What is the maximum age a puppy can be to have it's tail docked?

Answer 1

Tails are normally docked at 2 to 5 days of age without anesthetic being used. When carried out correctly, the procedure causes no more than momentary discomfort since the neonate puppy does not have a fully developed nervous system. When the pup is placed back with its litter mates, it quickly falls asleep or starts feeding from mum again. This is in contrast to a puppy in pain, who would exhibit continuous crying, restlessness, crawl around in pointless circles and fail to suckle.

The older the animal, the larger the tail, and therefore the more traumatic the procedure becomes. If the puppy is more than 10 days old, the procedure should only be performed under anesthesia, preferably not before 8 weeks of age. Many undocked adult animals undergo the tail docking procedure out of necessity when their tail has been traumatized.

I had to have my dog's tail docked when she was 3 years old but only because she started chasing it and biting down on it to the point that it started bleeding and wasn't getting better.

Answer 2

Pain receptors are present at birth as long as the spinal cord is complete. This would explain why kittens without tails are typically fecal incontinent. This same type of thinking was once in place with regard to doing circumcision without anesthesia on infants. They have long since learned that pain is present.

Our practice considers "docking" a mutilation surgery. If you must have it done, minimize the emotional impact by doing it as soon as your vet approves it.

I hope that you will spend some time learning about the procedure, so that you are well informed.

Answer 3

Not after 5 days...and by the way-like some people are saying..If it's better to dock a dog's tail so it doesn't get hurt by wagging it, why on earth were dogs made with tails? If it's so dangerous for a dog to have a tail then you would think that they would be born that way... Makes no sense to me to remove something for cosmetic purposes that does not need to be removed..Maybe we should start removing people's legs so that they don't have any chance of breaking them....

Answer 4

Tail docking is usually in in the first few days after birth. Technically it can be done anytime however as they get older it will be more painful for them, - requiring actual surgery and anesthesia, and it will more expensive for you.

In many European countries cosmetic surgeries such as tail docking are illegal. It truly is a cosmetic surgery in most cases so consider what your doing very well before doing it.

Answer 5

If they are older than 7 days or so your vet will do it white spaying or doing the ears, in other word's it becomes a surgical procedure needing more stitches. We have done a couple at the same time as the ears but the only reason we did it was the dog was under already.

Answer 6

a dog can have its tail docked at any time but the best time to do it is between one and two days old. The reason being there is only cartlidge and no bone and it hurts them less. But when you do it later on in age they have to cut the bone and it takes time to heal and sometimes it doesnt heal right cause the dog takes their stiches out.

Answer 7

The maximum day is 5 days old.

Answer 8

it should be done no later than 3 days. don't listen to others on this site, It is done that early so it DOESN'T hurt them or leave them emotionally scarred. Their pain receptors are not fully developed yet. What is more painful? A quick snip, or a lifetime of banging their tail in excitement, only to end up with it broken and kinked?

Answer 9

That should be done at 2-3 days old, any older and it is very painful for the dog.

Answer 10

it is usually best to have it done at least 2-3 days after they are born. this way it will not cause that much pain to them. the longer you wait the more painful it will be for the pup.