Sunday, August 05, 2007

Broken tail?

I broke my tail. Actually I think I did. But my M says it's not. But it's wagging weirdly. My wag is not as hard and strong today, I lost my power wag!

I try to think wat I did that spoilt my tail... it was working find yesterday, it was working fine this morning. And the we went to the bleach, and I swam... and swam, and run and swam and run and swam and.... you know wat I did right? Then I got showered, went for air-dry, went home and my tail got spoilt!

My worried M called Aunty G, our in-house vet and asked her if dogs can get sprained tails, coz she touched my tail but I didn't cry out in pain, so she doesn't think I fractured it.
(Herbie: Don't start misquoting! Aunty G is not a vet! She just happens to read a lot about dogs and health/ nutrition/ illnesses etc.)

Anyway, I think cleber Aunty G managed to find the root of my problem. I've got a
Cold Water Tail. According to this article she found, the description fits my symptoms almost to a T!

It says:
""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. "

Strange my tail still feels like it's normal body temperature although it's now called a cold water tail. My M says she will observe me for the next 2 day. I thought she sees me everyday, why would she need to observe me? Maybe she's scared that my tail will freeze from the coldness.

I'm just glad that I'm not gonna lose my tail!

7 comments:

Ben & Darling said...

Mayb you should put your cold tail into a bail of hot water to defroze it.

Joey said...

haha... my HC said your M should get a life jacket for you so that you don't have to swim so hard.

Molly the Airedale said...

Wow Herbie! I've never heard of such a thing! How's your tail today? Any better?

Love ya lots,
Maggie

Amber-Mae said...

Oh Helios, you have this problem too...? I have this problem & it happened to me twice already. Just recently my tail went back to normal again. I don't know whhy it happens to me when I play chase with my sistas. And it's very painful altho no swelling or fracture. It's painful that I can't lift it up to even poo & even if I try it's almost flat on the ground & it touches my poo, eew! If my mommy touches it, I'll turn around coz it's painful & it really looks dead. My mommy calls it "dead tail". Really flat down, no waggin at all...Ouchy! So my mommy usually leave it alone & withing a week, it slowly gets better & I can lift again! So, not to worry Helios, it'll be fine IF you didn't break or fractured it ofcourse...

Love licks,
Solid Gold Dancer

Joe Stains said...

ya know, I don't have a tail and I am ok. What do you need a tail for anyway???

Urban Smoothie Read said...

huh?! got such syndrome...never heard about it b4..

but sounds scary....coz i do has a long furry tail myself..

Anonymous said...

Wow - thanks for letting me know about the tail thing. I knew there was a reason I only like to paddle and not swim - if I couldn't curl my tail up and over my back then I couldn't do my "king of the world swagger".

I do hope your tail gets better soon.

River