[Rai_77]

I don't know if his tail is too long or what, but the damn thing is like a switch. He wags when he's eating, drinking, chewing a bone...and he shakes when he is being walked and that damn tail whips up like no one's business.

How cruel would it be to dock his tail? I actually have bruises on my legs from his damn happy-tail-from-hell! And the tip has bled in the past from him whacking his crate with it too much.

Actually, the tip is all crusty and stuff. I took him to the vet before and we did a course of antibiotics, that helped with the bleeding, but it's still really crusty.

I'm just thinking maybe docking is the answer, although I am against doing it for cosmetic reasons. I asked the vet if they could just remove the tip, but they can't.

Sorry if this is a bit jumbled....I'm *really* tired! I just keep forgetting to ask what you guys think of this issue.

[screamin'eagle]

...you may know this already, but superglue is the perfect cure for that bloody tail. It hold the lacerated skin together and stops bleeding.

I am a stickler so I'd say if the dog is a boston terrier, or a boxer dock his tail. If he's a bulldog leave it alone.

[eXperiment63]

I hate docked tails. I personally find it cruel to do that unless it is a show dog of a breed that generally has it done; rottie, boxer, bt, etc.

Roxy is the same way with her tail. Her whole body shakes all the time though, not just her tail. I've never had an issue with a bloody tail, probably because she isn't crate trained; she's couch trained. ;P


As was just suggested, super glue will hold it up. I keep a jar of medicated dry skin cream on hand for Roxy because she gets horrible dry skin in the winter that NOTHING has seemed to help. Diet change, meds, fish oil supplement... NOTHING. She will kick at the back of her ears a lot. When I notice her doing it I'll call her over and make sure I clean it up if she broke the skin then I apply the cream. It makes the scabs nice and soft, so they fall off asap instead of crusting up and tearing off and getting all bloody.

[Zoe]

OMG. I had a foster with the worst happy tail ever. I finally got it all healed up after it was mentioned they were thinking of docking it. When she got adopted, it went right back to happy tail from hell. I don't know if buddy ended up docking it or not. I wouldn't suggest removing the tip. My friends vet did that and the tip just started splitting open. They did like three surgeries taking an inch or two off at a time but same thing kept happening. I told them to just dock it in the beginning but no one wanted to listen! lol

[RottNPitLvr]

I love docked tails in docked breeds.. You haven't seen the tail from Hell until you have meant Isabella, my mastiff... Her tail is always going, she has knocked stuff off of every table I've had, hurt peoples legs, and I have to be aware of were her tail is when she's greeting children or she could slap them right in the face, which happens from time to time... I joke with people you ' don't have to worry about her front end, but worry about that back end'.. lol

[Rai_77]

Wow! Great suggestions from everyone! I have actually never heard of the super glue trick, I will try it! And it's good to hear that I'm not the only one experiencing this (or just being crazy and *thinking* it happens, lol!)

Thanks!

[Envy's Mom]

I would never doc a APBT tail unless it was for medical reasons.

That being said IF I were going to doc a tail it would HAVE to be done within the first few days of life. After that it has developed nerves and seems to me would be cruel. I personally would not do it.

[DivineOblivion19]

In my 10 years working in veterinary clinics I've seen a handful of dogs that needed to have their tails docked due to a bad case of "happy tail." MY neighbor's English Mastiff was one of those dogs. It was like someone taking a baseball bat to your leg when he was around. But he cracked that tail open all the time, spraying blood everywhere. It didn't look too bad after the dock.

Honestly, as long as you can keep it under control then there is no reason to dock it. But if you do, you have to dock it all the way.

[JRSPITS]

If you are going to dock it because it breaks open - do it, chances are he will keep injuring it. If it is just to save your legs from bruises - thats selfish - dont put your dog thru surgery to save yourself some pain.

I have had dogs with happy tail. I chose to treat it due to the cost and risk of a 100lb dog and anesthesia. If you want to keep the tail, I recommend a product called NU-Stock, it helps with fast healing. Good luck!

[danash1129]

If you want to dock the tail, it is best to be done in the first few days of life, but thereafter if it needs to be done (I have the same problem so I know what you mean), as long it is done under general anesthesia then how is it any worse than any other surgery? For people who say it is cruel, in what way? What is the difference in doing that and declawing a cat (which I did to mine) or having a knee surgery. I am a vet tech and anything done the right way with a course of pain meds and antibiotics is not the worse thing in the world.

[DivineOblivion19]

Originally Posted by danash1129 If you want to dock the tail, it is best to be done in the first few days of life, but thereafter if it needs to be done (I have the same problem so I know what you mean), as long it is done under general anesthesia then how is it any worse than any other surgery? For people who say it is cruel, in what way? What is the difference in doing that and declawing a cat (which I did to mine) or having a knee surgery. I am a vet tech and anything done the right way with a course of pain meds and antibiotics is not the worse thing in the world.

I've been in the veterinary field for 10 years. I honestly do not have a problem with tail docking and ear cropping when done properly. But it's waaaaaay different that knee surgery! Knee surgery is not cosmetic like ears/tails. Why cut off body parts for looks? The dog doesn't care, so why should you? If you wish to debate cropping/docking further, you can go HERE

I'm going to stay away from the topic of cats and declawing as I certainly cannot condone it. If you want, please start a thread in the debates section. Yes, it's about cats, but members here do have cats and I'm certain they have opinions on declawing.

[Kaitlyn]

This thread is old as hell, but just recently acquiring my dog and him repeatedly whacking people, cabinets, his crate, etc lol.

He's brought my boyfriend down to his knees hitting him in the 'area' *giggles* so I guess he's just a happy dog. Nothin' wrong with that, other than it hurts like a beeeeitch.