I dont wish to start a debate on docking but certain things have happened lately to make me wonder exactly how its done.  I know vets have to do it now but how do they do it ? do they just chop them off or do they put elastic bands on them like lambs ?  and in the days when breeders did it did they do it the same as vets?  has anyone ever experienced them becoming infected ?

As I said I dont wish to start a debate, im just curious (and no I dont want to know how so I can start my own docking company ;) )

Claire :)

Some vets do it one way and some the other way.  Same with breeders when they used to do it.  Never known them to become infected if normal care taken (that goes for both tails and dew claws)

Ive done lambs before when I was at college, is it the same ? just a case of putting a band on and waiting for the tail to fall off ?

If one does get infected for any reason, sudacream has been used to help. and worked.

When we USED to have our pups tails docked, the vet used to just chop them off with sterilised scissors!  Then used a special liquid that used to seal the wound, never had any infected!

OK, we had our boxer litter docked. The vet measured the length of the tail to be kept and cut it a little longer through with his special scissers. Now the squeemish bit - vet then pulls the last bone segment out and sears around it with a hot tool. This sterelises everything ans lets the tail skin heal nicely not too tight around the bone.

This sounds horrid I know and many of you will not like what I have written but the pups didnt cry any more than when they had their dew claws done (snipped off) then when back to sleep as soon as vet put them back with their litter mates. Pups didnt even cry when you squidged their docked tails anytime.

Hope you dont judge me for being pro docking FOR MY BREED and hope this answers your question
Aimi x

I've had two litters docked by different vets - one put a stitch in each tail after docking, one used cauterisation as mentioned above - neither method resulted in any infections, and they heal over incredibly quickly.