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What does it mean to buy? Why do dogs have their tail docked and at what age should it be done?

Cropping dogs' ears and shortening their tails are centuries-old traditions for some breeds. They led to the fact that without these procedures the dog would not meet breed standards. Currently, the requirements are being relaxed, so cropping both the dog’s ears and tail is becoming optional. But a purebred puppy that is promising for breeding must go through many exhibitions and receive permission to procreate. If docking has not yet been canceled for a given breed, then it is necessary to take care of it as soon as possible.

If now the majority of dogs are purchased simply out of love for the breed, then previously they had their own purpose. They served man, they were helpers. There were hunting dogs, sled dogs, shepherd dogs, and guard dogs. They performed their functions perfectly, but during the performance of some duties they could be injured.

In all types of hunting dogs, the “weak point” is the tail. In thickets in meadows and forests, in shallow water bodies of water, in a swamp, he could get injured on some plants, which often led to severe bleeding. This distracted the dog from performing its duties, and the wound could become infected. In addition, it was believed that the tail slows down the dog's running, while in the absence of a tail the back muscles are strengthened. In those days, docking the tail of a hunting dog was considered mandatory.

Why the ears and tails of other dog breeds are cropped is also easy to explain. Service dogs, especially guard and herding dogs, while performing their functions, came into battle with wild animals. They were fearless and did not notice pain in a fight. The result was torn ears and a damaged tail. For such breeds, it was decided to dock both the dog’s tail and ears.

For the same reason, it was mandatory to trim the tails and crop the ears of fighting breed dogs.

The length of the tail, as well as the shape of the ear, were at first involuntary, but then standards were adopted. They were designed so that the dog looked harmonious and did not appear ugly.

The younger the animal is, the easier it will tolerate the procedure of cutting its tails and ears.

It is advisable to dock the tail of any dog when it is three to ten days old. In small puppies, the wound heals quickly and bleeding is minimal. In many clinics, the procedure is performed without pain relief.

Whether dogs at this age feel pain or not is a controversial issue. Some puppies tolerate this procedure without a single squeak, while others whine for a long time after it. In any case, there are nerve endings in the tail, which, when injured, always send a signal to the brain. But everything is very individual: some puppies have a high pain threshold, while others have a low one.

If you are unsure whether your pet will experience pain or not, ask for local anesthesia. There are no side effects with it, and the puppy will be calm.

If at this age you did not have time to trim your tail, it can be done up to a month. It is undesirable to carry out such an operation at a later date, because the cartilage will ossify, the operation will be more complicated, stitches will have to be placed and general anesthesia will be required.

How it happens

The procedure is simple and no special preparation is required. It does not last long and consists of several stages:

a painkiller is administered, calculated according to the dog’s weight;
the skin on the tail is moved as close as possible to its base. This is done necessarily, because after circumcision the skin will move into place and close the wound. If there is not enough skin, the stump will take a long time to heal, and hair will not grow at the end of the tail in the future;
A bandage tourniquet is applied at the base to reduce bleeding;
circumcision is carried out with scissors or a scalpel;
the wound is treated with an antiseptic;
the tourniquet is removed so that the skin moves into place, and then the tourniquet is tied again;
for puppies after 10 days, a suture is placed at the end of the docked tail; younger puppies do not need to do this, the wound quickly heals on its own;
the tourniquet is removed.

It is important to ensure that the mother does not lick the tails of her puppies for some time after the operation.

The threads are removed from the seam after 4-5 days, sometimes earlier.

When is ear circumcision performed?

When to crop ears depends on the breed of dog. Usually this is 2.5 or 3 months of age, but in some cases a dog’s ears can be cropped up to a year.

In small breeds of dogs, docking is carried out earlier; in large breeds, which have thick skin, the ears are formed later.

The timing is affected by the shape of the head and its changes with age. In small puppies, it is impossible to determine how the proportions of the head and ears will change after a month or two. Improper trimming can ruin the dog's entire appearance.

How to shape ears

It is necessary to prepare your pet for surgery in advance. You need to get all the necessary vaccinations and deworming. The pet must be healthy.

