How can I keep the mother from licking her new puppies docked tail?

Question

The last litter she had she licked one of the puppies tail so much that now that dog has no tail. The vet said listerine. That is only going to ensure that it dose not get infected. I need her to leave it alone.

Answer 1

It is natural for the mother to lick her pups especially when there is something like a sore or stitches. Don't hit or scold her for doing her motherly duty.
The bitter orange or apple is a good idea, but NOT spraying it in her nose, that is cruel considering the sensitivity of a dog's nose.
I also can't understand how she licked a pups tail so much that now it does not have one... How is that possible?? Even after docking the dog still has some tail vertebrae??

Anyway, since the pups are so tiny when they have their tails docked, I would give the bitter orange or apple a try before I would keep the mother away unless she is feeding. At such a young age, the mother should be in with her pups when ever she wants & away from them when she wants.

Answer 2

there is a great product on the market called Bitter Apple Spray. Or you can go to any vet office and get a similar product. We sell bitter orange lotion at our clinic. It works about 99% of the time.

You don't apply it directly on the wound, but very close around the whole tail. She won't like the taste and most of the time she will leave it alone. If she still won't leave it alone, give her a good spray right on her nose and she will have that nasty taste up her nose for a long time. If that STILL doesn't work, you may have to keep the puppy away from her except when it is eating.

Answer 3

No differently. She will act exactly the same as before. I've never seen a mother reject her whelps because of a tail dock. I suppose it could happen, but I've never seen it. The dock is done at 2-3days of age.

Answer 4

I have seen mom dogs who have done damage to the pups tails and they had to be restiched by the vet.
Bitter Apple or bitter orange works fiarly well. If that fails the best thing is to supervise her when she is with the pups. Let her with them to nurse but carefully moniter her for to much licking.
Once the tails have healed some she should back off on the licking. But some dogs just are obsessive about it and they have to be watched when allowed with the pups.
It happens with smoe dogs.
Good luck with your new litter.

Answer 5

don't cut pieces of dogs it just wrong

Answer 6

see if you could cover it up. watch her and scold her when she does it.

i've never heared of any thing like this so i don't know exactly what to do.

Answer 7

just watch the female closly and if she starts to lick it then smack her thats all u have to do