Tail Docking

[JaLaYorkieGirl]

Originally Posted by nudiva37

Has anyone used the rubber band method?

Oh that does not sound good. Is this where they put the rubber band on the tail and wait for them to fall off? I could not do that to them, I would think the risk of infection would be higher. I like to get it over with quick, actually I would like to no do it at all..lol.

[nudiva37]

Originally Posted by BamaFan121s

I don't know about other states, but that's actually illegal here. You could be charged with a felony count of animal cruelty.

I have to agree with that. There are other alternatives to that method that are more humane, IMO.

It all sounds bad to me... I am afraid to do it myself.. My doc did it last time and they bled and screamed...

so chopping sounds cruel... pinching with the hemistat and pullings sounds cruel... sigh...
I guess I let the doc do it again and ask him to do the bloodless way

[JaLaYorkieGirl]

Originally Posted by nudiva37

It all sounds bad to me... I am afraid to do it myself.. My doc did it last time and they bled and screamed...

so chopping sounds cruel... pinching with the hemistat and pullings sounds cruel... sigh...
I guess I let the doc do it again and ask him to do the bloodless way

I do not like doing it either and have taken to telling our puppies..."I am so sorry we have to do this...but it is a barbaric American Custom."

You know I used to really dislike the full tails until I lived with one, now I adore them. I could not imagine our Espe or our Kiki without them! They were lucky enough to be born in Europe!

[jennylee333]

Originally Posted by nudiva37

Is that surgical clamp also called a hemi stat.. I think we have some of those I may have from work if that is the other name.. I am not sure I can do my own, I am going to ask the vet about this method and if he would let me watch.. I am sure he wont, but it will be worth a try... ;-)

Personally, if your vet won't let you watch...FIND a different vet. My vet lets me help and watch everything.

We had a Pug puppy that was a junkyard dog and he ate a bag of candy...wrapers and all...we had to have surgery one Christmas night and I got to assist!!! I was in the operating room and all. So, ask and if he says no then tell him you are gonna be in the room. They are your pups and that is that!!!!

[scoop24hagar]

Originally Posted by Midge5353

There is a website created by the Anti-Dociking Alliance. It shows pictures of many different breeds of dogs whose tails are usually docked with tails. Here is the link to the picture site: The Anti-Docking Alliance Web Site in the UK = Home Page
On that site, scroll down to the yellow box titled "Toy" #6 is the Yorkie. Click on all the links under Yorkie, including the words Yorkshire Terrier. The links take you to a page of one or more pictures of Yorkies with tails. They are adorable!

I just viewed the Anti-Docking Site. Thanks for sharing. I also Joined the ADA (Anti-Docking Alliance) I like their long tails. Scoop

[Unmasqued]

Originally Posted by YorkieRose

I use a small surgical clamp outside the gold on the underside of the tail..depends on the length you perfer. remember clamping length and cutting length are different.
Leave clamp for a couple mins...then hold the tail by the base where the clamp is and hold the end of tail. Twist off, might take 10 turns. Leave clamp on another couple mins and remove. No need to surture,m no blood or open wound. I have never had any infection. Do the same for the dew claws..use a small clamp to get a good hold on the claw..they are so tiny. Good luck

Hold old should they be?

[Ladyhawk]

Originally Posted by Unmasqued

Hold old should they be?

Three to Five days old.

[willywhit]

can anyone recommend a vet in the Boston area for docking ?
We have 4 pups 5 days old and I really would rather not do it myself.

[journey826]

Originally Posted by willywhit

can anyone recommend a vet in the Boston area for docking ?
We have 4 pups 5 days old and I really would rather not do it myself.

I think you have waited too long.tails are usually docked between 3-5 days old.after that they consider it an amputation and will put the dog under.
If I were you I would tell them they were three days old but you need to make that app.asap. hope this helps(and by the way this is exactly what I did with my pups)I did not think they were big enough to me to go through it so I waited a little longer and told then they were younger.no problems and they didn't cry.good luck

[willywhit]

Originally Posted by journey826

I think you have waited too long.tails are usually docked between 3-5 days old.after that they consider it an amputation and will put the dog under.
If I were you I would tell them they were three days old but you need to make that app.asap. hope this helps(and by the way this is exactly what I did with my pups)I did not think they were big enough to me to go through it so I waited a little longer and told then they were younger.no problems and they didn't cry.good luck

thanks, I'm going to get it done today hopefully. Any idea what the going rate is ? I think I read $40. is that PER pup ?
prob too late for rubber bands , huh ?

just read this:
What I do is take a rubber band and cut it in half. Place it on the pups tail (have someone hold the pup for you so you can use 2 hands). Tie the band tight at about 1/4 inch. The tail grows but the band restricts blood flow and the tail simply dies and falls off. No pain and no fuss. It usually take 3 - 5 days.

[erickajm]

Originally Posted by orinskye

i know there is a bog controversy over this, but darn i wish toby's dew claws had been removed, i cut toby's nails myself, and sometimes i just forget that they are there so i forget to cut them, i caught them yesterday and they were maybe a weeks worth of growth away from circling back into his skin i felt like such a bad mama

My Zoe didn't have her dew claws removed either...drives me insane. She is constantly chewing on them.

[BamaFan121s]

Originally Posted by willywhit

prob too late for rubber bands , huh ?

just read this:
What I do is take a rubber band and cut it in half. Place it on the pups tail (have someone hold the pup for you so you can use 2 hands). Tie the band tight at about 1/4 inch. The tail grows but the band restricts blood flow and the tail simply dies and falls off. No pain and no fuss. It usually take 3 - 5 days.

In my area, it's ALWAYS too late for the rubber band method--it's illegal and carries felony animal cruelty charges if you are caught.

Not a recommeded method. It's a cheap and easy option for the breeder, but certainly not best for the dogs. Not sure how "pain free" it is, but it is completely unneccessary given the better methods available. The wound, until completely healed, is essentially open, making it very easy for infection to set in, not to mention that the wound does not heal as cleanly.

Generally speaking, I'm not sure why anyone would opt for this route. If there is not a vet who will offer the service that can be used, either bite the bullet and learn to do it yourself PROPERLY, or don't breed.

[cesar49]

i was wondering about doing this task on day 2.... is this too early? the pups are about 12 hours old now... but what is too early? also can i use hemostats and then cut the tails instead of twisting? exactly where should i cut the dew claws? i did this last year with my mentor for the first time, but i forgot all the details.. thanks for any help...

[Ladyhawk]

Originally Posted by cesar49

i was wondering about doing this task on day 2.... is this too early? the pups are about 12 hours old now... but what is too early? also can i use hemostats and then cut the tails instead of twisting? exactly where should i cut the dew claws? i did this last year with my mentor for the first time, but i forgot all the details.. thanks for any help...

The blood clotting mechanism doesn't kick in until they are 72 hours old so 2 days is too young. You can use hemostats and cut, that is what I do. The dew claws are cut between the joint and the leg.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by cesar49

i was wondering about doing this task on day 2.... is this too early? the pups are about 12 hours old now... but what is too early? also can i use hemostats and then cut the tails instead of twisting? exactly where should i cut the dew claws? i did this last year with my mentor for the first time, but i forgot all the details.. thanks for any help...

I hope I don't offend you, but posts like yours really scare me, it sounds like you are forgeting some really important details, and details on this sort of thing are so important. Wouldn't it be possible for you to visit your menter again and take careful notes, or see a vet?