Tails and Toes.

Before I begin, I would just like to take a moment to update everyone on Bosley/Boslyn's post-surgery recovery.

Unfortunately, his hyper obnoxiousness did not decrease in the slightest, which is why he is wearing the cone of shame. I've given him chances to prove that he can behave and not chew at his empty ball sack, but alas, only the cone will keep him from searching for his missing testicles. 

I'm a little jealous that my cat got a tattoo before I did. Not jealous of the gnarly cauterizing job on his sack, though (at least I think that's why it's like that.. I took him to a new vet, and they do things differently there).

So all is well in that department. Now onto the babies...

I've talked a little bit about euthanasia in some of my previous posts, and I've definitely talked about some of the nastier things I've done as a pre-vet student, but my absolute LEAST favorite thing to do, the thing that sends shivers down my spine and makes my inner child rock back and forth in a corner, is dewclaw removals and tail docking.  

I know what you're thinking. "That doesn't sound that bad. How could it be worse than euthanasia?" Well, in some cases it isn't worse, but usually (definitely not always) there is a legitimate reason for putting an animal down, and even when there isn't, it is done in the most painless, humane way possible. I can handle that. I can handle dewclaw removals and tail docking, too, but I don't like it. It takes all the strength I have to not whimper and cringe through every second of it. This is why:

Picture credit goes to dogbreedinfo.com

 Newborn freaking baby puppies. 3 days old tops. That's how old they are when their tiny, little, vestigial digits and tails are pinched, twisted, and ripped off of them. No pain killers or anything.

Honestly, the dewclaw removal I can kind of understand. They just kinda dangle there, and the puppies don't seem to be super bothered when those are removed (I mean, they still cry and shriek, but it's nothing compared to the tail docking). And there is some benefit to it, I guess, because when they get older, dewclaws do get caught on things easier and rip on their own (which heals a lot slower than purposeful removal). So there's that.

But ugh. Holding those squirming, squealing babies while you rip off their toes and cauterize the wound just feels horrible. (Picture credit goes to astraean.com.)

But tail docking? That's purely aesthetic. There is no reason for it at all except that people, for whatever reason, think it makes the breed look more appealing (some people argue that dogs sustain tail injuries, but honestly, it doesn't happen that often even to working dogs, and most of the dogs that go through this are ones that are fortunate enough to spend their lives being pampered.. like my spoiled, little turd, Otto). Much like ear cropping. And it hurts a hell of a lot more (than the dewclaw removal, I mean... ear cropping probably hurts worse than this because it's such a slow recovery). You can tell. You know, because there's this tiny puppy screaming bloody murder in your hands while its tail is being twisted off. It's the worst sound I have ever heard.

Sorry for the sad, puppy gore. (Picture credit to anti-dockingalliance.com.)

It's not like I despise people that get their dogs' tails docked or dewclaws removed or even ears cropped. I definitely won't be trying to talk anyone into it anytime soon, but this is just another one of those things I have to become accustomed to if I want to become a vet. Because I'll actually have to be the one ripping (not just the puppy holder). And it's going to suck.

I guess it gets to me so much because they're just babies, man. Just babies.

On a lighter note, here's a picture of my very own tail dockee staring intently at an apple core:

He likes to play with them and nibble on them. And guard them. Which is what he is doing here.