Limp Tail

[Rick]

Anyone ever have a dog get it?

http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/coldtail.html

My lab currently has it. I think she got it from a swim in the sound the other day

You can tell it hurts,but I can't help but laugh when she tries to wag her tail. Its just pitiful.

[gasman]

Yeah, my lab  two years ago.

Takes a few days top get over it but they do .

They do say, if your dogs gets it ones, they will get it again 

[SnowDog]

Mine also got it two years ago retrieving in teh sound. Went away after a couple days with no lasting problems. I've never see it since, even with retrieves on lightly iced over ponds.

Cheers!
SD

[AspenBud]

It's called "limber tail" and I've had it happen in two of my Pointers on several occasions. Usually takes a week to two weeks for them to get over it. I have also known several other people with Pointers and setters that have come down with it as well as lab owners.

In my own experience it seems to happen more often if the dogs are a little out of shape and/or working in cold conditions and transitioning quickly to a warm truck for the ride home.

To the best of my knowledge no one really knows why it happens however. It just does and it strikes some dogs and not others.

Depending on the severity your dog can still hunt with it. This Pointer did (that tail should be at 12 o'clock but the dog had limber tail)...

Lady on a Spring Woodcock

[CoryTDF]

Cold tail! Had it with my lab. Check this thread.

http://www.retrievertraining.net/forums/showthread.php?95646-cold-tail&highlight=tail

[Stilly bay]

Limber tail or as I like to call it, Erect Tail Disfunction.

My Gordon setter got a severe case of it after training in the beginning of sept. His was incredibly painful for him, and he is still working through it. it has been a solid month now and he is about 70% recovered. His tail isn't looking right, but it doesn't seem to be nearly as painful.

it happened after a big training run, when I put him in his kennel he was fine, and when we got home he wasn't.
in his situation I think it was the case of an out of shape dog getting too much heat and too much exercise in one sitting coupled with riding in a crate that was probably a little too small.

We are guessing his slow recovery is due to having his hips and tail broken several years ago along with resulting nerve damage.
The vet gave him some pain meds and said it would work itself out.

[Happy Gilmore]

Too much time in the water and not drying them off before going to the kennel. It happens in warm water too

[Stilly bay]

From my research and experience it doesn't have anything to do with water. It can certainly happen from over exertion while swimming in cold water as is the case with most labs that don't do anything but sit on the couch all year waiting for duck season.

My setter got it from running on a warm day, no water involved and I am pretty confident that the EP's Aspenbud mentioned didn't go swimming to get limber tail.

[AspenBud]

My setter got it from running on a warm day, no water involved and I am pretty confident that the EP's Aspenbud mentioned didn't go swimming to get limber tail.

I don't think it's so much water as it is being cold and working and then getting thrown into a warm vehicle. It has almost always come on when I've run the dogs in that scenario for an extended period of time (like 2-3 hours straight). Late winter, early Spring, is when I most often see it in my dogs. I think I see it less in the Fall because I'm more active with them during the longer days in the Spring/Summer, they are in better shape then.

[JJD]

If ya really get right down to it, it’s basic physics.
Dog gets to go to water, dog is happy, dog wags tail a bunch more than normal.
Now add the resistance of water and let’s add cold to the equation as well, it all
adds up to a tired and sore tail.   Be like you waving your arm, in moderation and what you normally do is fine, but you hold it up and wave it a whole bunch more, some of those muscles that don’t get used that much do some complaining.  Try waving your arm for a while in cold water, you are gonna be in the medicine cabinet lookin for that bottle of Aleve.  While cold water is certainly not the cause and you can aggravate the muscles in its absence, it compounds the problem.
It’s simple muscle fatigue.   
Rest will cure it, NSAIDs like Rimadyl work great to speed the recovery process.  Steroids like Prednisone work too, and for short term use, there’s nothing wrong with it.  Contrary to what the holistic crowd may claim, Steroid is not a dirty word. 
 

[AspenBud]

If ya really get right down to it, it’s basic physics.
Dog gets to go to water, dog is happy, dog wags tail a bunch more than normal.
Now add the resistance of water and let’s add cold to the equation as well, it all
adds up to a tired and sore tail.   Be like you waving your arm, in moderation and what you normally do is fine, but you hold it up and wave it a whole bunch more, some of those muscles that don’t get used that much do some complaining.  Try waving your arm for a while in cold water, you are gonna be in the medicine cabinet lookin for that bottle of Aleve.  While cold water is certainly not the cause and you can aggravate the muscles in its absence, it compounds the problem.
It’s simple muscle fatigue.   
Rest will cure it, NSAIDs like Rimadyl work great to speed the recovery process.  Steroids like Prednisone work too, and for short term use, there’s nothing wrong with it.  Contrary to what the holistic crowd may claim, Steroid is not a dirty word. 
 

