Limber Tail

[Becky]

I have a non hunting dog (although he thinks he is) and he seems to have gotten this condition? I've read a lot online about it and he'll be okay after a few days but I like hearing first hand experiences too. I'm posting this in bird dogs because this is something more common with working/swimming dogs.

He is eating, somewhat playing, laying down and standing/running like normal he just looks sad as heck and hurts him when he sits down. He normally has a curled up tail on his back.

[vandeman17]

Have had it happen a few times. A day or two of rest and he will be fine. It's hard to see them like that but you don't need to worry.

[Becky]

Have had it happen a few times. A day or two of rest and he will be fine. It's hard to see them like that but you don't need to worry.

I keep going back and forth on wanting to rush him to emergency vet or not. He is acting fine otherwise, but sure looks like a sad tater-tot right now lol.

[Goldeneye]

  What caused this?  Your pup does look like he's not a happy camper.

   My girl Bella broke her tail a year ago.  She fell out of a tree after climbing it to get a rooster that had hung up after being shot.  Good news is she got to the bird and hung onto it.  Bad news was the broken tail.  All the vet could do with the tail is give her something for the pain.  Can't rally splint a tail I guess.   Healed up good enough.  Tail has a little curl now where it didn't before.

[Becky]

  What caused this?  Your pup does look like he's not a happy camper.

   My girl Bella broke her tail a year ago.  She fell out of a tree after climbing it to get a rooster that had hung up after being shot.  Good news is she got to the bird and hung onto it.  Bad news was the broken tail.  All the vet could do with the tail is give her something for the pain.  Can't rally splint a tail I guess.   Healed up good enough.  Tail has a little curl now where it didn't before.

I'm not sure, he has free access to the backyard and sometimes he gets real excited chasing after the horses on our fence line but other than that/being a old little guy (14 this year) I'm not sure. I thought maybe he could have hit his tail as he's running through his dog door?  I know he's usually overly excited with his wippy tail.

He just started slowly half up then would hang his tail, then would wag his tail up and then drop it and wag it low, and now he won't lift his tail at all and just wags it low. He doesn't cry or anything if I push around on his tail to feel if it's swollen, but he does sit real slow or won't sit he just lays down. I'm going to call his vet tomorrow, but trying to research as much as possible and watch him because we just can't afford emergency vet unless his condition changes. Just sad watching him look sad.

[7mmfan]

He wi be fine.  My lab had this for the first time a month or so ago. Freaked me out but right on schedule, a couple days later she was good as new. Didnt seem to bother her as much the 2nd day. It really bothered her that first night, and it bothered me not being greeted by her crazy wagging tail! If she's not getting use of her tail back in 2-3 days, then it may be time for the vet.

[Goldeneye]

I agree with you.  This probably doesn't need an emergency visit.  The vet may prescribe something for the pain, but for the most part I don't think there's much they can do except let it heal itself.  It's always good to be sure though.  Do check with your vet.

[stickbuck]

Could be something as easy as the anal gland needing to be expressed. One of my labs would get the droopy tail every once in awhile and once the anal gland was expressed the tail was back to normal. The vet will usually show you the first time you take them in for it so you can do it yourself in the future.


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[AspenBud]

Some of my dogs get it from time to time. It usually seems to happen when a dog is a little out of shape, goes for a long run in colder temps, and then goes back into a warm environment. Being confined to a crate afterward seems to contribute to the problem as well, guessing it has to do with muscles cramping and not being able to stretch them as well. I almost always see it show up around this time of year or a little later as the weather gets better.

Sometimes it takes a day to resolve, sometimes seven.

[Becky]

He is a little round  and has always had free access to run around an acre then back into the warm house. Sounds plausible as it's been pretty cold lately. He is a double coated shiba inu mix so he's always hot and likes to lay outside in the cold. This morning he was wagging a little more, and was bullying the cat off the couch. I did call his vet, they of course want to see him and wouldn't give much info over the phone but got an appt set anyways (few days from now was earliest) unless he is fully better before then .. Thanks all for the info and personal experiences!

[WapitiTalk1]

Could be something as easy as the anal gland needing to be expressed.

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Many breeds of smaller dogs have this issue and their glands must be expressed several times per year.  Symptoms?  Yes, they are not themselves, seem to try to lick the problem away (yak), and there is normally a discernible smell almost like rotten fish around their backside.  Couple of other possibilities:  your pup may have eaten something that is making him sick inside, may have eaten something that is not passing (we had a mini schnauz that required a surgery because he at a piece of cement that wouldn't pass), he may have pulled an abdominal muscle, etc.  IMO, if the little guy is not feeling better soon, it warrants a trip to the doggie doc.  Hope it turns out to be nothing.   

[Becky]

Gonna take him in after work to get squeezed. They rescheduled him to have his tail looked at today too at the same time, but they said his tail wouldn't be dropped like that if he's glands are impacted or if he's constipated. 

[Becky]

He has a sprained tail, with some anti-inflammatory meds to help. All else checked out good, we rolled it into his regular checkup so didn't break the bank either, yay.  thanks for all the info guys.

[WapitiTalk1]

Poor guy. Glad he's ok