Questions about removing dew claws & tail docking.
 

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?

I don't really know if it is cruel. I would not want to leave the dew claws because of the dangers of them catching on something and causing injury. I would google everything I could find about the tail docking at a later age, since most are done within the first few days to see if there is any problems that other people have had when having it done later. I wish you luck. It's too bad about the miscommunication.

I can't imagine doing the tail or dewclaws now!! When they are only 3 days old the joints are barely formed and more like cartilege than bone. Now he is fully developed and has many nerve endings going to his paws. The recovery would be much worse and hopefully wouldn't have complications due to pain or infection. I have 2 dogs with their dewclaws and have never had a problem. I wish they had had them removed when they were infants but my vet would have never removed them during their neuter. Just my opinion and I wish you luck on whatever you decide!

Well, I dont think it matters if you have it done now or right after birth. I do think its harder on them now because they are older, but its nothing they wont get over and should return back to normal pretty quick. I hate to relate my dog to my child, but I circumsized my son at 5 years old because my husband decided not to have it done when he was born and he had complications with it later on and the doctor ordered it to be done. So it wasnt as painless, so to speak, at 5 years old but he was knocked out for it and recovered quickly. Im sure your dog willl be fine in the long run and its something thats normally done when they are first born so the concern for it to be done is just as important at any stage of their life.

Your opinion is valuable so don't say "just my opinion." I am obviously torn about this issue and need that input.
Thanks.
If you could have seen little Cassie nursing her dew claws the two times she got them caught you would probably be a believer, however I'm not racing to get them removed either. Hmmmm That makes me stop and think.

My first Yorkie Suki had a tail and dewclaws. When she was six months old, we had her spayed, removed baby teeth, and removed the dewclaws. I chose not to cut her tail. My vet said at that age it is very painful and we would have to watch her constantly because it would drive her nuts and she would bite at it. The dewclaws didnt seem to bother her much. They closed the incision with that glue stuff they use and wrapped with bandages for a few days. She never bothered it. I just knew I didnt want to put her under more than once so opted to do it all during spay.

laser
 

Vets who specialize is laser surgery at this age is the best way to go...I have seen tails removed from imported Yorkies done at 12 months and older, neat and almost no recovery time...(spay/neuter was much more invasive)...I would not cut and stitch a tail at this stage..declaws, perhaps...

Maybe that is why my vet seems to think it is no big deal. I will have to check to see if she does laser surgery. If she doesn't I could maybe find another vet. Is it more expensive that way? The scary thing is that Skeeter would have to go under anesthesia twice or I would have to take him to a vet I don't know. It's a dilemma!

Or maybe the state vet hospital could do both at same time? Just a suggestion. This is way out of my expertise.

I think it shouls be fine, i think the younger they are the faster they recover. I got London's dewclaws removed and she is over 1 yr, did it when she got spayed and she did great. They put bandages over them, they look like little casts, and i just had to watch them and make sure they werent infected.

I do not agree with tail docking at all..thankfully banned here in the United Kingdom and i certainly DO NOT agree with docking an older puppies tail!:eek:please please please think this through carefully! it is a much more complicated procedure the older they are and your puppy WILL suffer pain and discomfort..i'm sure you don't really want that..I don't want any negative comments on my post either...just stating my honest feelings on this.;)

I live in the US but completely agree with the above. It is just a cosmetic surgery and there can be a lot of pain and other problems from having a fully formed tail cut off. Most vets around here won't even do it if it isn't medically necessary. I used to work as a vet tech, for years, and saw this done many times. There was a LOT of pain for the dogs, and they would often come back in to the clinic because of infection, because the stitches came out etc. Just think for a moment WHERE the wound will be.. how will he sit while his tail is healing? Because of where stitches will be, there is a greater chance of getting the stitches caught in things (such as bedding and carpet) and for germs to get in. Another thing you may want to take into consideration is that there WILL be scarring so the cute little end of the tail will most likely have a hairless spot/line.

The American Veterinary Medical Association have stated that they would like to see this type of cosmetic procedure discontinued for cosmetic purposes only. In fact, in several states there are currently bills being passed to that effect.

I don't want to push my opinion on you, but please call more than just your own vet for their honest opinion on how serious this procedure really is (and about recovery). It truly is the same kind of surgery as having a finger etc removed. If you are having second thoughts perhaps more investigation is needed. I certainly applaud you for bringing it up here on YT. I know there are probably strong opinions on both sides of the issue.

My question is, if your human child didn't look just like you wanted, would you have cosmetic surgery done so the child fit your ideal? No offence meant, I hope I didn't ruffle any feathers.

The sooner the Top show Yorkies are being shown WITH their tails the better..it will then be more readily accepted by people..the problem is so many yorkie owners in the US have never even seen a yorkie with a full tail it looks 'odd' to them...which is so sad..Just this afternoon hubby & I were walking our dogs and Pixie was trotting along in front of us with her tail held high and hubby said how pretty it looked with all her long hair...it looked like a feather. She has wonderful balance and can 'dance' brilliantly on her back legs and it NEVER stops wagging! totally delightful!:D

Count me in as one who thinks it looks odd. I just can't help it. I really hate the way it looks.

I'm sorry you feel that way:(..I really hope the US follows us in the UK in banning it one day..I feel very passionate about this subject as many of you may know.. so I won\'t comment any further on this thread for fear of upsetting anyone and turning this thread into a heated one which I don\'t want to do...I wish you luck in finding an excellent vet who will do this procedure in the most humane way possible if you feel you can\'t live with your dogs appearance.