Why is Tail Docking Painful?
Tail docking refers to amputation of the whole or part of tail for cosmetic purposes or for achieving desirable qualities. Some of the breeds commonly subjected to tail docking are Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers, Cocker Spaniels, German Shorthaired Pointers and Miniature Schnauzers. Tail docking is usually performed in the first five days of life in puppies without giving any anesthetic medication. This practice of using no anesthetic is based on two false beliefs: first is that puppies, in their early life, are unable to sense pain, and second is that administering anesthetic in early life of puppies is too dangerous. However, the reality is completely different. Tail docking is a very painful procedure, even more than it is in adults. This is because they are physically and neurologically immature and also have fewer resources to cope with the trauma that makes their pain experience even more profound. Hence, tail docking has a lifelong impact on puppies that affects their pain perception in the upcoming life leading to exaggerated pain sensation in adulthood.
Inflammation
As soon as the damage is done, the body senses it and initiates an inflammatory response. This response involves the release of chemicals like histamine, cytokines and prostaglandins at the site of injury. These substances cause heating, swelling and tenderness at the wound site, enhancing the sensitization of the pain receptors and inducing the phenomenon of hyperalgesia. This makes even light touches or normal movements around the wound feel excruciating. As a result, the pain does not end with the procedure and lingers for long time.
The Tail is More Than Just an Appendage
Many people consider the tail to be an expendable feature, but it’s actually and extension of the spine. It is structurally made up of several small coccygeal vertebral bones that are connected through joints, discs, ligaments, and layers of muscles and skin. Moreover, there are nerves and blood vessels as well that run through or around these bones.
Tail docking is not just simply removing the tip. Instead, it is cutting through living and functional tissues of skin, fat, muscles, bone, and most importantly the nerves. Each tissue among these is rich in sensory receptors including nociceptors which are especially responsible for pain sensation. So, in this docking procedure, the puppy experiences trauma from the very first mutilation.
Nerves as The Core of Pain Perception
Nerves are the main structures that are responsible for pain sensation during tail docking. There are branches of the spinal nerves all through the tail performing the sensory and the motor functions. When these nerves are cut during the docking procedure, pain signals are sent to the brain, and the animal experiences severe pain. Moreover, severing a nerve is not like cutting the supply of a switch that turns off sensation. Instead, it causes intense pain that is immediate, sharp, and often long lasting. It leaves the cut nerve endings exposed which can keep on sending burning, stabbing, or aching signals to the brain even without any external stimulation. Such type of pain is usually referred to as phantom pain that originates as a result of reshuffling the neural pathways by the nervous system in an attempt to adapt to the missing body part causing confusion and hyperactivity in pain-processing areas of the brain.
Neuromas
When a nerve is cut, it tries to repair and regenerate itself at the severed end. However, in some cases, this regrowth can go awry resulting in the formation of neuroma which is a tangled bundle of nerve fibers. These formed neuromas are notoriously painful. Such a pain is referred to as neuropathic pain that originates from the nervous system itself, rather than from the damaged tissue. In this condition, animals may experience sudden jolts of pain, high sensitivity to touch and chronic discomfort at the docking site for the rest of their lives.
Dura Mater and Deep Spinal Pain
Tail docking is performed near the dura mater and the cauda equina. Dura mater (in Latin translates to “tough mother”) is a thick membrane protecting the spinal cord and the nerve roots whereas cauda equina is the spinal cord tapering near the base of the tail. Both these structures are rich in nociceptors and extremely sensitive nerve fibers which show strong response to any injury. Hence, docking performed too close to this area without precise anatomical understanding can cause injury to the dura mater and the cauda equina. Resultantly, this injury can cause not only localized pain but can also lead to prolonged and intense stimulation of pain pathways of the central nervous system making recovery more difficult and painful.
Vertebrae
Tail docking involves cutting not only the soft tissue but also requires cutting through bone. Bone is not just a hard or dead material; it is a living tissue that contains nerves and bone marrow. These vertebral bones are covered with periosteum which is a thin and dense membrane. This membrane is among the most pain-sensitive tissues of the body. Hence, when the tail is docked, the periosteum is also ripped or sliced along with the bone resulting in intense and sharp pain. This kind of injury triggers a cascade of chemical reactions that leads to inflammation and prolonged discomfort.
