Docking 'lowers dogs' risk of tail injury'
28th June 2010
Pet insurance companies may expect fewer claims from owners of dogs with docked tails after research revealed animals that have undergone the procedure are significantly less likely to sustain tail injuries.
However, the average number of tail injuries among dog populations is very low, according to the authors of the study of more than 138,000 dogs seen at 52 veterinary practices in Britain between March 2008 and March 2009.
Tail docking, where most of the tail is removed to prevent this type of injury, was banned in Britain in 2007, although specific breeds of working dog may be exempt from this law. About a third (36%, or 35 cases in the study) occur in the home when a dog knocks its tail against a wall, kennel wall or household object.
Some 17.5% are sustained outdoors and 14.4% occur when a dog's tail is caught in a door. Other causes were named in 15.5% of cases and the cause of the injury was unknown in 16.5% of cases. Nearly half (44%) of injuries are recurrent.
But in absolute terms, 500 dogs would need to have their tail docked in order to prevent one tail injury.
"Tail docking remains a controversial issue," said the authors. "The debate is centred on whether non-therapeutic tail docking reduces the risk of tail injuries sufficiently to justify the ethical concerns regarding this [preventive] intervention."
Copyright © Press Association 2010
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