The breed standard requires that tails be docked.
2006-10-11 12:59:58 · 17 answers · asked by awnery 3 in Pets ➔ Dogs
They are NOT preemies but smaller than usual so I waited a few extra days to make sure they are strong & healthy enough. Is 6 days too late?!
2006-10-11 13:35:20 · update #1
Normally I would say 1-3 days. But since they were smaller than normal they probably needed the extra time to get the strength and develop their immune system to fight any infection that could occur from the procedures. I would definitely take them to the vet first thing tomorrow.
Good luck with your new litter.
2006-10-11 14:41:46 · answer #1 · answered by grrl 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Between 2-5 days of age, depending on the breed.
For instance, Rottweillers should be done at 2-3 days of age, but I'll commonly do Yorkies and Poodles at 4-5, because they are so small. If you wait on Rotties until 4-5 days of age, they are almost impossible to hold, b/c they're already so large.
The best thing to do, however, is to call your DVM on the day the pups are born. He/she will tell you the best day to bring them in. (This is not something that should be attempted at home or by breeders....that's where all those ugly nubby, scaly tail tips and dewclaw scars you see on some dogs come from.)
EDIT: No reputable DVM will do them after 1 week of age. Most of us won't do them after 5 days. If you wait that long, you have to wait until they are old enough to undergo general anesthesia.
"Is 6 days too late?" Possibly. That all depends. Only your veterinarian can decide that. Why didn't you call and ask them when the pups were born, rather than deciding to wait on your own? We normally discuss it during the routine postpartum checkup of the mom and pups on the day after whelping, anyway. If you are not breeding under veterinary supervision...you should be. (Because you are very likely to face some major.....and COSTLY....problems if you are doing this without professional guidance.)
To John: Please try putting a rubber band around your pinky toe or weenie, leave it there for several days, and tell me it doesn't hurt! (bet you wouldn't last 30 minutes!!!) This is another one of the causes of those UGLY, nubby, scaly tail tips, instead of having a nice pretty tail with the hair grown over the end of it. It can also cause septicemia and death of the puppy. I've seen it happen on too many sad occasions to count. Besides...what are you going to do about the dewclaws? I had to remove several today from animals in for routine spaying/neutering...because it wasn't done at birth, when it should have been. (Rear dewclaws in particular cause a lot of problems because they stick out. They're not supposed to be there...except for the Gt. Pyrenees breed, and even then, it's best to remove them if they're not going to be shown.) It would have been a lot easier and MUCH less painful if it had been done at birth, even though they were under general anesthesia for the spay/neuters today.
2006-10-11 20:10:04 · answer #2 · answered by A Veterinarian 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
quote
Tail docking is an inhumane and horrible practice!! It's banned over here in the UK for that reason. Why would you want to mutilate your pet???
Yup the country that started the practice wants to condemn the rest of the world for docking tails.
While I agree that doing tails or claws for just cosmetic reasons probably isn't something I would do. I have seen way to many working dogs with preventable injuries because it wasn't done.
With "A Veterinarian" answering the question there probably isn't much point in restating what she said.
2006-10-11 20:37:46 · answer #3 · answered by tom l 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Preferable by the time they are 3 days old. After about 5 days their nervous system is developed enough that it will be traumatic for them but in the first 3 days they are not developed enough to feel pain in their extremities. 4 days is pushing it a bit.
2006-10-11 20:04:36 · answer #4 · answered by twistedmouse 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
After 24 hours & less then 48 hours is a nice window of time
2006-10-11 20:07:13 · answer #5 · answered by Bama 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Before they are 4 days old. At the clinic where I work, we try to do them at 1-2 days old. If you do both procedures at the same time it will be easier on the pups.
2006-10-11 20:03:36 · answer #6 · answered by Vet_Techie_Girl 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Within 48 hours. Most vets will not do it after three or four days.
2006-10-11 20:03:13 · answer #7 · answered by hschiro 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It needs to be done by the time they are 3 days old.
It is illegal for it to be done by other then a licensed vet and it is EXTREMELY inhumane to do it using a rubberband!!
2006-10-11 20:31:57 · answer #8 · answered by Great Dane Lover 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
ASAP. The sooner you have it done, the less trauma on their little bodies. This is because their blood vessels grow bigger and bigger very quickly, and the bigger they are the more they bleed & the more pain they feel.
2006-10-11 20:09:04 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
in the first 5 days since they do not have any nerves in those areas yet
2006-10-11 20:02:04 · answer #10 · answered by lilshorty3088 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