Tail Docking: Understanding the Painful and Cruel Practice

This pet health content was written by a veterinarian, Dr. Pippa Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS, and contributing authors were Dr. Debora Lichtenberg, VMD, and Petful editor-in-chief Kristine Lacoste. This article was reviewed for accuracy by Dr. Elliott and was last updated on July 4, 2024

Tail Docking: Painful and Cruel

Tail docking is a painful and cruel practice that can cause significant distress to pets.

• It is sometimes medically necessary, but routine docking for aesthetic reasons or breed standards is inhumane.
• Tail docking is commonly performed without anesthesia, causing significant pain and stress.

When Tail Amputation Becomes Necessary

In some unfortunate cases, accidents or injuries might necessitate tail amputation. For example:

• Severe tail pull injuries can result in nerve damage, leading to a “dead” tail.
• Amputation may be the only viable option to prevent further harm in such instances.

However, these medical scenarios should not be confused with the elective practice of tail docking, which is often done without anesthesia and purely for cosmetic reasons.

Tail Pull Injuries — When Tail Amputation Becomes Necessary

Tail pull injuries in cats can be devastating and sometimes require amputation. Here’s what you need to know:

• Cause: These injuries can occur when a cat’s tail gets trapped, and the cat struggles to get free.
• Deliberate Harm: In some cases, tail pull injuries result from deliberate harm by malicious individuals.
• Injury Severity: The severity of injuries can vary significantly. The tail is an extension of the backbone with small bones, ligaments, muscles, and nerves. Traction on the tail can shear the fine nerves, resulting in a “dead” tail.

Consequences

• Dead Tails: Cats with dead tails drag them along the ground, making them a liability. If nerve sensation doesn’t return within a couple of weeks, amputation becomes necessary.
• Severe Nerve Damage: Worse still are cases with severe nerve damage affecting the bladder and/or bowel. Such cases can be particularly heartbreaking, as some cats may not recover, leading to euthanasia.

These incidents highlight the inhumanity of some people. Unfortunately, no one was ever caught or brought to justice for these crimes, which stopped as suddenly as they started.

Tail Wag Injuries

Dogs often suffer from tail wag injuries, commonly known as “happy tail.” Here are some key points:

• Common Issue: Labradors, in particular, often thump their tails against walls, scraping away fur and skin.
• Persistent Problem: Labradors don’t seem to feel the pain and continue to wag, leading to significant bleeding.
• Treatment Challenges:
  • Bandaging or covering the tail tip can add extra weight, worsening the problem.
  • Some owners have carpeted walls to cushion the impact in confined spaces.

One severe case involved a Great Dane whose injuries were so bad that partial amputation was considered. The owners resorted to covering their house walls with down comforters to protect his tail. For more on Great Danes, visit Great Dane.

Tail Docking: Cruel and Painful

Tail amputation, when necessary, is understandable, but docking tails at birth for certain breeds is both bizarre and cruel.

• Misguided Justification: Some believe that working breeds like Springer Spaniels and Boxers need their tails docked to prevent injuries in the field.
• Legal Status: In the UK, tail docking is illegal unless the dog has a specific working occupation. However, determining which newborn puppy will be a good worker is speculative at best.

For more information on these breeds, visit Springer Spaniels and Boxers.

This Papillon can’t seem to get enough of the yellow Lab’s wagging tail:

What Is Tail Docking?

Tail docking is the amputation of all or a portion of a dog’s tail. The methods for tail docking vary:

• Surgical Removal: The tail is surgically removed.
• Banding: A band is placed on the tail within a few days of birth, restricting blood flow. The remaining portion of the tail falls off after a few days due to lack of blood flow.

Doberman Pinscher breeder Judy Pritchard explains, “Banded tails do not heal and cover as quickly as docking, but it’s just so much easier on both puppy and breeder.”

Why Tail Docking Started

Tail docking began in 18th century England to avoid a tax on working dogs with tails. Although the tax was later removed, the practice continued for several reasons:

• Working Dogs: Herding dogs’ tails were docked to prevent injury from livestock or getting caught in gates or fencing.
• Dog Fighting: Docking prevented opponents from biting the tail.
• Breed Standards: Tails were docked to conform to breed standards or to match the rest of the litter if some puppies had genetic abnormalities.

