Tail Trauma in Dogs

Everyone knows that a wagging tail on a dog is a means of communication -- usually a positive thing.  However, when that spastic tail isn’t wagging, we owners should view that as a signal that something is amiss in our beloved family member.  This behavior change can signal injury as well as illness in your dog. Causes for this condition can range from a muscle strain to a fracture. Any time a canine’s tail appears to be injured, a veterinary visit is warranted without delay.

Tail trauma is defined as basically any injury to the canine tail or its supporting structures.  This can include injuries emanating from breaks, abrasions and chewing as well as sprains, fractures and more serious spinal or genetic anomalies or injuries.

Symptoms you might see that would suggest tail trauma in your dog:

• Swelling

• Abrasions or bleeding or ulcer type lesion which bleeds

• “Out of joint” appearance anywhere along the length of the tail signalling a break or fracture

• Unusual tail set - Tail is limp, or more rigid either in its entire length or only a portion of the length

• Droopy tail

• A tail that doesn’t wag

• Changes in the canine’s gait

Types  

There are several types of tail trauma which can afflict your beloved canine family member.  Here are the types or categories into which various tail traumas fall:

• Skin - Cuts, bites, abrasions, ulcers

• Muscular - Sprains or strains of the muscles and tendons in the tail

• Skeletal - Vertebrae dislocation, breaks and fractures in the bones of the tail, spine and hips

• Neurological - Injuries which affect the nerves of the tail, spine and hips as well as some body systems

There are multiple types of causes of tail trauma in dogs.  Here is a brief explanation of those causes:

• Self-inflicted wounds - These would be the biting, chewing and licking behaviors in which your canine involves himself for various reasons like allergies, fleas and other parasitic bites, dry and itchy skin conditions, painful abrasions or ulcers

• Vehicular mishaps - These include conflicts with cars, bicycles and other motor vehicles (these causes can result in serious hip and spine injury, and even death)

• “Family” inflicted - These would include the well meaning tugs that children tend to do with the family dog, the injury received when grandma’s rocking chair is too close, or the injuries received when that tail gets caught in the car or bedroom door when it’s being closed

These are just a few examples of tail traumas which can afflict your canine family member. Unintended injuries can range from mild to severe with some perhaps even requiring surgical intervention to fix.

If you suspect a tail trauma in your dog, you should call your veterinary professional right away.  If it is a bleeding situation, especially one that you can’t stop, get your pet to the nearest emergency veterinary facility for assessment and treatment.  The diagnosis of the injury, regardless of severity, will depend on several things.  Your historical input will be a great assistance to your veterinary professional as he proceeds with his physical examination and assessment of your pet’s condition.  

He may require radiographic imaging (x-rays), CT imaging or perhaps an MRI imaging series to determine the damage and cause.  Blood work may also be necessary because some health conditions not associated with trauma can also demonstrate symptoms similar to some of those noted above for tail trauma.  Once your vet has completed his assessment and obtained the test results, he will develop and initiate an appropriate treatment plan for your pet.

The treatment plan for your canine family member who is suffering from tail trauma will be consistent with the injury type which has been sustained and the tissues, skeletal structures and systems which are affected by the injury.  For some tail injuries, surgical intervention may be required, for example, amputation of some portion of the tail in the case of a severe injury, fracture or dislocation of the tail.  Injuries near the base of the tail are the most serious as they can affect how the dog evacuates his bowels and bladder as well as gait and general movement.  

For those traumas involving biting, chewing and licking, an infection or allergy could be at the root of the behavior and that cause will need to be treated with antibacterial medications or allergy medications.  Because many of these examples of tail trauma in dogs can be painful, your veterinary professional may recommend either medications or steps to reduce the discomfort your pet is experiencing.

Recovery of your beloved canine family member will be dependent upon the cause of the trauma in addition to the severity of the injury and the resulting damage, whether permanent or temporary.  Your pet may need hospitalization for a period of time, or he may need surgery.  Be assured your canine family member will need lots of the three A’s (affection, attention and affirmation) while he heals from his traumatic experience.  Close observation and rest, along with a healthy diet and plenty of clean fresh water in a safe environment are common sense steps that you can expect to be part of the treatment plan recommended by your vet.