The dog stops feeding 9-10 hours before surgery. Before visiting the veterinary clinic, be sure to take it for a walk.

The operation is performed under general anesthesia, although local anesthesia is also acceptable. During surgery, it is not enough to simply hold the docked puppy. It is important that he does not move his head, is not aggressive and does not whine.

Stages of the operation:

anesthesia is administered;
the fur is shaved off;
indicate the exact location where the incision will be made;
in some cases, a special pattern is used. It is easy to draw an accurate line along it, and the clamps clamp the blood vessels and prevent blood loss;
the skin must be moved towards the head so that its edge subsequently covers the incision site;
the incision is made with a scalpel;
in large breed puppies with thick ears, the surgical site is cauterized;
The edges of the skin are sewn together with special threads or glued with medical glue.

In some cases, painkillers are given after surgery.

Caring for your ears before removing the stitches involves treating the wound with an antiseptic. If the crusts begin to peel off, then soak them and remove them. To prevent the pet from combing its ears, a special collar similar to a funnel is placed around its neck.

If a docking procedure is necessary for your pet, it is advisable to do it as soon as possible and provide proper care after the operation.

Coop, - I’m ruining, - I’m ruining; committed view And imperfect look (specialist).
1. Localize and stop (stop). Stop the source of inflammation. Relieve pain.
2. Cut off (cut off), shorten (shorten). Cropped ears and a dog's tail.
noun. cupping, - I, feminine

Examples of using the word dock in context

stop

You will need

- scissors,
- medical alcohol,
- potassium permanganate in crystals,
- thread,
- rubber,
- newspapers or light-colored rags

Instructions

The first and most common method of tail docking is circumcision. This operation is performed when the puppies are an average of 5 days old, depending on the breed. For medium-sized breeds, such as a cocker spaniel, it is best to have their tail trimmed at 4-5 days; small breed puppies can wait a little longer - until they are 5-7 days old. But representatives such as cupping should be carried out no later than 2-3 days, otherwise there is a high risk of blood loss, even death.

Anesthesia or anesthesia is not required, because at the age of several days puppies are not yet very sensitive to pain. In addition, the vertebrae have a dense cartilage and cut very quickly. But if for some reason the puppy was not docked before 10 days of age, then this procedure can only be performed under anesthesia and with sutures. But you will have to wait, since the dog is allowed to be given anesthesia no earlier than 3-6 months.

It is best to call a veterinarian or an experienced breeder of this breed for circumcision. However, if you are confident in your abilities and are not afraid of the sight of blood, try it. This skill will be especially useful if you plan to breed constantly. You can contact a veterinarian for the first time, carefully see what and how he will do, and then repeat what you see yourself.

Before docking, send the mother dog for a walk or lock her in another room, because the babies will squeak, and she will worry and try to protect the offspring. Disinfect the scissors with alcohol, or you can boil them first. Be sure to soak your hands and table in alcohol too. Take one puppy at a time from the “nest” (the place where the bitch is with the puppies). You cannot cope with docking alone - you need someone to hold the puppy.

The puppy should be placed on the table with its back up, with its tail pointing towards the one who trims the tail. It should be held between the palms so that the torso and all limbs are fixed. Measure the desired length, stretch the skin to the base of the tail to the limit. Hold the tail firmly between your thumb and index finger. Cut in one quick motion. Now you need to quickly turn the puppy upside down. Fill the wound with alcohol and sprinkle with potassium permanganate crystals. Watch the puppy on the table for about 5 minutes to see if the tail is bleeding.

If everything is in order, then you can put the baby in a separate box, lined with newspapers or light-colored rags - if bleeding begins, you will immediately notice it. If the bleeding does not stop, then you need to tightly pull the remaining part of the tail closer to the wound with a thread. In case of bandaging, do not forget to carefully cut the thread after 2-3 hours. For greater reliability, you can immediately stitch up the wounds. After the operation, observe the puppies for half an hour, and then you can safely put them back to their mother.

