Undocked working dogs at greatest risk of tail injuries

[shiloh]

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/ ... 040314.php

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:
4-Apr-2014
Contact: Stephanie Burns
sburns@bmj.com
44-020-738-36920
BMJ-British Medical Journal
Undocked working dogs at greatest risk of tail injuries in Scotland
Sufficient evidence to lift current docking ban on certain breeds, say authors

Undocked working dogs in Scotland are at greatest risk of tail injuries, indicates a survey of their owners, published in this week's Veterinary Record.

Of 2860 working dogs, 13.5% sustained at least one tail injury during the 2010/11 shooting season. But undocked spaniels (56.6%) and hunt point retrievers (38.5%) were at greatest risk. To ward off one tail injury during one shooting season would require between two and 18 spaniels or hunt point retrievers to be docked as puppies, say the authors, who conclude that docking the tails of these breeds by one-third would significantly decrease the risk of tail injuries.

In a second study, the same authors assessed the prevalence of tail injuries in different breeds of dog seen in 16 veterinary practices across Scotland between 2002 and early 2012.

The overall prevalence of tail injuries was 0.59%. But the prevalence of tail injuries in dogs of working breeds was estimated to be 0.90%. Working dog breeds were at a significantly greater risk of sustaining a tail injury than non-working breeds. To prevent one such tail injury in these working breeds around 232 dogs would need to be docked as puppies, calculate the authors. And to prevent one tail amputation in spaniels, 320 spaniel puppies would need to be docked.

Spaniels taken to vets after January 2009 were more than twice as likely to have a tail injury as those taken to a vet before April 29 2007 - the date when legislation banning tail docking came into force in Scotland.

"Given the results of this and the accompanying paper it may be appropriate to consider changes to the current legislation for specific breeds of working dogs," conclude the authors.

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[Survey of tail injuries sustained by working gundogs and terriers in Scotland Online First doi 10.1136/vr.102041]

[The prevalence of tail injuries in working and non-working breed dogs visiting veterinary practices in Scotland doi 10.1136/vr.102042]

[t jack]

Something we all knew, let's hope the Scottish govt stand by their word on this and lift the ban on working dogs.

[druidale]

0.9% risk...that's tiny

[Rookie]

All you can do now is contact yor MSP before it goes to a vote and try to get them on side.

[t jack]

What bothers me about these surveys is, anyone who is remotely serious about having a work/trial dog wouldn't buy an undocked puppy, so if all the people who work their dogs buy docked ones, that only leaves those who aren't particularly serious about owning a working dog, therefore not working it as much as others may and thus not subjecting it to the same level of potential damage/exposure?

[RedWC]

I have an undocked cocker, I am deadly serious about working him, when I was looking for a pup I couldnt find what I wanted so he has a full tail, he did nearly 40 days last season, my OH is a Keeper so believe me I am serious about this dog and working him some of our beaters have undocked dogs as well. I wish he was docked, but he isnt so I work with what I have :-0

[vicky payne]

0.9% is not far off 1%, that's a 1 in 100 risk. That's not a tiny risk. Read the paragraph carefully as that particular stat referred to working BREEDS not working dogs of working breeds, so would include all the pet dogs. It suggests a 1 in 2 to 1 in 5 risk for working examples of working breeds.

We all know this and we've all been telling the Scottish government for years (I have sent them SOOOOOOO much evidence on tail injuries in full tailed working dogs and I'm not even Scottish). Thing is....will they listen?

[shiloh]

BVA president talks tail docking, microchipping and educating puppy buyers at annual Scottish dinner
Created: 28/05/2014

THE BRITISH Veterinary Association’s (BVA) stance on tail docking, its support for compulsory microchipping and the importance of educating puppy buyers have been outlined by its president Robin Hargreaves in a keynote speech.

Mr Hargreaves was speaking at the BVA’s annual Scottish dinner hosted by John Scott, MSP in the Scottish Parliament. Guests included MSPs and MEPs, key representatives of animal health and welfare organisations and senior members of the veterinary profession,

High on the Scottish Government’s agenda is its response to the research by Glasgow University into tail injuries in working dogs, he said. Announcing the findings last month, rural affairs and environment secretary Richard Lochhead said he had not taken a firm stance on whether to make changes to legislation banning the docking of puppies’ tails, but that the research provided a sound basis for discussion.

Mr Hargreaves said the BVA was formulating its response to the consultation but that it would question the robustness of the study of working dog owners.

"We have always stated that we would look again at our position in favour of a complete ban on docking in light of new evidence, but initial comments from our members are that any concessions would be a retrograde step for Scotland, which has hitherto been considered to lead on this welfare issue,” he said.

"Our experience in England and Wales where exemptions are allowed is that it is almost impossible to prevent the rules being flouted for cosmetic reasons.”

- See more at: http://www.dogworld.co.uk/product.php/1 ... 4ubbD.dpuf

[trekmoor]

[quote="shiloh"]BVA president talks tail docking, microchipping and educating puppy buyers at annual Scottish dinner
Created: 28/05/2014


Mr Hargreaves said the BVA was formulating its response to the consultation but that it would question the robustness of the study of working dog owners.

"We have always stated that we would look again at our position in favour of a complete ban on docking in light of new evidence, but initial comments from our members are that any concessions would be a retrograde step for Scotland, which has hitherto been considered to lead on this welfare issue,”
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Does Mr.Hargreaves think we are all a bunch of liars ? If anything I suspect the damage to working dogs tails issue has been understated because too many folk that actually work their dogs haven't taken the trouble to fill in and send off anything on this subject.

I have 3 spaniels , all docked , one Brittany also docked, none of them has any trouble at all with their tails. I also work my neighbours viszla but not as frequently as my own dogs. The viszla's full length tail does bleed and badly sometimes too.

To hell with what their members think, what about the thoughts and the on the job knowledge of all the people that work their dogs out shooting ? I couldn't care less if "Scotland is considered a leader on this welfare issue." I want docked dogs for practical purposes not for political gains.

Wullie

[vicky payne]

These studies,which are both flawed (one probably under reports and one over reports compared to the 'true' picture) but which draw the same conclusion (working dogs get tail injuries and docking prevents them) were accompanied by a scathing editorial which said 'we' (The Vet Record) and the RCVS still consider all docking to be unnecessary and that tails should only be removed once injured. They fail to accept that the costs in terms of pain, loss of a working dog for a period of time, higher risk of complications and monetary costs of adult amputation are outweigh the minor pain and cost of puppy docking.
We need to keep collecting evidence both to change the Scottish Law AND to support the maintenance of the current English, Welsh and NI laws. We must also make sure we stick to the rules and dock within the law.
The fight isn't over!