Welfare implications of tail docking of dogs

Literature Review

January 29, 2013

This peer-reviewed summary has been prepared by the American Veterinary Medical Association Animal Welfare Division. While principally a review of the scientific literature, it may also include information gleaned from proprietary data, legislative and regulatory review, market conditions, and scholarly ethical assessments. It is provided as information and its contents should not be construed as official AVMA policy. Mention of trade names, products, commercial practices or organizations does not imply endorsement by the American Veterinary Medical Association.


The issue

Some dog breed standards and traditions specify or allow the amputation of part of a dog’s tail. In the United States the tails of dogs belonging to certain breeds are often docked, in both working and pet situations. Although cosmetic surgery is generally not allowed to be performed on show dogs, tail docking is an exception for breeds in which this is customary.

Docking

Puppies’ tails are docked during the first five days of life, either surgically or with a constricting band.

Welfare concerns: risks

The welfare and ethical issues surrounding tail docking have been extensively reviewed,1,2,3,4 but the practice has been the subject of very few controlled studies. There are few studies reporting on the short- or long-term consequences of the procedure or comparing the health and welfare of docked and undocked dogs.

Pain - Surgical amputation of the dog’s tail produces behaviors indicative of acute pain.5 There is evidence in many species that noxious stimuli in the perinatal period may permanently alter the normal development of the central nervous system and have negative long-term consequences.6

Complications - As with any surgical procedure, there is potential for complications, such as excessive bleeding, infection, delayed healing and necrosis. Neuromas, which have been associated with chronic pain, may develop, but their incidence and persistence is not known.

Chronic Health Issues - It has been suggested that dogs whose tails are docked may have underdeveloped pelvic musculature; the evidence, however, is not conclusive. Dogs of breeds that are docked have a higher incidence of incontinence; however, this may be due to traits other than docked tails.7 Dogs with docked tails within some breeds may have less well developed levator ani and coccygeus muscles.8

Behavioral Issues - The tail of dogs is important for intraspecific communication and provides information about emotional states and social status, however the behavioral effects of tail docking have not been well studied.9 Using a life-sized remote-controlled dog model with varied tail length Leaver and Reimchen9 concluded that a longer tail length is more effective at conveying intraspecific cues than a short tail.

Other Issues - The value some communities place on docking may indirectly affect animal welfare if it motivates less skilled persons to carry out a procedure when a veterinarian refuses to perform that procedure, or if a dog whose tail is not docked is less able to be placed in a suitable home.

Reasons given for the practice

Human Benefits - The primary reason for tail docking appears to be maintenance of a distinctive appearance for a particular breed, and to take part in an ongoing tradition.

Animal Benefits - Tail injuries are generally rare, with an incidence of 0.21 to 0.39% being reported 10,11 in dog populations per year. In the largest study to date the incidence was 0.23%.11

It has been suggested that certain breeds of dogs, or dogs used for specific purposes, have a greater incidence of tail injury. An uncontrolled study of German Shorthaired Pointers in Sweden suggested there might be a high level of tail injury subsequent to a ban on docking.12 Houlton (2008)13 surveyed injuries to gundogs and found undocked Springer or Cocker Spaniels were more likely to suffer from tail injuries. In a study conducted in the United Kingdom, Diesel et al11 also found Springer and Cocker Spaniels had a higher risk of injury (risk estimate 0.45% and 0.37%). Interestingly, the breeds having the greatest risk of tail injury in that study were Lurchers, Whippets and Greyhounds (risk estimate 1.22%), but there has not been a move to prophylactically dock these breeds. Other dog breeds that are not docked, such as Border Collies and Rough Collies, had a risk estimate of only 0.08%. Diesel et al11 reported that working dogs (predominantly gundogs) were not at significantly greater risk of tail injury than non-working dogs, but dogs that were kenneled were at increased risk.

It has also been suggested that accidental tail trauma to the adult dog causes more suffering than amputation early in life. However, puppies are rarely provided analgesia when their tails are docked and the short-and long-term effects of painful procedures in neonates of many species are well documented.6 It has not been demonstrated that dog breeds whose tails are traditionally docked have a significant risk of tail trauma that would justify the docking of their tails.

Although tail docking may reduce the risk of tail injury,10,11,13 based on the most current data available, approximately 500 dogs need to be docked to prevent one tail injury.11

Alternatives

Bobbed Genetics -Several breeds of dog produce offspring with a naturally short or “bobbed” tails.14 Bobbed genetics can been introduced, or selected for, in traditionally docked breeds.

