their well being and I want the least amount of pain possible.

I called every other vet in my area just to see what method they use and they ALL cut and suture. Do you all think it will be ok to get the tails sutured? Or should I go to the vet that uses glue?? I just want what is best for the pups!! Any help would be greatly appreciated!

I really imagine either method would be okay. I have never had a vet put stiches in the tail before. I just do my own tails and use Clotisol to stop the bleeding. I know one vet that a friend of mine uses that uses the glue and my friend hates it because he gets glue all over the puppies and it take a while before it all comes off. Good luck. Let us know the outcome.

I had my pups done at the vet and he said he does clamp and twist. He did the first one that way. Everything went fine. Very little blood. The second one he tried it and said it was too mushy, he couldn't get it to twist! So he grabbed his scissors and cut it before I knew what he was doing! That poor little puppy bled and bled. I ended up having to take her back in and have silver nitrate put on it. He didn't have to do sutures, though. The silver nitrate stopped the bleeding and both tails healed just fine.

I'm no expert...I've only been doing this 13 years but...
 

I do my own tails and dewclaws and my vet sees my pups at about 7 weeks old and they are always fine. I've seen my pups later (over a year old) and they are fine. I use surgical scissors and cut the tail right at the "V" at the base of the tail. Give pup back to Mom and she cleans them. They yelp for at the exact moment the tail is clipped and that is it! I think stitches and glue and twisting...is making me cringe!!! OUCH! My vet also cuts if I were to go to him. They are totally healed in less than a week. You have to do it this way as soon as possible after birth though. I do it within 24 hours. My vet says up to 3 days...

I have a very close friend (actually like my second mom) who has bred Yorkies for many years. She was telling me the other day that when she first started going to a vet in our area (a newer vet) she noticed whenever she was in there she would see the vet docking tails using the sutures. My friend does it herself, and she finally asked the vet, 'can I show you how to do this?' The vet agreed and she showed her to clamp & twist. Now, many years later, the vet does it her way.

Though vets have a lot of general knowledge, they can't know everything. Sometimes it's the people who do it every day that know the best tricks! :)

Tail docking of Yorkies
 

I also dock my dogs tails myself .. I clamp the tail above the V and when the tail is numb..then I cut the tip off with surgical scissors and there is no blood..i also do the dews with the clamps and by doing the tails and dews this way it seales off the blood vein and there is hardly any blood loss at all.

question about tail docking
 

How many vertebrae to you count down to? I had to instruct my vet recently about the length of the tail I wanted for my puppies... and thot I would ask 'the crew' here how long they are docking. You see so many different lengths. When showing does it make a difference if your kids tail is too short?

I have never counted vertebrae so I can't give you an answer there. I used to dock where the gold meets the black on the underside of the tail but I found out for show that is too short so now I just dock them a little bit longer. It really does make a difference in the show ring. A too short of tail throws off the balance of the yorkie and they just don't look as elegant.

Thank you!!!! I greatly appreciate your resonse.

How do you do the dew claws? Clamp and cut but how far do you go?

On dewclaws I just use a small pair of cuticle scissors. I put the point of the scissors into the base of the dewclaw and snip it off. It looks like a little seed if you get it out properly. I then apply a drop of clotisol.

I have never heard of clotisol. Where do you get that? Is that something to stop bleeding?

Clotisol is a liquid blood stop. It works wonderfully on docked tails and dewclaws. I get it at Revival Animal Health Products.

I use silver nitrate sticks they cauterize the wound and stop the bleeding very quickly I got mine from Amazon.

tails
 

my yorkie gave birth by c-section on tuesday eve,she had 4 pups,but sadly the boy died,we have 3 girls left,there all doing great...we got there tails done yesterday,the breeder wrapped a tiny yellow cable tie around the tails,so in a few days the tails should fall off....i think this method is less cruel for them..