Can I amputate this dog's tail?

Re: Can I amputate this dog's tail?

Hannah Wynne Richards — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 11:08:27 GMT

I agree with everyone else who's replied

Wynne

Re: Can I amputate this dog's tail?

Bob Russell — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 10:59:47 GMT

The problem is with the dog with eye problems. Perhaps suggest they try 'Doggles'!

Re: Can I amputate this dog's tail?

Niall Taylor — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 08:16:28 GMT

[quote user="Ian Mostyn"]My last cat was constantly getting smacked around the face by my dogs tail - stupid cat just stood there and took it. Never had so much as a conjunctivitis let alone anything more serious.[/quote]

We have the same situation now with a Cairn terrier who is constantly getting belted in the face by our Labrador's tail and again, not a hint of eye problems. The blink reflex is one of the quickest and most effective ones we have IIRC.

Niall

Re: Can I amputate this dog's tail?

Ian Mostyn — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 23:25:03 GMT

My last cat was constantly getting smacked around the face by my dogs tail - stupid cat just stood there and took it. Never had so much as a conjunctivitis let alone anything more serious. Surely the eyelids would protect the eye from damage??? Like the others, I would look for an alternative explanation.

Ian

Re: Can I amputate this dog's tail?

emma o'connor — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 21:04:34 GMT

I also agree with Niall. I would ignore the labrador's tail and focus on a full clinical exam of the jack russell's eyes, I personally would not consider amputation of the Lab's tail.

Re: Can I amputate this dog's tail?

Stephen Courtney — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 20:06:20 GMT

What Niall said x 10

If you take the labs tail off you are mutilating the dog for no reason.

The JRT has ocular disease, but it is certainly not caused by being flicked across the eyes by the labrador's tail. I'd be thinking lens induced uveitis or corneal dystrophy at the top of the list, followed by KCS and variations thereof. Clients often have the wierdest ideas ,,,,,listen carefully and make a professional judgement but take care to maintain a professional and scientific high ground, based on a good history, a careful physical examination and sound consideration of pathophysiological principles.

Re: Can I amputate this dog's tail?

SteveOwen — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 19:47:18 GMT

Is this some kind of joke? If not, and I think it must be, DEFINITELY not.

Re: Can I amputate this dog's tail?

Rob Loxley — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 18:36:41 GMT

Surely the lab's tail wags over the JRT's head?!

Re: Can I amputate this dog's tail?

Dagmar Steele — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 17:57:48 GMT

Niall has been faster than myself but this is exactly what I have been thinking! I seriously doubt that this eye condition results from a wagging tail of a Labrador. There must be some other underlying reasons.

Re: Can I amputate this dog's tail?

Niall Taylor — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 17:25:32 GMT

[quote user="Alasdair Mathieson"]The cause, according to the owner, is being constantly belted across the face / eyes by the tail belonging to his inseperable pal, a labrador.[/quote]

That's the key phrase right there. No dog would be stupid enough to stand still while severe and painful occular pathology was induced by a series of tail lashings over a prolonged period. Clearly this JRT has a primary opthalmic problem which has impaired its vision and accordingly its ability to defend its eyes against damage. Never underestimate the capacity for a well meaning owner to completely misinterpret a situation and put 2 and 2 together to make 5.

Leave the Labrador in peace and do a proper work-up of the Jack Russel's eye problem - there may stil be hope for preserving what's left of its cornea. The trick, as usual, will be persuading the owner of course.

[quote user="Alasdair Mathieson"]could I remove the labrador's tail..? doesn't seem right, ethically or morally[/quote]

Or, indeed, clinically.

Niall

Re: Can I amputate this dog's tail?

Joyce Whitehead — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 17:16:30 GMT

I wouldn't be in hurry personally, mainly because they always seem so slow to recover and so uncomfortable for the amputee. Could you use an Elizabethan collar on the JRT as a trial? We use the soft comfy cone ones which are soft and light, so not nearly so traumatic for a blind dog. It would at least establish for sure that the tail was the issue.

(Up in Inverness next week - hope the weather is reasonable!)