I need info on tail docking!!!

Hello everyone, I have an Australian Shepherd that is gonna have puppies soon and I need information on tail docking. I would like to know how much it costs per puppy to get it done by a vet or if getting it done by a vet is expensive if there is a way I can do it myself at home... I'm not expecting pups til the end of April but I would like to knoe ahead of time so I can be ready. So I'm in no hurry but if you know how much it costs please reply... Thanks in advance.

Ashley

 

Do not. I repeat. Do not attempt to do this yourself.

I just had all of my puppies done. It was about $100 for Kabuki's 12 puppies and Vaders 13

Do not....try that at home.

You need to have it done between 3-7 days after birth. The vet will give them some local anesthesia, and then suture the amputation area.

 

I agree with sam do not attempt this yourself as you can actually cause death to the pups from bleeding.

Ring all the local vets in your area and see what they say. You may find that all the prices are almost the same.

Not to sound nasty or anything but before you even considered breeding you should have found out how much it was going to cost to have the tails docked.
All relevant health testing should have been done on both dogs.
You should have homes lined up for atleast double of what your expecting in a litter.

Since your dog is not due till april how do you actually know that she is pregnant as she would only be around 2-3weeks into her pregnancy and a vet will not palpate until around 25days and a scan would not show anything up so early on until around 35days.


Mike

 

just the thought of even considering doing such a thing at home gives me jello legs. All I can think of is the at-home ear croppings you see on Animal Cops....not implying you would do such a thing - but I couldn't imagine doing something that appears painful like that.

 

I am not 100% sure she is pregnant but she was mated twice and I am expecting so I will be ready for them if and when they do come... I would never do ear cropping at home and I wouldn't dock puppies' tails at home unless it could be done with like a band u put around the tail and let it fall off itself. I would never be able to actually cut it off with something. That gives me jello legs lol. I heard it was around $15 per puppy.

 

It shoud not cos you much for the vet to do it, I would call all vets in your area and ask them, Then you can decide which you want to use.

Mike

 

You can band them. but the risk of infection is very high and them not falling off and ending up having to REDO them by amputation is even higher.

I've done piglets like that. The problem is. You have to do it when their very very young, and finding bands that are small enough and can be placed EXACTLY where they need to be, and then stay there....and fully cut of the circulation is near impossible. I've heard of people doing it. but they were profesionals....

I paid $8 a puppy for tails and dewclaws to be done at the same time. I put mine on amoxi just for safe backup so no infections started.... JMO...

 

I agree with everyone else, take them to a vet and let a proffessional take care of it in a humane way, IMO I dont agree with any tail docking anyway but if you must let a vet do it..

 

Even ranchers who band sheep tails and whatnot don't dock their own dogs that way. It's highly risky for sure...even if you have bands that are the right size...ta dog's tail is not made to do that... Sheep are prey animals so they have a whole different set of values as far as physiology goes...tail is getting gnawed...well let the dang thing go...much easier for them to lose a tail than for a dog.

DEFINATELY seek a vet for this job...I know people who have cropped ears (older folks been doing it forever) themselves that would never in a million years tackle a tail with a band or otherwise...risky business.

Sara

 

Thanks for all the replies, I think I will just go ahead and let a vet do it if she is indeed pregnant. I will keep you posted about pregnancy and puppies once she has them! Again thanks for all the replies!!

Ashley