Limber tail (dead tail, cold tail, broken tail)

Limber tail (also known as dead tail, cold tail, broken tail, cold water tail and tail gland inflammation) is a painful condition affecting the base tail muscles of certain dogs. It may be caused by physical trauma to the tail, overuse of the tail, cold or damp weather, swimming in cold or too-warm water, as well as heavy exercise. Due to the cause being primarily related to physical exertion and working in damp areas, working dogs are mainly affected. However, non-working dogs may also suffer from limber tail. In particular, it seems to affect retrieving breeds, as well as Beagles, Pointers, Setters, Beagles and Foxhounds.

Symptoms:

• Base of tail painful to the touch
  

• Tail held in a ‘handle pump’ position, held out horizontally for a couple of inches, with the rest of the tail pointing limply downwards
  

• Reluctance to move or wag tail
  

• Difficulty walking, appearing as stiffness in the rear end and hind legs
  

• Difficulty sitting or lying down
  

Limber tail usually resolves itself within anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks. Treatment primarily involves rest, with the option of anti-inflammatories and heat application (hot water bottle wrapped in a towel) applied to the base of the tail. Dog-safe painkillers may also be administered to alleviate discomfort.

If a dog develops limber tail, it may be more susceptible to it in the future, but recognising the early symptoms of discomfort makes it easier to control. Recognising triggers such as cold water or swimming and avoiding them may also help.

As a personal addition, I would like to add that my dog has had limber tail quite a few times in his life. I can say from experience that his worst bout was the first one, when we had no idea what it was and how to treat it - it lasted for a few weeks. When he had his second bout (quite a long time after his first), we knew what it was and how to treat it, so it disappeared within a couple of days. His trigger seems to be cold water; since we started to avoid that trigger, he has been relatively fine, with only the odd slight sensitivity to his tail, which only lasts for a couple of hours at the most.


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