VSR 421: Regional Veterinary Surgery (2+1)

AMPUTATION OF TAIL ( DOCKING)

Indications

• For fancy purpose, docking is done in puppies.
• Irreparable injury
• Malignant disease

Age

• Before 15 th day after birth – without anaesthesia
• After 30 days – with general anaesthesia
• For large animal – epidural; standing or recumbent position

Technique

Adult small animals and cattle

• Terriers ------------------ 2/3 length is retained
• Spaniels------------------1/3 length only is retained
• Poodles------------------- ½ length is retained
• Boxer--------------------- leave 2 coccygeal vertebrae
• Doberman---------------- at second joint
• English sheep dog------- remove completely or leave not more than 2 inches in adult
• English toy spaniel------ cut to 11/2 inches
•  “ V” shaped skin incisions are made on the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the tail
• Cut through the intervertebral space
• By a tourniquet, haemorrhage is controlled.
• The skin flaps are sutured by a series of simple interrupted or mattress sutures.

Puppies

• Disarticulation is effected through the intervertebral cartilage, by cutting through with a scalpel.
• After getting enough loose skin, one or two sutures may be done for apposition of skin edges.