Cold Water Tail/Dead Tail/Limber Tail

kirstyhen

kirstyhen

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I was convinced Otto had broken his tail earlier (and thought I'd finally have a valid reason for the Vet to amputate ;)) but after speaking to my Mum, we think he is suffering from this. He went out working yesterday, got covered in stinking muck, so had a hose down when we got home. Thought I'd dried him off and that the house was warm enough for me not to worry too much, but clearly the cold water shocked his tail into hiding! :o

Apparently anti-imflammatories can help, but as he doesn't seem to be in any pain I'm reluctant to take him to the Vets (I have a feeling they would want to investigate and rack up a huge bill, and I have to eat to you know!). My Mum suggested applying heat to the base of his tail.

Just wondering if anyone had any experiance of it, how long it lasts, tips for speeding up recovery??
Not enjoying walking a Springer that looks like he's been beaten into submission :( He normally has a nice waggy tail, and now it's just hanging limply between his legs!
 
Aw poor Otts :( Sorry I have never even heard of this let alone having any advice for you! Flora is like a little hot water bottle...do you want me to send her up to sit on it for him?! :p :D
 
I'd never heard of it before today, lucky my Mum is such a know-it-all! Apparently it's rare to find a Vet that's heard of it, hence me thinking they would do lots of investigating to find out what the problem is and cost me a lot of pennies!

I'm sure Otto would be more than happy for Flora to sit on him... ;) :D :D
 
My akitas tail dropped one day (obs it curled up tight usually):D anyhow it looked limp and dead, after a week of anti inflammatory's it was curled once again:D it looked horrid, I was gutted that it was perminant.
I think, (because she spins around) in play and sometimes would land on her arse, she literally slammed down on her tail and caused temp damage.
 
kirstyhen said:
I'd never heard of it before today, lucky my Mum is such a know-it-all! Apparently it's rare to find a Vet that's heard of it, hence me thinking they would do lots of investigating to find out what the problem is and cost me a lot of pennies!

I'm sure Otto would be more than happy for Flora to sit on him... ;) :D :D
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I'll squeeze her in a jiffy bag and send her parcelforce...she will be with you before she wakes up tomorrow morning :p :D
 
Cayla, I think I'd lop it off myself it if stayed that way permanently! It pokes out from his bum about 2 inches then just hangs limply and waggles when he walks!

Vizslak, given how lazy she sounds I'll expect her around lunchtime! :D
 
Further googling has revealed this from the Resident Vet on the NOBs forum...

I don't think anyone actually knows what causes this condition. It may in fact be a number of different conditions as some cases are painful, some are not, some involve jumping into water and others only bathing. Some cases are easy to explain- thick tailed lab jumps into water, tail is cranked up as he hits water and is sprained like any other muscle. The less exuberant dogs and bathing cases suggest a cut off of local circulation in response to cold water and the painful cases could have a form of neralgia. Most vets give anti-inflammatories, often steroids in case there is nerve damage but many cases get better with no intervention. Some dogs have repeat episodes, other dogs just a one off. 'Sprain' type dogs can be trained to enter water gently, those who react to cold should be kept out of cold water but really this is a hard condition to avoid or prevent but thankfuly rarely serious.
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Warmth and rest seem to be the best thing for it. Hmmm, resting Otto... easy :rolleyes: :D :D
 
I've been reading about it on the internet and it seems similar to azortoria in horses. Dogs show increased muscle enzyme levels with this condition specifically CK...really interesting. All resolve with anti inflams, warm packs to base of tail and a few days rest. Personally I'd take him to the vets ask for bloods to be run with this condition specifically in mind...be stubborn and dont let them con you into a bizillion tests. If he has raised CK levels then get some anti inflams.
 
The thing I'm clinging to is that that seems to link it to over-exertion in under conditioned dogs, he is definately not under conditioned and certtainly didn't over-exert himself yesterday as he was on the lead and we were walking for an hour and a half tops - this is the dog that can do four hour romps off the lead and still be up for more!
The Vet on NOBs seems to suggest the causes are numerous and pretty random. The cold water shock theory would certainly make more sense given he had a cold hose bath.
 
poor lad! :D He'll be fine...for future reference though when hes been working it looks like you will have to leave him stinking for a few hours before bathing to let his muscles recover first, doesnt seem to be an ideal temp to bath in, warm baths appear to have as many instances as cold......ewwwww your house is gonna pong :p :D
You not got a stash of metacam knocking around?
 
Well next time you will have to leave him stinking! Ishoooo solved! :D Good job it doesnt happen often...that would be the days of you having any visitors over! :p :D
 
I've had this condition with my dogs twice in the past.
My Golden Retriever (who passes away in 2002 aged 14) had it after swimming in the sea. Some anti inflammatories soon cured it.
Beau ( my Lab who went to Rainbow bridge 4 weeks ago) also had it a few years ago. In her case it turned out she had broken the end of her tail and had to have a couple of inches removed.
I'd always go to the vet after my experiences.
 
My parents Labrador has had it. We had taken him to the lake in the winter, and he went in. On arrival back at home, his tail apeared to be broken, and he could not sit down, and he was in agony.

It was a Sunday evening, so not possible to see a vet unless we called one out as an emergency. We gave him aspirin and left him to sleep it off, and by the morning he was right as rain.
 
Erm, i thought aspirin was supposed to be dangerous for dogs?
sorry kirstyhen, can't help on this one, hope he gets better soon. i think i'd be applying hot and cold packs to it if he'd let me... will he park his bum on a warm-waterbottle?
 
I always thought if used in moderation and if given with food it's safe. You would not want to give a dog aspirin regularly though.

You've got me worried though so I've just googled it to check, and this is what came up:-

"If your dog has chronic pain or inflammation, common aspirin can often be used to give your pet some relief. Since aspirin can cause stomach problems, care should be used, and it should always be given with food. The safe amount of aspirin to give depends on your dog's weight."
 
He certainly wasn't in pain, he'd have gone to the vets if he was.

Vizslak, no metacam in the house but I can get it fairly easily if needs be. My boss has stock piles of it!

Not to worry though, tail is well on it way to recovery, currently at half mast!
 
I'd never heard of it either til a potential client's mum tried to book in an Akita. The son found out and said no way, never get an akita wet cos it causes this! So of course I knew that it didn't sound "right" that simply getting a dog wet could cause damage to a dog's tail. So I did some research and yep, apparently it can happen from too cold water on some dogs (the Akita owner must have thought we bathe dogs in cold water...). I've not seen it first hand, but my grooming tutor told me that it's a painful condition. However, it doesn't seem that yours was? Maybe different dogs just tolerate it better?
 
kirstyhen said:
He is a tough mutt, which is why I would have taken him to the Vet's had it appeared painful. You no what they say... No sense, no feeling :D :D
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Awww bless. My border terrier is a bit like that. I've seen him run full tilt, hit his head on the corner of a solid oak table and then keep running. And do the same to my shins and I crumble, and he thinks it's great...
 
My pointer had this once...we went for a really long walk one afternoon and, like yours, she came back covered in lovely smelly poo :S She then had a shower off and was fine, but the next morning, her tail was all limp and she was really crying everytime she tried to wag it (which is usually a lot) or anyone touched it. She is a wimp though. Within 48hours it was back to normal and it never happened again (*so far! touch wood!)
 
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