After fifteen years of writing this column I realized I had never touched on conditions that affect a part of the anatomy that is unique to veterinary medicine — the tail. Most of our pets have tails and there are some problems that localize to that region of the body.
Swimmer’s or limber tail can be a frightening development in an active dog when the tail suddenly goes limp. The technical term is acute caudal myopathy and it is often seen in sporting or active breeds after swimming in cold water for extended periods when the repetitive overuse of the muscles in the tail while swimming leads to loss of function. However, it can occur in any dog with an active tail and your veterinarian will evaluate him for any neurological disorders of the lower spine and may take some x-rays to eliminate a fracture of the tail. The good news is that with time and rest the tail function will return.
Supracaudal gland hyperplasia develops in cats on the top of the tail near the base and signs can include greasy fur, hair loss, blackheads, and sometimes a secondary skin infection. This affects intact male cats more commonly but can be seen in neutered males and females as well. Shampoos that are anti-seborrheic are the mainstay of treatment and if there is a secondary infection your veterinarian will prescribe antibiotics. Neutering your male cat can often resolve this condition.
Trauma is easily the most common tail disorder diagnosed in veterinary practice. Some thin-coated dogs with longer tails like Weimaraners or Pit Bulls will repeatedly traumatize the tip of the tail when wagging. A secondary wound will break open and bleed and create quite a mess in the wrong surroundings. Called “happy tail,” people are rarely happy with this problem since it’s challenge to get the bleeding sore on the tip of the tail to heal. Special bandages can protect the tail and help it heal, but for a small subset of dogs surgical amputation to more manageable, shorter length is the only solution. Fractures and widespread loss of skin called degloving injuries are more serious traumatic tail injuries. Many fractures can heal with time but if there is vascular or nerve damage to the tail amputation is often the best option.
Tumors of the skin or connective tissue of the tail do commonly occur. Even benign tumors can pose a challenge since there is limited skin available and if a mass grows quickly it can create tightening of the skin around the tail near the tumor and interfere with function. Surgery to excise these tumors needs to be early on in the process in order to preserve normal tissue around the tail. Many times people are surprised that the only treatment for removal of a nasty, benign growth is amputation of the tail. This is because there is not adequate normal skin to close around the tail without creating a tourniquet effect on the lower part of the tail. While some of these disease are more serious, most tail conditions have straightforward treatment options, but if there is a growth or more serious trauma to your pet’s tail, please don’t hesitate to seek treatment early since it can make a huge difference in trying to save your pet’s tail.
Questions for Dr. Gary Thompson can be emailed to askthevet@theblade.com or mailed to The Blade, Attn. Ask the Vet, 541 N. Superior St. Toledo, OH., 43660. Dr. Thompson regrets that he cannot answer individual letters.
First Published April 18, 2021, 5:30 p.m.
