Banding a dogs tail

[Ron_Orick]

I have a dog that the tail is bad bad bad and Im interested finding out how to cut it off or banding it or what ever they call it.

How long does it take to fall off

How long before you can run the dog

How do you do it and what is the best way to do it

what do you use to do it

what kind of meds do I need to put on it once it comes off

thanks for any and all help

[mw7881]

banded a females tail last gun season. Done it when we stoped to eat lunch and ran her after we got done eating. I used a band like u use to band a calf. Just try and get the band inbetween the bones. took about a week to fall off ran her the hole time.

[Ron_Orick]

does the dog cry or whine while this is being done

[mw7881]

mine did even act like she know it was there. But u will need a helper to hold the dog while u put the band on. This is what worked for me any way. Saved alot of money by not going to a vet.

[little e kennels]

i have done it as well and it works like he said i ran mine the whole time. the band has to be super super tight for it to work. i used bands for goats and had to have a opener for the bands. i got my from our local farm supply

[bucks better beagles]

Causes no problems if done right. Be careful not to try to cut too much at once and the younger the dog, the better, I do it for cosmetic reasons also.

[ray s]

I rolled the band onto a piece of PVC 3/4" pipe. Slid the tail into the pipe. When you roll the band off the end of the pipe it will land exactly at the spot where you place the tail at the pipes edge. As said earlier this needs to be at a joint. It is simple and quick. My advise would be to pick the joint for the band then,take off one more.

[Shady Grove Beagles]

The tool is called an ellastrator.Looks like a pair of pliers with 3-4 small prongs sideways on the end.The bands that I have are green and quite small [hole is smaller than a pencil ].You put the band over the prongs and when you squeeze the handle it opens the "pliers" spreading the band open plenty to put over what ever you are banding.I used mine for lambs tails and ram lambs nut sacks.Took a week of so for them to drop off. Never had any problems.Never used it on a dog but know several that have.
When pups are 2-3 days old you can cut their tails off with a real sharp knife without much problem also.

[bucks better beagles]

Ray: never heard this technique before but am eager to try. How do you get the ban over the pipe? I can't get them to stretch that far. Would it help to add talcum powder of some sort of grease to get them to slid real easy?

[Bobby Vest]

We shaved the tail up past where we wanted to take it off and it lets you see exactly where you are placing the band. I try to put it in one of the joints between the vertebrae. I run them like I always did. Some time when you run them in thick cover the band will slide down some and I just put it back where it was when I am through running. I have had them lose the band completely when running and you just replace it when you are through. You will likely have a little piece of bone sticking out when the tail comes off but it will go away in a few days. I like the bands better than the way most of the vets do it, it usually looks better.

[ray s]

Ray: never heard this technique before but am eager to try. How do you get the ban over the pipe? I can't get them to stretch that far. Would it help to add talcum powder of some sort of grease to get them to slid real easy?

I cut one end of the pipe on an angle ( NOT the end you slip the tail in) That makes the pipe start at some what of a point. Smooth the edges of the pipe and the band will roll on with a little effort.

[bucks better beagles]

Clever Ray, I will try that

[Norshore]

I've heard that you should pull the skin down before you let the band go,is there any benifit to that?

[HAND ME DOWN BEAGLES]

In my experience we pull as much hair down as possible so that when the tail falls off it covers the tip. Use the green sheep bands and be sure to get between the joints. Runem when you want and in 7-10 days it is gone.
Good luck

[kybuckhunter]

I've heard that you should pull the skin down before you let the band go,is there any benifit to that?

Yes it leaves some loose skin to cover the bone and hair to grow on to hide the bob end looks as if done at 2 days old.