For information on Manx cats, whose tails or stumps were commonly removed to conform with the rest of the litter, visit Manx cats.

But Don’t You Have to Prevent Injury?

Some argue that tail docking prevents injuries. However, in my 28 years of experience, I have never seen a dog injure a tail while working. The primary issue has been Labradors and their wag injuries. We don’t dock Labs at birth, so why mutilate other breeds?

Is Tail Docking Painful?

The pain caused by tail docking depends on whom you ask:

• World Small Animal Veterinary Association: There are biological markers indicating pain in puppies.
• Australia’s RSPCA: Puppies have similar, if not increased, sensitivity to pain as adult dogs. Docking involves cutting through muscles, tendons, nerves, and bone, causing substantial pain.
• Council of Docked Breeds: Some doctors assert that tail docking in pets less than 4 days old causes no “serious pain.”
• PETA: Cosmetic tail docking is called “cruel,” “outrageous,” and “disfiguring.”

The American Kennel Club (AKC) considers tail docking an acceptable practice for defining and preserving breed character or enhancing good health. The AKC states that “mislabeling these procedures as ‘cosmetic’ is a severe mischaracterization” and adds that “appropriate veterinary care should be provided.”

Ethical Considerations Surrounding Tail Docking

The ethical implications of tail docking have been widely debated:

• Animal Welfare: Many animal welfare organizations, including the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), oppose tail docking due to the pain and suffering it causes.
• Human Convenience: Critics argue that tail docking is often performed for human convenience or cosmetic reasons rather than for the dog’s benefit.
• Moral Responsibility: As pet owners and caretakers, it’s our moral responsibility to ensure the well-being of animals, making unnecessary procedures like cosmetic tail docking ethically questionable.

Alternatives to Tail Docking for Working Dogs

For working dogs, there are humane alternatives to tail docking:

• Protective Gear: Using protective gear, such as tail guards, can help prevent injuries without the need for docking.
• Training: Proper training and supervision can reduce the risk of tail injuries in working environments.
• Environmental Modifications: Making modifications to the working environment, such as using softer materials or creating safer spaces, can help protect dogs’ tails.

Impact of Tail Docking on Dog Behavior and Social Interaction

Tail docking can significantly affect a dog’s behavior and social interactions:

• Communication: Dogs use their tails to communicate with other dogs and humans. Docking can impair their ability to express emotions and intentions.
• Balance and Movement: The tail plays a crucial role in maintaining balance and agility. Docked dogs may struggle with movement and coordination.
• Social Interaction: Dogs with docked tails may face challenges in socializing with other dogs, as the tail is a key part of their body language.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

References

• “Tail Docking.” The Kennel Club. May 2018. https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/our-resources/media-centre/issue-statements/tail-docking/.
• Quoted in “Tail Banding.” Doberman Pinscher Club of America. https://dpca.org/BreedEd/tail-banding/.
• Sinmez, Cagri Caglar, et al. “Tail Docking and Ear Cropping in Dogs: A Short Review of Laws and Welfare Aspects in Europe and Turkey. Italian Journal of Animal Science, 16:3, 431–37. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1828051X.2017.1291284.
• Barton, Frank Townend. The Cat: Its Points: and Management in Health and Disease. Everett. 1908. 31. https://books.google.com/books?id=2yBIAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=snippet&q=manx%20short%20tail%20peculiar&f=false.
• “Why Is the RSPCA Opposed to the Tail Docking of Dogs?” RSPCA. Aug. 23, 2014. Archived at https://web.archive.org/web/20180414145556/http://kb.rspca.org.au/Why-is-the-RSPCA-opposed-to-the-tail-docking-of-dogs_135.html.
• “Do Puppies Feel Pain?” Council of Docked Breeds. https://www.cdb.org/puppy_pain.htm.
• “Canine Tail Docking FAQ.” American Veterinary Medical Association. https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/animal-health-and-welfare/animal-welfare/canine-tail-docking-faq
• “Tail Docking in Dogs.” PetMD. https://www.petmd.com/dog/procedure/tail-docking-in-dogs
• “Tail Docking and Ear Cropping: What You Should Know.” SPCA of Northern Nevada. https://spcanevada.org/services/pet-education/animal-ally/tail-docking-and-ear-cropping-what-you-should-know/