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Question

My dog lays down, and then constantly gets up and moves or repositions. She's wimpering like she is in pain. When she stands, her tail is bent downwards. I'm thinking it could be 'cold tail' as she had a bath yesterday. Also thought that maybe it would be her anal glands. What is wrong with her, and what can I do?

Submitted: 161 days and 23 hours ago.
Category: Dog
Value: $9
Status: CLOSED
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Optional Information

Age: 2; Female; Breed: Beagle

Already Tried:
I've taken her out, thinking she might be constipated, but she was able to go.

Posted by Terri Riba 161 days and 23 hours ago.

Answer

Dear friend,

 

I am sorry your girl is not feeling well.

It can be cold tail or her anal sacs.

 

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_anal_sacs.html

 

 

Please compare your babys tail to these photos:

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

I printed this for you:

Cold water tail," "limber tail syndrome," "broken tail," "dead tail," "broken wag" are all euphemisms for a relatively common occurrence in sporting dogs. The tail of the dog hangs down from the tail base or is held horizontal for three or four inches and then drops down. A flaccid tail episode appears to be a painful, but relatively benign affliction that can occur after swimming, after a heavy hunting day or even after a bath with cold water or water that is too warm. It is not always associated with swimming or water, but can happen after a heavy day of work that involves a lot of tail action. The majority of limp tail cases have been reported in sporting dogs or hounds -- Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Setters, Pointers, Flatcoats, Foxhounds and Beagles are the breeds frequently named. Almost all dogs that suffer through an occurrence return to normal within a few days. Affected dogs may or may not have a repeat incidence during their lifetime. [It is this author's experience that symptoms will repeat in the same animal and can be trigged by something as simple as a cold water bath.] This affliction has been described by the layman as a "sprain," fibrosis or a "cold in the tail." The affected dog is miserable at the onset and the tail is painful. If neither the dog owner nor the veterinarian is familiar with this condition, it can be disturbing

Here is the rest of the link:

http://www.thelabradorclub.com/library/coldwatertail.html SOURCE

 

Please let me know how she is doing. I hope she feels better very soon.

 

Best wishes for her,

 

 

Terri

161 days and 23 hours ago.

Reply

Thanks Terri. I have already thoroughly read both of those sites... this is how I got to those conclusions. I was looking for some advice to help determine what she might actually have... or if it is something more serious.

Accepted Answer

Dear friend,

 

It may not be her tail or anal sacs.

 

She may have a bad tummy ache. I would pick up any dog food.Try a small amount of boiled chicken with all fat drained off, chop meat , or baby food with no onion, beef, turkey, etc add cooked white rice or infant rice cereal.

Go very slow so she does not throw it up.

Dogs get dehydrated and hypoglycemic very easily

Add unflavored pedialyte to her water 50/50 to hydrate her and balance her electrolytes.

Put a drop of pancake syrup on her tongue to raise her blood sugar in case she is a bit hypoglycemic. That should perk her up.

Keep her on that very light diet of boiled chicken or chop meat for 48 hours after she is back to normal

Also give her one teaspoon a day of plain yogurt to keep "good" bacteria in her system.

If she develops any abdominal pain, bloating, constipation or cannot keep anything down she needs to be seen by a vet.

Please let me know how she is doing. I will always be here for you

I hope your baby feels better very soon..

Best wishes,

Terri

Picture
Expert: Terri Riba
Pos. Feedback: 99.8 %
Accepts: 
Answered: 6/14/2009

Healthcare Expert

Expert in canine health and behavior. 20 years of experience with dogs

160 days and 4 hours ago.

Reply

Turns out it was a slipped disc in the back. Vet said that the symptoms were consistent with cold tail... however with cold tail, there generally aren't signs of pain.

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