Tail cutting

[Emily Carl]

Hello everyone,


I'm excited to return here after being away for 15 years! My journey with English Bulldogs started with my first one, and now I'm about to welcome my third.


It feels great to reconnect with this community.


I have a question regarding my new puppy. The breeder cut his screw tail when he was very young, and I'm concerned about whether this might pose any problems for him in the future. If anyone has experience or insights on this topic, I would greatly appreciate your input!


Thank you in advance for your help!


Best,


Emily

 

[2BullyMama4]

Welcome back! I have no experience with a tail being cut, but we had to do two tail amputations at about a two year old and the other at 8 years

 

[Lennie. U.K.68]

Welcome back! why did the breeder cut the pups tail?

 

[Emily Carl]

She mentioned she cut the tail because it would affect the spine later?

 

[Lennie. U.K.68]

I have honestly never heard of that. Breeders usually dock, for cosmetic reasons, or if a working dog. But in the UK this will be done by a Vet, and not the breeder, for legal reasons. Has the pup been checked over by a Vet?

 

[Donna-Marie2]

Can I ask if you’re in the U.K.? If you are how old was the puppy when its tail was docked?
I’ve never heard of it being docked for that reason before, but then I’m not a vet so i wouldn’t honestly know.

 

[helsonwheels]

She mentioned she cut the tail because it would affect the spine later?

Never heard of that. You know, in your other post about breeder feeding the pups and now this? Yeah, follow your gut and think before picking up that pup.

 

[1Chumly]

This from AI
Tail docking of dogs is illegal in the UK in most situations, but there are limited exemptions for certain certified working breeds and for genuine medical reasons performed by a vet. It is also illegal to dock a dog’s tail yourself or to take a dog abroad to have the procedure done to get around UK law.

I could be very wrong but I have always heard amputation has to be done very carefully BECAUSE of the spine. My bully vet refused to do full amputations unless it was absolutely necessary. He did a partial amputation and pocket reconstruction on Monty and it was brilliant. He still had his tail and no more infections.

I would be very wary of the breeder!

 

[benny]

The tail is the spine, and so it's a bit confused to say docking would be for preventing spine issues. Tails which screw, turn up, or in, are spinal issues. This is spelt out in the breed standard.

While it should be rare, if the puppy was born with a badly inverted tail docking it immediately at birth is the safest way to deal with it. As @2BullyMama can attest, the healing process from a tail amputation later in life is lengthy.

 

[Donna-Marie2]

In all honesty if you havnt brought the pup home by now I would after reading another of your posts say don’t. Previously I was a bit more subtle and said something like I’d be wary , but in all honesty I wouldn’t trust that breeder as far as I could throw him/her. I know it’s not the pups fault but the truth is it’s all demand and supply.
Until we all get wise people like that get away over and over again making money while doing cruel things such as tail and ear cutting and producing genetically ill or defective in some way puppies.
Maybe I’m wrong and believe me I’ll be more than happy if I am but I really don’t have faith in this breeder. Another thing, a lot of genuine licensed breeders have quite a long waiting list of approved potential buyers, it might not be true of all but bully’s are still a popular breed, have you been thoroughly vetted and home checked, on a waiting list with that breeder? Have you met the Dam and Sire and seen their paperwork and the puppy’s vets bill of health, the tests it’s had?
I really hope I havnt offended you, I just worry about this subject particularly as bully’s are vulnerably prone to many genetic issues as it is and poor breeder’s really aren’t helping.

 

[Lennie. U.K.68]

Emily, you said you have been away 15yrs, there is no reason to stay away. As I have said previously no one has the monopoly on being right, and I am sure you have made the right decision for yourself, so come on the Forum, and put some photo's of your new pup. We are all part of the Bulldog family.