There is also a method of cupping with an elastic band. The rubber band is wrapped around the tail in the right place. You can also wrap it around a pen cap, insert the tail into it and move the elastic band to the required distance. The puppy should walk with it for 2-3 days. The blood supply to the tail slows down and stops; after a few days, the dead tip falls off on its own. This method is good for those who are afraid of blood, and with this method there is practically no possibility of sepsis.

Before cutting, you should measure the required number of vertebrae - each breed has its own standard for the length of tail docking. Although often veterinarians or inexperienced breeders leave only 1-2 vertebrae. So, spaniels or a wire-haired pointer are left with a third of the tail length, a decorative poodle or Kerry blue terrier - half, and a Rottweiler and Doberman Pinscher only 1-2 vertebrae.

Suppression, cutting, shortening, localization, abbreviation Dictionary of Russian synonyms. cupping noun, number of synonyms: 5 localization (7) ... Dictionary of synonyms

cupping- I, Wed. couper, German kupieren. 1. honey The supply of quinine was almost exhausted (since the smallest dose I took to stop the fever... was two grams). Mikl. 1 263. 2. Making notes (abbreviations). And here’s what’s symptomatic: when docking... ... Historical Dictionary of Gallicisms of the Russian Language

cupping- - Topics of biotechnology EN reduction ... Technical Translator's Guide

Wed. 1. process of action according to nonsense. Ch. stop 2. The result of such an action. Ephraim's explanatory dictionary. T. F. Efremova. 2000... Modern explanatory dictionary of the Russian language by Efremova

cupping- cupping, I... Russian spelling dictionary

cupping- smoking... A short dictionary of anagrams

Cupping- (. couper cut, cut off), removal of part of the tail or part of the ear in dogs of some breeds. Provided for by the breed standard. In most cases, it is carried out for decorative purposes, sometimes (the) tail is docked so that it does not interfere... Encyclopedia "Animals in the House"

Relief of withdrawal syndrome (elimination of physical dependence)- Treatment of the second stage of alcoholism begins with interruption of abstinence. Very effective means are used aimed at detoxification and elimination of painful symptoms. Detoxification is carried out using intravenous drips... ... Encyclopedic Dictionary of Psychology and Pedagogy

EAR COOPPING- Amputation of the dog's ear. Amputation of the auricle in a dog. ear cropping (from the French couper to cut, cut off), amputation of the auricle mainly for cosmetic purposes, as well as for ulcers and neoplasms. K.u. With… … Veterinary encyclopedic dictionary

I Myocardial infarction Myocardial infarction is an acute disease caused by the development of a focus or foci of ischemic necrosis in the heart muscle, manifested in most cases by characteristic pain, impaired contractility and other functions of the heart,... ... Medical encyclopedia

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Initially, dogs' tails were cut for practical reasons. For fighting and herding breeds, the tail is a vulnerable part of the body that an enemy can grab onto. It was also believed that it protected against rabies. Today, dogs' tails are docked based on aesthetic considerations and breed standards.

Indications

The decision to dock a dog's tail is made by the owner of the animal or (in case of medical indications) by a veterinarian.

The veterinarian may decide to amputate the tail regardless of the breed of the animal. Indications for such an operation are serious injury, extensive burns, frostbite, malignant neoplasm, and other damage to the tail. Such situations are quite rare.

In the vast majority of cases, the tail is docked to meet standards. This procedure is carried out for fighting, hunting, and some decorative breeds. These include:

alabai;
Dobermans;
poodles;
Rottweilers;
Yorkshire Terriers;
spaniels;
kurtshaars;
Giant Schnauzers;
miniature schnauzers and others.

Both supporters and opponents of docking have their own compelling arguments.

Arguments for and against cupping

In the process of selecting those dog breeds whose tails are traditionally docked, the balance and appearance of these body parts were not taken into account. As a result, when they stopped trimming them, it turned out that within one breed there can be significant diversity, and the appearance of the tail does not always correspond to the rest of the exterior.

In some cases, the appearance of a dog with an uncut tail is significantly different from the usual one, so that sometimes the breed becomes almost unrecognizable. For example, an undocked Doberman or Rottweiler no longer looks so menacing.

For a service dog, the tail is the most vulnerable part of the body. In European countries, the ban on docking does not apply to dogs working in the armed forces, rescue services and police.

