Limber Tail: anyone had experience of this?

Dusty85

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Hi all, just after a bit of advice.

I have a 4 1/2 year old German shorthaired pointer. He is fit and healthy, leanish weight. Not a working dog but plenty of exercise and good diet.

On Thursday last week I had a long car journey back from Gloucester to Norfolk. Dog was whining most of way, which is a little unusual. Not relieved by going to the loo.
When back in Norfolk, he was very clingy, whining and his tail was tucked against his bum and he wasn't moving it. Kept trying to sit down but getting up again, digging at his bed and generally looked uncomfortable. He kept whipping around to look at his bum/tail so I thought there must be something going on there. Thought if he was bad overnight I would go to the vets in the morning.

Anyway- lots of whining overnight a d still not right in the morning- so off to vets we went. Examined: nothing she could find, apart from sore over the base of his tail- not quite where it joins his bum, about 4-5cm down. Bit swollen there too. Temp fine etc etc. advised may have caught/ bruised it, given rimadyl and advised if no better come back.

So, now we finished the course. He's better, wagging his tail again, but still holding it crooked- first 10cm straight, then the rest hangs down. Still ever so slightly swollen and a little sore. Happy enough in himself though, eating/Bowels ok/running about fine.

So I did a little Internet reading and came across Limber tail? It sounds exactly like what he has. Although now I'm slightly concerned if he'll get it again, and also how to best prevent it coming back.
He isn't crated, not a working dog, and is kept in a warm, underfloor heated kitchen!

Any thoughts and advice greatly recieved, I'm trying to avoid a poorly in-pain pooch, but also the hassle and expense of taking him to the vets each time! ( I had to take the morning off work and the consultation plus tablets was £40!)

Apologies for the super long post!
 
It does sound very much like limber tail. My lab (non working) had it once as a young adult after a very busy day and a swim in a freezing stream. It resolved itself over the period of about a week, coming back to life about an inch at a time. The vet advised that using Metacam would help. That was 3 years ago and she has never had it again so hopefully your lad will be the same.
 
Yup, my young lab had it once, no obvious trigger but he was very sore for 48 hrs. Was away from home and didn't have any dog strength rimadyl or metacam with me so gave him a jab of steroid, seemed to sort it. That was a year ago, not happened since.
 
Thank you both, that sounds promising; everything I read said that they're likely to have repeat episodes so I got a bit concerned.

What's metacam? (Sounds like an NSAID?)

Poor little mite I hate seeing him uncomfortable!
 
One of my labs has had it too a couple of times. It gradually goes off after a week or so. We always try to stop him getting too excited and waggy so it doesn't hurt him.
 
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