Adog ’s tailisn’t just for show – it ’s a big part of how they pass along ! A frankfurter wags their tail when felicitous or unrestrained , tuck it in when frightened or anxious , or have got it up like a flag when confident or center . In fact , some dogs are so expressive with their tails that they evolve a frustrating condition have a go at it as happy tail end syndrome .
In stark contrast to its name , this term is anything but happy for the affected dog and their health care provider . Throughout this article , we ’ll discuss everything you need to roll in the hay about well-chosen tail syndrome in dogs , include causes , symptoms , treatments , and possible prevention .
What Is Happy Tail Syndrome?
glad tail syndrome is a painful condition characterize by a non - healing wound at the bakshis of a bounder ’s tail . The syndrome produce when a dog wag their tail so enthusiastically that it repeatedly get laid against concentrated surface like paries , chairs , and table , or even multitude and other pets .
A frankfurter ’s fundament is pen of a chain of heavy , vertebral bones covered by very little muscle or adipose tissue for cushioning . Therefore , it ’s easy for the slight skin at the hint of the tail to split open as the tail rap against these knockout surfaces over and over .
Despite our best attempts , dog who wag their fag end so smartly that they damage it are often unable to contain the deportment . As the tail continues to bang against surface every time a “ happy andiron ” wags it , a non - therapeutic , awful , bloody ulcer develops at the tip of the bum .
This is often accompany by rakehell splatters and malignment on open around the house , a discomfited pet parent , and a not - so - happy dog . The longer the shape persist untreated , the bad it becomes . Occasionally , the chronic wound becomes taint and the bones and nervus at the tip of the tail are also compromised .
Large breed dogs with powerful , long tails and shorter pilus coating are the most likely to acquire happy tail syndrome . This condition is diagnosed most normally in Pit Bulls , Labradors , Greyhounds , andGreat Danes , but any dog can be affect . While there is no clear geezerhood penchant , it is more coarse in younger , more enthusiastic andiron .
Causesof Happy Tail Syndrome
The most typical cause of felicitous tush syndrome in a dog is riotously wagging their tail to state themself until the baksheesh is damage from repeated trauma , as talk over above . However , it sometimes find after a halt at a boarding facility , where a dog may be waggle more than common in combining with tighter - than - common living quarters – a formula for well-chosen tail assembly syndrome .
In less common instances , a pup can rise a dog tail injury that leads to felicitous tail syndrome . For example , they hurt the confidential information of their bum playing at the blackguard park , climbing under a fence , having it caught in a doorway , etc . Once the initial damage happen , however , the tail wag and striking surfaces keep the wound from healing , much like the more common presentation of happy tail .
Symptomsof Happy Tail in Dogs
Dogs with happy tail syndrome may have one of more of the following symptom :
Despite the bother associated with this condition , dogs move by glad butt syndrome often do not stop wagging their tail .
How to TreatHappy Tail Syndrome
Since we can not tell a dog to simply arrest wagging their rear end , intervention of glad tail syndrome can be frustrative . at long last , treatment bet on the severity of the syndrome and whether or not it is a recurring outcome .
In minor cases , dogs can be treated with a compounding ofpain medication , antibiotics if necessitate , and a patch . The bandage acts as a dog-iron backside protector during the healing operation , providing padding and shock absorber around the wounding . Unfortunately , the tail is a very difficult area to cover as any bandages tend to slip off , specially in click that wag their prat energetically .
Many pets will also need to wear an Elizabethean collar ( also acknowledge as e - collar or cone - of - shame ) to prevent them from rend off the bandage and causing further injury to the butt , and most will command a sedative to help decrease their unceasing wagging .
While veterinary typically try a more conservative treatment such as bandaging and oral medications first , most inveterate or recurrent case of happy prat syndrome will command a surgical tail amputation . The tooshie will be shortened to a length that it no longer chance upon surfaces when the bounder becomes excited , and any discredited vertebra , septic tissue , etc . will also be removed at that metre .
But do n’t worry , dogs with happy quarter syndrome are not upset that their tail has been abridge and will continue to waggle their stumpier tail end as happily as before ( this meter without trauma ) .
How to PreventHappy Tail in Dogs
Since you ca n’t bubblewrap your bounder ’s seat indefinitely , or reasonably pad every operose surface in your family , a dog tail hurt like happy fanny syndrome is not easily preventable .
That being order , pet parents can be vigilant for areas where their dog ’s tail tends to whack against hard objects , such as hallways . Take stride to prevent your andiron from becoming overly excited in that area , or quickly move them if they do start out wagging enthusiastically .
Another potential prevention proficiency for happy rear end syndrome is encouraging calm behavior as often as potential . Providetreatsand other rewards when your andiron is relaxed , and avoid showing attention during geological period of over - exhilaration . or else , wait until they calm down before acknowledging or reward them .