In nature, the tail of an animal acts as a kind of “steering wheel”, distributing the load on the bones and muscles and playing a role in the functioning of the musculoskeletal system. The tail helps the dog maintain balance. Dogs lacking this part of the body are more likely to have problems with the musculoskeletal system.

The tail also helps the dog express emotions. There is an opinion that after pruning, animals deprived of the opportunity to communicate with other dogs are more likely to grow aggressive and have behavioral problems.

The procedure and subsequent recovery are painful. The animal experiences a painful shock. In some cases, surgery can lead to complications.

Contraindications to surgery are decreased immunity, any diseases and ailments. If the puppy looks lethargic, has poor appetite, unusual discharge, etc., you should contact your veterinarian. First you have to cure the disease.

Surgery is only permissible for a healthy dog.

Optimal timing

It is considered optimal to dock the tails of puppies between the ages of three days and two weeks, when the cartilaginous bones are still pliable. At this age, the operation is least painful and most quickly forgotten, the risk of complications is minimized.

At the age of up to three months, surgery is still possible with minimal risks and under local anesthesia. The older the pet, the higher the risk of complications.

At the age of three to six months, the procedure is performed under full anesthesia with suturing. There is a risk of scarring or shrinking of the wound surface.

Tail docking for an adult dog is highly undesirable without medical indications. In some veterinary clinics, such an operation is performed at the request of the owners.

Preparation and stages of the operation

Before surgery, be sure to conduct a medical examination and make sure that the animal is completely healthy.

The dog should not be fed for 12 hours before the procedure. You can give water.

If the operation is performed under general anesthesia, alcohol chloroform is administered by inhalation. An injection is given for local anesthesia.

The dog is fixed on the table in an extended position. In older puppies and adult dogs, the jaw is also fixed.

The fur is shaved off at the site of the future cut. The skin in this area is shifted as far as possible towards the base of the tail, sometimes additionally secured with a tourniquet. The tail is cut off with one movement of a scalpel or scissors, after which the wound is immediately clamped to stop the bleeding.

For older puppies and adult dogs, a suture is placed at the cut site, tightening the skin on the stump. The wound is treated with an antibiotic and antiseptic, then a sterile bandage is applied.

Tail docking in puppies is sometimes done using the second method. They tie their tail with a tight rubber band to cut off the blood supply. After some time it falls off.

Some veterinarians make house calls. It costs more than surgery in a clinic.

Independent surgical intervention is extremely risky and fraught with consequences for the dog’s health!

The length to which the dog is trimmed is determined by the breed standard. So, in Dobermans and Rottweilers only a couple of vertebrae are left. Toy poodles and Kerry blue terriers have half their tail cut off. In wire-haired pointers and spaniels, a third of the original length is left.

Rehabilitation period

When the dog comes out of anesthesia, there should be a bowl of clean water next to it. It is advisable to cover the dog and keep it warm.

It is necessary to observe the stitches for several days in order to notice possible inflammation and begin treatment on time. Sutures and wounds are treated from time to time with a cotton swab dipped in a solution of hydrogen peroxide or calendula tincture.

No changes in diet or walking are required.

Possible complications

The risk of bleeding depends on age. The older the dog, the higher the risk.

Inflammation and suture dehiscence may occur due to low immunity or failure to maintain sterility during the procedure.

A thorough medical examination before surgery and choosing a reliable specialist to perform it will help prevent complications.

If complications occur, you should immediately contact a veterinarian.

Price

The cost of the operation depends on criteria such as:

status of the veterinary clinic;
surgeon's qualifications;
age, breed.

The procedure can cost 300–5000 rubles.

Veterinarians' opinion

Today, veterinarians agree that tail docking has no practical benefit. In the past, it was believed that cutting off the tail would protect the animal from rabies, but this is nothing more than superstition.

International exhibitions allow dogs with undocked tails to participate. In most European countries, cupping without medical indications is prohibited. Animal rights activists point out the inhumane nature of the operation.

The decision on whether to shorten a dog's tail is, in any case, made by its owner.