Tail clipped at 1 1/2 yrs old!! problems.
 

My friend has a one and a half yr old yorkie. She recently took her to be spayed. AGAINST my advice she also had her tail clipped. It's cut very close to her body, hardley no nub at all. It appears there was very little skin left to suture. The sutures popped the first day. The vet then gave her glue to use. It didn't hold either. I'm furious with my friend for this unnecessary thing that has caused this baby so much trouble. She called yesterday and said it's now wide open again and draining a lot. You can imagine my frustration because there was NO reason for her to do this to this poor dog. I can't tell you how many times I told her that tails are cute. She's not showing this dog, there's no reason to put her through it. Anyway, she's taking her back to vet tomorrow. Does anyone have any advice or experience with something like this. Should she put neosporin or bacitracin on it or leave it alone, she's heard both. People are so thoughtless sometimes!!

that's just ridiculous. why would she do that? *sigh* tell her to keep it clean. don't put anything on it becuase they will have to re suture it probably. Also tell her not to feed the dog in the morning in case they need to sedate her again to redo the tail

tail
 

I have seen a number of imports have their tails docked when they are older..with no problems..BUT the vets used lasers and they were not docked like a Rottie...why would a stupid vet cut it to the spine..?

Poor baby. :( I don't have any advice, but not feeding her in the morning sounds like a great idea. Better to be safe than sorry and be prepared if they need to sedate her.

I'd sue that incompetent so called Vet. I can't believe all the horrible stories I hear about what some Vets. are doing. I'm starting to wonder if all of them even have a license to practice. ALL VETS. have a book on tail docking that shows how many digits to leave, and of course, anyone with half a brain would know to leave enough skin to suture. That poor puppy. It's caretaker should be given a tongue lashing. I hope she isn't planning on going back to the same place. THis has to fall somewhere in the middle of animal abuse and cruelty. Makes my blood boil.

Well...of course we all feel badly for the dog..but something tells me that your friend didn't deliberately do this just so her dog would be in pain. Somewhere along the way she also got some advice (probably from the vet) that the operation would be no big deal and they could do it. It's not important now why she did but that it's done and this poor thing is in some pain. Let's all just pray for some good old fashioned healing!

tell her to find the dog a new home with someone who has more sense. really doing that after like 7 days old is just cruel poor dog!!!

eeeeks...what's done is done. Help her to deal with it at this point instead of being judgemental or telling her to find the dog a new home. I would think the most important thing now is helping the dog to get better.

I agree with you winnismom. That was a tad harsh. Telling her to rehome the dog won't do a thing for the dog now!! She probably asked the vet if he could do it, he said he could, so she told him to do it. It's not like asking him if he could do a brain transplant or anything. When they're tails aren't docked early (2-3 days) you have to put them under. So if she wanted it done, that would have been the time to do it. Not wait til later and put her under AGAIN for just her tail. Let her get the poor dog through this ordeal, THEN let her have it for doing it!! She couldn't stop her friend from doing it, so let's all just hope and pray that the poor thing gets the care she needs. Not bashing!
Suz

Update on Ginger
 

My friend took her to the Vet again this a.m. He STAPLED her shut without numbing or anesthesia. He also put her on bedrest. And yes, the vet did tell her it was a simple surgery and that they do it "all the time" on older dogs. Please pray for Ginger, that she has a fast recovery and minimal pain. Pray for her Mommy too, for wisdom in the future.

Hmmm.... isn't that poor dog going to have issues with poop sticking to her "tail hair". I thought that was one reason to have it long enough... so the tail plume (is that the right word??) would hang out far enough. Will the dog even have a tail plume now? That poor baby! I hope she recovers okay. And OUCH!!! Stapling without numbing it? WHAT??

Did this "vet" send the dog home with pain meds? I would absolutely insist the dog be given something for pain. Don't be too hard on your friend now she was probably trusting her vet to give her proper advice.

Yes she has pain meds, but they are hesitant to mask the pain too much or she will become too active and risk opening it up again. But they certainly dont want her to suffer more than she has already. My friend says she doesn't cry like she's in constant pain, thank God. They will give her the pain meds and try to keep her crated most of the time. Poor baby.

This is so sad that poor pup has to be in so much pain. I hope she heals up soon.

I doubt she did it to put her dog in pain. My guess would probably be that she is sick of people saying "Thats a yorkie? I didnt think they had long tails." and since she was already having a surgery & that just like someone else on here just had they're dogs dew claws removed, it is better to get it all done during the spay/neuter since they are under. But it sounds like the vet didnt leave enough skin & now theres a big problem. No matter how long they've been a vet they need to stop & think before they just start wacking:mad: These mishaps cause so much unneeded pain & can lead to infection, even death. Its easy to judge when your yorkie is wagging its little stub off and you say I would love her/him the same w/a tail-but I guarantee that unless you just didnt want to pay for it, you would consider it, I think I might:confused: . I hope she isnt paying for the repeat visits that are complications of the surgery & if I was your friend I would find his business on yahoo local & leave a review about her experience that might help others. I hope he is doing his best to get her heeled up & better. Tell your friend to give her some baby asprin if the vet didnt give her any pain meds. I'm sure she regrets the decision now, but whats done is done:(
I hope she recovers soon, keep us posted.