" I should like to register my strong opposition to non-therapeutic docking of dog's tails. I admit to having carried out docking, reluctantly, as a young graduate in practice. This was done under pressure from clients who had puppies to sell, and who covertly threatened to do it themselves if I refused.
I am glad that young vets these days should not have such pressure put upon them, but still feel that there is much to be done to educate the layman about the "acceptable" appearance of many breeds.
I fixed a lot of dog's legs whilst in practice, noone has ever advocated docking puppies legs to prevent damage in later life. Similarly, a frequent repair in working dogs seemed to be stitching flank folds of dogs that had not quite cleared a wire fence. We accept this sort of repair, why should we make the excuse that we cannot accept repairing the occasionally damaged dogs tail?"

(Dr) Harriet W Brooks, BVetMed, PhD, MRCVS
Pathologist, Royal Veterinary College.

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