Interestingly, it's my field bred Pointers that get the problem. They don't go in water but when they run they are usually cracking that high tail back and forth a lot.

I have a Pointer from bench lines that I hunt as well. She usually keeps that tail level when running and I've never seen her come down with the problem.

[Stilly bay]

If ya really get right down to it, it’s basic physics.
Dog gets to go to water, dog is happy, dog wags tail a bunch more than normal.
Now add the resistance of water and let’s add cold to the equation as well, it all
adds up to a tired and sore tail.   Be like you waving your arm, in moderation and what you normally do is fine, but you hold it up and wave it a whole bunch more, some of those muscles that don’t get used that much do some complaining.  Try waving your arm for a while in cold water, you are gonna be in the medicine cabinet lookin for that bottle of Aleve.  While cold water is certainly not the cause and you can aggravate the muscles in its absence, it compounds the problem.
It’s simple muscle fatigue.   
Rest will cure it, NSAIDs like Rimadyl work great to speed the recovery process.  Steroids like Prednisone work too, and for short term use, there’s nothing wrong with it.  Contrary to what the holistic crowd may claim, Steroid is not a dirty word. 
 

Couldn't agree more.
Stepping out on a limb here but I think it is most common in labs because #1 there are so many labs. #2 there are so many out of shape labs that don't do a thing all year until duck season (an activity the usually requires swimming in cold water)  and then go to work without being in shape. So of course they are going to have some sore muscles especially in the tail area.

[JJD]

Stilly, right on the money!

[Happy Gilmore]

you guys come up with some wild reasons for stuff and advice at times..

[Stilly bay]

you were wrong, it will be ok.

[Happy Gilmore]

you were wrong, it will be ok.

wagging their tail is your final answer? lol.. seriously?

[Stilly bay]

and cold water was yours? So by your statement every time it rains in December there should be a rash of Limber tail cases as dogs get exposed to cold water?
cold water and limber tail are not mutually exclusive.

It is caused by a sudden over overexertion of the tail- a Limb that meets very little resistance unless a dog is swimming or to a lesser extent, running hard.

[AspenBud]

Actually my final answer is it's dog dependent but it is most often seen in out of shape dogs that have been working in a cooler environment be that in water or not.

A "cracking tail" is a desirable trait in field trial bred dogs and that's precisely where a lot of Pointers and setters come from. Just like a lab using its tail as it swims a high tailed Pointer is often snapping that flag pole back and forth as it works, much more so than a dog with a lower tail set, which means those muscles are working hard back there and in a more out of shape dog leads to muscle fatigue and possibly even injury. It's not as cracked out as it seems.

[JJD]

Too much time in the water and not drying them off before going to the kennel. It happens in warm water too

How does one explain dogs who get it that have not been in the water at all?
I have seen out of shape dogs get it in July that never got near water, warm, cold or otherwise.  And they were just retrieving bumpers.

[JJD]

If ya really get right down to it, it’s basic physics.
Dog gets to go to water, dog is happy, dog wags tail a bunch more than normal.
Now add the resistance of water and let’s add cold to the equation as well, it all
adds up to a tired and sore tail.   Be like you waving your arm, in moderation and what you normally do is fine, but you hold it up and wave it a whole bunch more, some of those muscles that don’t get used that much do some complaining.  Try waving your arm for a while in cold water, you are gonna be in the medicine cabinet lookin for that bottle of Aleve.  While cold water is certainly not the cause and you can aggravate the muscles in its absence, it compounds the problem.
It’s simple muscle fatigue.   
Rest will cure it, NSAIDs like Rimadyl work great to speed the recovery process.  Steroids like Prednisone work too, and for short term use, there’s nothing wrong with it.  Contrary to what the holistic crowd may claim, Steroid is not a dirty word. 
 

Interestingly, it's my field bred Pointers that get the problem. They don't go in water but when they run they are usually cracking that high tail back and forth a lot.

I have a Pointer from bench lines that I hunt as well. She usually keeps that tail level when running and I've never seen her come down with the problem.

Reread the sentences that starts with, Be like you waving your arm . . .  &  While cold water . . .
Sorry, I'm a retriever guy and cold water is often involved cuz most retrievers don't get it merely waving their tails in  the air.

[Houndhunter]

Had it happen to a female i have after she had pups, tail went limp for a few weeks. Really not a big deal, from what i've read they always recover.

[Cascade_fisher]

Bum wag!  My bitch has had it and while sad it's okay, just muscle fatigue like JJD said.

[AspenBud]

Just off the press today.

http://strideaway.com/canine-limber-cold-tail-syndrome/

[Happy Gilmore]

"Not much is understood about this condition nor is there much information in the most current veterinary literature (most of the veterinary literature dates back to the late 1990’s). Limber tail syndrome has many synonyms such as Limp tail, Cold tail, Happy-tail syndrome, Swimmer’s tail, etc. Limber tail syndrome is a condition of sporting dogs where the dog’s tail all of a sudden becomes flaccid or limp. Dogs with limber tail have a history of prolonged cage transport, a vigorous work-out (running, roading or swimming) or have a history of being exposed to extreme cold water or cold environmental temperatures. Other factors that have been cited in the literature include tail confirmation (high tails or active tails) and inadequate nutrition."

