Fixing Docked Tail - advice needed... - Doberman Forum : Doberman Breed Dog Forums

newpupforus · 08-31-2010, 09:40 AM

So, we are going tomorrow to get our ears cropped, and I had talked with the vet about Deisels tail. I guess when it was originally cropped, he/his mom must have popped the stitch, and now it has a scar on the end. The vet said he can cut the scar tissue off and re-suture it so it would heal correctly.

The question I have is, how hard will it be to keep him from licking his tail? Has anyone had to do this? He is in a crate during the day with a lunch break, so I cant constantly watch him.

2manydogs · 08-31-2010, 10:22 AM

Just keep his e collar on and he wont be able to get to it at all.

Brazen · 08-31-2010, 10:24 AM

The tendency to lick and/or pick at wounds vary from dog to dog. If you are worried about him licking and won't be around to supervise, I would recommend getting one of those soft ecollars which will also be gentle on the newly cropped ears.

Comfy Cone E-Collar

newpupforus · 08-31-2010, 10:30 AM

The vet mentioned making a brace for him to wear so he cant roll over to lick. Anyone used something like that?

Also, how long do the stitches stay in? 10 days like the ears?

G-Rod · 08-31-2010, 10:53 AM

Bentley has the same problem with his tail. When he was little he pulled the stitches out of his tail and it split open. Now he has a bald spot on his tail. I will also be taking him back to the vet to get it fixed, but I'm gonna wait til summer is over so he can swim with having to worried about the stitches coming out again or getting an infection.

What we did when he first chewed the stitches out, in hopes of it not doing what it did, was tape his tail with the waterproof tape used to post his ears. That stopped him from chewing on it while he was kenneled, but by then it was too late. When we were home, and on the weekends where we could watch him we took the tape off so it could air out. Tail healed, but with a bald spot. You can see it in the pic:

Dobdedoll · 08-31-2010, 11:23 AM

I have also used this product as an alternative to E-Collars. They are comfortable and allow the dog to eat and drink and not bash into walls. They don't work for all dogs or puppies though (some agile ones can still twist around them) so you must observe before leaving them alone with it.

ProCollar Premium Inflatable Protective Collar at PETCO

newpupforus · 08-31-2010, 01:16 PM

G-Rod - Deisels tail does look similar to that, but the bald spot is bigger. I think we are going to try some spray that makes them not want to bite/gnaw at it, and just watch very carefully! I am hesitant on the e-collar with him having stitches in his ears.

Mephistophelian · 08-31-2010, 02:27 PM

the e-collar should go past the ears so it shouldnt be to big of an issue. our pup had his tail redone as the scarring wasnt as nice as it should have been. The breeder had it done before we picked him up (alone with his ears) but he still had the stitches in. He didnt seem to bug them to much. I would recommend taping it up (with no pressure on the stitches). Judging by how Aksel handled it, the tail is to sore for the first couple days to lick anyways. Best of luck!

btrineer · 08-31-2010, 05:33 PM

Im not trying to offend, but why do you want to fix the tail? Are you going to show him?

dreamymad · 09-01-2010, 09:27 PM

I had Zeus's tail fix when he got his ears done also. He had a lot of scar tissue on his tail. He messed with his tail a little bit but no damage done. I'm very glad I did it cause his tail looks so much better.

avalonandon · 09-01-2010, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newpupforus

The vet mentioned making a brace for him to wear so he cant roll over to lick. Anyone used something like that?

Also, how long do the stitches stay in? 10 days like the ears?

Sebastian was docked at around 2 years - cant remember the exact age - but it was due to excessive wagging damage while inside his kennel that he would not leave alone to heal.

I had the surgery but it was not stitched well and it started to split on account of multiple factors, including Sebastian's tampering. He re-stitched it and put on a special brace that kept his body from bending in a certain way - something that the original E-collar was unable to stop him from doing.

**melbrod** · 09-01-2010, 09:43 PM

From btrineer: "Im not trying to offend, but why do you want to fix the tail? Are you going to show him?"

Tail Dock Neuroma

This is an interesting discussion about docking neuromas from this forum. Not saying anything like this is going on here, but this is one reason you might want fix a botched up dock job.

