AMPUTATION OF THE TAIL 



389 



practice of allowing tails to remain tied up for several days, 

 that often requires prompt amputation to save the patient's 

 life_ against systemic infection. And finally, the habitual 

 "rein grabber" is at once made a safer driver by shortening 

 the tail to eight or nine inches after having been submitted 

 to a thorough myotomy of the depressors. 



In the dog, there is little excuse for the operation, except 

 here and there, for serious injuries which threaten the in- 

 tegrity of the organ by gangrene, and occasionally as a 

 rapid method of dealing with the refractory sore of the tip 

 that rebels against every other known treatment. In the lat- 

 ter event the tip of the tail becomes sore from lashing it 

 against solid objects, (walls, post, etc.,) and despite the 

 most ingenious contrivances to prevent constant injury there- 

 from, the wound is kept irritated and bleeding for months 

 until the once trivial abrasion becomes a very formidable 



Fig. 194 — Docking Shears. 



lesion. The occurrence is chiefly in great Danes and bull 

 terriers having a rather unnatural penchant for wagging the 

 tail almost continually, and although the fancier may deplore 

 the disfigurement, docking is by far the most effectual in- 

 tervention. 



In sheep, docking is practiced almost universally. It is 

 customary to dock male lambs in large herds in order that 

 the wethers may be more easily distinguished from the ewes. 

 In the small herds the excuse given for the practice is that 

 docking improves the general appearance and at the same 

 time prevents accumulation of burrs or feces upon the tail 

 wool. 



In bovines, the operation is performed only for injuries 

 of sufficient seriousness to threaten untoward complications. 

 Freezing of the end in extreme cold climates ,and injections 

 of black leg vaccine occasionally produce threatening con- 

 ditions necessitating amputation, 