Tail docking in other species

Tail docking is performed in other species when not doing so results in these animals having a demonstrably high risk of suffering (e.g., fly strike in sheep, tail-biting in pigs). However, even for these species the procedure is gradually being considered less acceptable or even unacceptable. Research into alternative solutions for these species is ongoing and not all keepers of these species dock preventively. Docking became less acceptable for dairy cows and horses when justifications for the practice were deemed to be insufficient.

Legislation, policy and acceptability

Across a range of countries routine tail docking of dogs is considered unacceptable by most veterinarians (83 to 92%15) and the general public (68 to 88%16). In contrast, many breeders with a prior commitment to this practice remain in favor of tail docking.17

The procedure is not permitted or is highly restricted in many countries, including most European Member States, Australia, Iceland, Israel, Norway, South Africa, Switzerland and the Virgin Islands.

In certain parts of the United Kingdom some working dogs and breeds may be eligible for exemption from a legal prohibition on docking, but if docked the owner must be able to supply a certificate completed by a veterinary surgeon who performed the procedure and the dog must be microchipped. In the United Kingdom dogs docked after the ban was instituted in 2007 cannot be shown at any event where the public pay an entrance fee.18

Summary

Empirical studies of docking on the welfare of puppies and on the long-term consequences of docking, including effects on behavior, that encompass a suitable population of control dogs would be helpful in developing a consensus regarding the welfare implications of this procedure. However as acceptance of the procedure by the veterinary community and general public appears to be low, and arguably declining, there is little impetus for further research. At this time routine tail docking has not been shown to produce demonstrable benefits for most dogs. When it is performed routinely, rather than in response to a medical need (such as tail trauma), it is considered to be cosmetic surgery.


REFERENCES
1. Morton D. Docking of dogs: practical and ethical aspects. Vet Rec 1992;131:301-306.
2. Bennett PC, Perini E. Tail docking in dogs: a review of the issues. Aust Vet J 2003;81:208-218.
3. Wansbrough RK. Cosmetic tail docking of dogs. Aust Vet J 1996;74:59-63.
4. Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), The Consultation on an Animal Welfare Bill. Available at: http://archive.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/pets/cruelty/documents/awbillconsultanalysis.pdf
5. Noonan GJ, Rand JS, Blackshaw JK, et al. Behavioural observations of puppies undergoing tail docking. Appl Anim Behav Sci 1996;49:335-342.
6. LaPrarie JL, Murphy AZ. Long Term Impact of Neonatal Injury in Male and Female Rats: Sex Differences, Mechanisms and Clinical Implications. Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology 2010;31:193-202.
7. Holt PE, Thrusfield MV. Association in bitches between breed, size, neutering and docking and acquired urinary incontinence due to incompetence of the urethral sphincter mechanism. Vet Rec 1993;133:177-180
8. Canfield R. Anatomical aspects of perineal hernia in the dog. 1986 PhD Doctoral thesis: University of Sydney.
9. Leaver SDA, Reimchen TE. Behavioural responses of Canis familiaris to different tail lengths of a remotely-controlled life-size dog replica. Behaviour 2008;145:277-390.
10. Darke PG, Thrusfield MV, Aitken CG. Association between tail injuries and docking in dogs. Vet Rec 1985;116:409
11. Diesel G, Pfeiffer D, Crispin S, et al. Risk factors for tail injuries in dogs in Great Britain. Vet Rec 2010;166:812-817.
12. Strejffert G. Tail injuries of shorthaired German point dogs born in Sweden 1989, 1992 http://www.cdb.org/countries/sweden.htm Accessed June 28, 2010
13. Houlton JE. A survey of gundog lameness and injuries in Great Britain in the shooting season 2005/2006 and 2006/2007. Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2008;21:231-237.
14. National Tenterfield Terrier Council (Australia). Available at: http://www.tenterfieldterrieraust.com/Natural-Bob-Tails.php
15. Bennett PC, Perini E. Tail docking in dogs: can attitude change be achieved? Aust Vet J 2003;81:277-82.
16. Submission to Government Administration Committee presented by Royal New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Incorporated in the matter of animal welfare (restriction on docking of dogs’ tails) bill. Feb 25, 2005.
17. Council of Docked Breeds Web site. UK Tail Docking Survey Available at: http://www.dockingsurvey.org Accessed July 11, 2007
18. The British Veterinary Association Welfare Foundation. Available at: http://www.bva.co.uk/public/documents/AWF_Tail_docking_guidance_Nov2011.pdf

This information has been prepared as a service by the American Veterinary Medical Association's Animal Welfare Division. Redistribution is acceptable, but the document's original content and format must be maintained, and its source must be prominently identified.