That's the truth...

tail "confirmation"?? Must be a catholic vet...lol.. hahaa

[Stilly bay]

"Not much is understood about this condition nor is there much information in the most current veterinary literature
That's the truth...

tail "confirmation"?? Must be a catholic vet...lol.. hahaa

that statement backs up what you said as much as it nullifies it. I was giving an educated guess. at any rate an educated guess was better than

Too much time in the water and not drying them off before going to the kennel. It happens in warm water too

Because their tails are damp?! Really?! were not talking about split ends here.

Jeebus, let it go happy.

[Happy Gilmore]

go swim the crap out of a dog, put it back in the kennel wet without time to dry off and get blood flow back into the muscles....

It can happen to dogs on land just as well- not due to tail "confirmation" but, the "conformation" (structure of the animal). For this reason, the DVM alluded to his EP's tail set which, as many, are unnatural yet, desirable in pointer circles. The "high cracked tail" in an EP can also be a factor for that specific breed.

As I've said before, the "information" passed around on this dog section of hunt-wa is so far "fetched" sometimes it's hard to read. Especially, when it comes to backyard breeding and lack of "give a chit" on animal health and breeding.

[Stilly bay]

you guys come up with some wild reasons for stuff and advice at times..

As I've said before, the "information" passed around on this dog section of hunt-wa is so far "fetched" sometimes it's hard to read. Especially, when it comes to backyard breeding and lack of "give a chit" on animal health and breeding.

first off, thanks for dismissing and discounting "information" members of this site post as if you don't agree with it then it must be wrong, wild, and far "fetched"

Too much time in the water and not drying them off before going to the kennel. It happens in warm water too

 no one mentioned any thing but a possible hypothesis for the cause of limber tail... except for you
in your first statement where you made it sound like you knew the one and only reason, only to come back later and tell us that not only were our answers wild and far fetched, but that no one knows the reason when you quoted the main line of the article thus negating your first statement.

"Not much is understood about this condition nor is there much information in the most current veterinary literature

It can happen to dogs on land just as well- not due to tail "confirmation" but, the "conformation" (structure of the animal). For this reason, the DVM alluded to his EP's tail set which, as many, are unnatural yet, desirable in pointer circles. The "high cracked tail" in an EP can also be a factor for that specific breed.

I know for a fact that the author of the article is a pretty intelligent guy and an actual vet specializing in bird dogs, I wouldn't be so quick to brush him off or shoot him down just on a typo about confirmation vs conformation.  Are you a vet? or do you just play one online?

go swim the crap out of a dog, put it back in the kennel wet without time to dry off and get blood flow back into the muscles....

It can happen to dogs on land just as well- not due to tail "confirmation" but, the "conformation" (structure of the animal). For this reason, the DVM alluded to his EP's tail set which, as many, are unnatural yet, desirable in pointer circles. The "high cracked tail" in an EP can also be a factor for that specific breed.

Too much time in the water and not drying them off before going to the kennel. It happens in warm water too

 so then you concede that it IS possibly from overexertion "From swimming the crap out of a dog" not merely a damp tail like you stated earlier? and that water and limber tail are not mutually exclusive? Is that your way of agreeing? have we had a major break through? or do you still want to debate who is more wrong about something with no definitive answer?

[WRL]

I will preface this with an ***I didn't read much of the pissing match that came in posts before mine*******......

Limber Tail or Cold Water tail is simply an over exertion of the muscles at the base of the tail. It happens in water (warm or cold) or not. It happens in cold weather or warm weather.

The more your dog uses its tail, the more likely they will get it under certain circumstances.

It will go away on its own with time. How long it takes depends on how severe it is. Usually from a few days to a week but it could take longer.

It can be very painful to the dog so its about managing the pain.

WRL

[Happy Gilmore]

The prior comment was in response to someone saying they got it "From wagging their tail in the water" which I though sounded kind of funny. I've never seen a dog wag it's tail in the water. Usually, they are used as a rudder and stay straight until the dog turns. Eitherway, still funny. Especially, from guys with dogs that don't have tails or, cut 3/4 of them off...

[WRL]

The prior comment was in response to someone saying they got it "From wagging their tail in the water" which I though sounded kind of funny. I've never seen a dog wag it's tail in the water. Usually, they are used as a rudder and stay straight until the dog turns. Eitherway, still funny. Especially, from guys with dogs that don't have tails or, cut 3/4 of them off...

I have dogs that spin them in circles under the water. My weiner dog swims and her tails comes up out of the water then back in with every other stroke.

WRL