Is it safe for a vet to dock my puppy's tail at 8 weeks old?

I do not recommend you dock your puppies' tails, as it can be extremely painful, and can lead to infection, chronic pain, and associated behavioural issues. See the link below for more information https://www.avma.org/News/JAVMANews/Pages/081215c.aspx

In many states tail docking is not legal, ask your veterinarian about it. Tail docking at this age can result in more bleeding and be more painful, but it can be done without major complications. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

It is unfortunately not common practice to dock tails so late in age. Most general practitioners will not perform this procedure unless the pet is less than 2-3 days of age. At this age it is considered an amputation procedure because the bone vertebrae have completely formed, as well as the nerve endings, and is a lot more costly (average ~$500-$1000 depending on your area). You unfortunately will most likely have to discuss amputation with a veterinarian and call around to local clinics in your area to see who is willing to do the procedure. We don't have any websites dedicated to this service, so finding someone is going to be something you will have to ask around for to see who is willing to perform the procedure at this stage.

Of coarse there are always individual cases where this may be true. However, in general tail docking is cosmetic and not a medical decision. It is something that breeders have done with Dobermans for many many years, but it is definitely not a medical necessity. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I think it depends on the breed. Most are docked before a week of age. I would contact your local breed association for details. Tail docking is becoming very controversial. I wish you the best!

Oh no! That would be pretty traumatic to watch. I am so sorry! Luckily, the puppies are probably ok, because when the puppies are this old they don't have much blood supply to their tails, and so they don't bleed much. We prefer to do this in the clinic where we have a sterile environment in which to operate in, and have the option of giving pain medication.

Ears are usually cropped between 8-12 weeks. Some vets won't do it because it is an unnecessary procedure. Surgically changing the conformation of a dog's ears is expensive, painful, and is not always successful. If you aren't going to show him in confirmation shows, there's no reason to put your puppy through ear cropping. Please consult with your veterinarian before putting your puppy through this elective procedure.