Pups Tail Bleeding

[oxo]

I have a 7 month old female boxer who is really hyper. She wags her tail all the time and it is now bleeding near the end. Do you think she will need it docking, I am seeing the vet tomorrow. It heals over at night but the minute she goes outside it starts bleeding again.

[Atheist]

Would you chop your finger off it your fingertip got cut? Surely docking isn't still practised? Poor animals are already mutilated by human selection for 'desirable' characteristics, and physical mutilation seems awful.
Well, see what the vet says. I hope your dog doesn't need anything drastic.

[oxo]

I don't want her tail docked but what can I do if she keeps on cutting it. I asked for advice, Atheist you are making me out to be a cruel person

[Atheist]

I'm sure you're not cruel, Oxo. I just hope that the vet can sort out her tail without the need for amputation. That was your question, and I don't know enough to have a sound opinion on what will be required. Try not to worry; I'm sure the vet will do what (s)he thinks is the best for your boxer.

[barry1010]

It's called 'happy tail' and boxers are prone to it. Very often it is treated with a bandage, stitches when necessary and possibly antibiotics but if it happens repeatedly then docking might be the only option. It is legal for medical reasons but should be a last resort

[DarceyK123]

Some docking is not for aesthetic reasons Athiest.
My friends spaniel suffered from 'happy tail' and had to have some of his tail taken off. Thats one of the reasons some breeds traditionally had their tails docked.

[roopower]

My friend has an irish water spaniel who has a very happy tail with little hair on it. He used to bleed excessively when he hit it against anything and despite vets efforts wouldn't heal. He had a portion of his tail removed and has plenty left to wag away as he pleases. My friend is very fond of dogs in general and hates all the various things we have bred into dogs to 'improve' them so there is no way she would have had his tail snipped if there was another way.

[barry1010]

Strange how some dogs are unaware of where there tail is and unable to control it. I suppose a lot of it depends on how long the bone is in to the tail, and how strong the wag is

[lankeela]

One thing you might consider is what you are feeding, because a high protein food can affect them to the extend that it needs to find a way out of the body and with the skin on the tail being very thin this is one of the places it finds it way out. We had this a lot with some of the racing greyhounds, as they were always wagging their tails against the kennel walls. Reducing the protein in their diet would often help cure the problem, particularly when they were resting between spells of racing.