Docking of dogs: practical and ethical aspects.
Next month, the Council of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons will discuss the docking of dogs' tails, with a view to deciding whether docking for non-therapeutic purposes should be considered as prima-facie evidence of disgraceful professional conduct. Here, Professor David Morton considers the arguments for and against tail docking, and the ethical issues involved.
Morton
D
D
Department of Biomedical Science and Biomedical Ethics, University of Birmingham.
D000827:Animal Welfare; D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs / Q000601:surgery*; D004995:Ethics, Professional; D010146:Pain / Q000662:veterinary; D013623:Tail / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery*; D014730:Veterinary Medicine