CNS · 09-02-2010, 07:37 AM

Sadie has this as well. We wanted the vet to fix it when she was spayed, but there was some sort of miscommunication. He tried to call while she was still under, but I didn't get the message until it was too late. "Grumble" So we're just going to leave it unless it bothers her.

newpupforus · 09-02-2010, 08:27 AM

Thanks for all the replies. I am going this afternoon to pick him up. Before we brought him, he had been messing with his tail so much it had started to bleed. I do think there were some nerve issues with the scar tissue, I touched his tail once and he jumped 3" off the ground. I may talk with the vet about the brace. He did mention that as an option to keep him from biting at his tail.

erinbond · 09-02-2010, 10:39 AM

Duke had his tail re-done when his ears where cropped as well.
Do what ever you can to prevent the licking the first time around.

Depending how much scare tissue there is, it may not even be worth it. Do you have a pic?

btrineer · 09-02-2010, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by melbrod

From btrineer: "Im not trying to offend, but why do you want to fix the tail? Are you going to show him?"

Tail Dock Neuroma

This is an interesting discussion about docking neuromas from this forum. Not saying anything like this is going on here, but this is one reason you might want fix a botched up dock job.

Thanks, Kraut had a bad docking job too; very large scar. It doesnt hurt him any and had my vet check it out on his last visit and he said the same, bad job, but it doesnt hurt him any. I have never heard of this with tail docks, only leg amputations. thanks again for the info.

newpupforus · 09-02-2010, 11:17 AM

No, I didnt take a pic before, I probably should have. It was pretty noticable, the whole tip of his tail was scar tissue. We didnt have it docket any shorter, so maybe he wont tell a difference.

erinbond - Do you remember how long the stitches were in for his tail? Did you do anything to keep him from nipping at it?

serg88 · 09-02-2010, 12:35 PM

oh my lil izzy girl had this same problem when i got her so my wonderful vet helped me out and redid it when doing the ears and her lil crazy self wouldnt leave the damn thing alone she would pick at it and wanna rip the bandages off well long story short it heeled with a bald spot again but much better than before and the tail looked better cause the breeder i got her form had left it a lil to long i was thinking about redoing it but hey im never gonna show her so why make her suffer again cause i noticed when it was healing she would cry to sit and it would hurt her when bumping against things

G-Rod · 09-02-2010, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newpupforus

G-Rod - Deisels tail does look similar to that, but the bald spot is bigger. I think we are going to try some spray that makes them not want to bite/gnaw at it, and just watch very carefully! I am hesitant on the e-collar with him having stitches in his ears.

yeah, I know what you mean, his was worse when he was younger. It's 10 times better now cause the hair has grown out some. We were hoping it would grow enough to cover it but never has. So he'll be getting the same thing done here in another month or two as soon as its too cold for him to swim. When we first took him to the vet for it, they gave us a lamp shade so he couldn't chew on it any more......lol, that thing turned him into a statue! He wouldn't move with it on. Thats when we decided to tape it.

erinbond · 09-02-2010, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newpupforus

No, I didnt take a pic before, I probably should have. It was pretty noticable, the whole tip of his tail was scar tissue. We didnt have it docket any shorter, so maybe he wont tell a difference.

erinbond - Do you remember how long the stitches were in for his tail? Did you do anything to keep him from nipping at it?

The stitches were out when we went to pick him up at the breeders, so I'm unsure how long they were in I would say 7-10 days. He had a scab that was healing when he left, my choice was to take him and treat it my self, I'm a nurse and I love wounds so thought it would be no big deal.
He was great when we were around but the second he was in the crate at night he would chew it...anyways long story short, the middle of the wound was unhealed but the surrounding tissue had grown over the unhealed part..very unsightly and really bothered him...he ended up reopening it and he really fixed the wound himself. I did everything I could to get it to heal the first time around, without the use of a cone. it was never infected and was always moist..with poly.

So from my experience, DO WHATEVER you can to have nothing interrupt the healing, and kept in moist with poly or even vit e oil, it will heal faster moist as compared to dry.
"NO" worked effectively when out of his crate, I would rec'd a cone at night or when you are not around.
Dont tape it.