To Dock Or Not To Dock - NZVA Says No Way!

To Dock Or Not To Dock - NZVA Says No Way!

The New Zealand Veterinary Association (NZVA) is advising vets not to dock the tails of dogs, irrespective of their age, unless it’s for health reasons.

A newly released animal welfare code allows anyone to remove the tails of puppies which are not older than four days. After that, tail docking must be done by a veterinarian.

NZVA animal welfare coordinator, Dr Virginia Williams, welcomes the introduction of the code, saying the association is supportive of measures to improve the welfare of dogs.

However, NZVA policy does not condone surgical alteration, including tail removal, of any animal unless it is necessary for the welfare of the animal.

The Veterinary Council’s code of professional conduct also states that veterinarians should not perform surgical procedures for purely cosmetic purposes.

“Research shows tail docking can cause adverse health effects in other animals – they can feel more pain in later life as a result of docking at an early age,” Dr Williams said.

“Evidence also shows some animals that have had their tails docked display signs of phantom limb syndrome – which is certainly painful in humans.”

Dr Williams said there hasn’t been enough research done on the impacts of docking young dogs’ tails to say categorically they won’t suffer adverse health effects as they get older.

The NZVA encourages veterinarians to take a stand against the practice of cosmetic tail removal by refusing to perform the procedure.

“Just say no. It’s the only way to end a practice that we believe is unethical.”

Bans on tail docking are in place all over the world, including the UK, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, Norway, Israel and Australia.

“We’re disappointed that this new code now means New Zealand lags behind many countries in terms of our ethical treatment of animals.”

Dr Williams said side effects of tail docking can include infection, nerve damage and self-mutilation, as well as faecal incontinence and perineal hernias.

“We are sure that veterinarians will see tail docking for what it is, an unnecessary mutilation that does nothing for a dog’s welfare,” said Dr Williams.

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