The American Beagler Forum

I have a 4 1/2 year old male. Always had tail up and wagging. Recently he has had his tail between his legs and will barely have it up when running. Any thoughts?

There might be a couple of reasons. But something I experienced first-hand was something at the time I didn't know could happen. I had a female bassett hound that I trained to hunt and chase rabbits. She wasn't tremendous, but would get the job done. At any rate, she was crossing over a large downed log, when she fell off of backwards. She never let on that she was hurt or made a noise. However, she acted as though her tail wouldn't stand up anymore, much less wag it. I wasn't quite sure what to make of it and let it go for a couple of days. I finally took her to the vet who informed me that she had actually broken her tail. Turns out that she broke a couple of vertebrae's in her tail. There was nothing really we could do for her and the tail eventually healed, although always left sort of a "knot" where the injury had taken place. It remained always sort of tender for her, but never disrupted her activity in any way. I remember it took probably a month or so to really heal well enough for her to begin using it regularly again. Don't know if that is the problem with your dog, but may be the case. It's one of those weird, off the wall injuries I always thought. Good luck.

I was thinking something along the same lines as red briar. Probably an injury. Could even have been from going under something that put the dog in an awkward position trying to get through... Run your fingers along both sides of the spine (at the same time) from the front shoulders to the end of the tail and put a little pressure on it. If there is something wrong, you should find it that way, as I am sure the dog will let you know if it hurts. If you find something that way, then a trip to the vet would be warranted just to make sure something bad isn't going on there.

Good luck!
Emery

Thank you for the input. Hopefully this hard hunter will have his flag up soon.

it's called limber tail or cold water tail. here is a link for more info. http://www.thelabradorclub.com/library/ ... rtail.html

Ken, thankyou for sharing that info. I found it most interesting. I have never heard of that. I have had other dogs in the past that has exhibited the same symptoms, but like your article stated, that with time it did go away with rest. I'd always thought it was due to a "sprain" or something. Just goes to show you that you can learn something new everyday.

- Steve

IM NOT FOR SURE SOUNDS LIKE THE DOG HAS ANAL SACK PROBLEMS
TAKE TO VET OR TRY DRAINING THEM YOURSELF. YOU NEED RUBBER GLOVES GRAB DOG AND TRY MILKING YOUR DOGS BUTTHOLE DONT STICK YOUR FINGER IN IT JUST MILK THE AREA AROUND IT AND IF IT IS NOT DAINED YOU WILL KNOW IT DONT GET IT ON YOU IT REALLY STINKS.

You have a way with words....LOL.
Usually if it is anal glands that need expressing you will find your dog scooting his fanny across the ground.

When I read the post I was trying to remember the limber tail. I had just read an article on it recently. Great information there.

cris, that's wild. I had just contacted the Editor of that website's newsletter to seek permission to reprint the article in an upcoming issue of The American Beagler! I hope they give permission as I think it's a condition that's touched on very little, and the readers would get some good from it.

i found this in the purina pro club news letter along with an article on the subject.

gapman,i had a female that had a cracked vertabrea in the base of her tail .it will mend itself in time.

gapman,i had a female that had a cracked vertabrea in the base of her tail .it will mend itself in time.

It looks like the Ohioan was correct. I expressed the Anal glands as described in the post. The dog is much better today.

Thanks again.

I HAVE A LITTLE FEMALE THAT HAS THIS TROUBLE JUST DO IT TWICE A DAY UNTIL THEY HOLD THEIR TALE CORRECLY GLAD I COULD HELP.