My dog's tail hurts and anal glands are swollen. Is her tail broken?

This could indicate a fracture of her tail or dislocation as the tail has joints just like the rest of the body. It could also indicate an anal gland issue or even a problem with the lumbosacral joint. Do not give your dog in a human medication as it could be toxic to dogs. I recommend having your dog seen by her veterinarian or an emergency veterinarian as she may need x-rays to diagnose the problem as well as dog safe medication for pain. keep her quiet and restrict her activity until she can be seen by veterinarian and do not try to manipulate the site at all.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! While an anal sac issue is possible, other things like potentially a soft tissue injury to the tail, a fracture of one of the tail bones and even a condition called "lumber tail" appear more likely. I recommend that you have him evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They should be able to localize his pain and proceed with diagnostics if needed as well as prescribing a medication for pain if it seems indicated. Good luck and have a good day!

I would recommend that you have your dog evaluated by a veterinarian. Possible causes of wounds in the area that you mentioned can be caused by anal gland infection or abscess, perianal fistula, or wounds caused by excessive scooting - which can be caused by intestinal parasites or allergies (fleas, food, environmental, etc). Until you can have your dog evaluated by a vet, it may need to wear an e-collar or cone to prevent licking these areas. Licking will spread bacteria and delay healing.

Poor Sunni! She sounds painful! She really needs to see a vet to get the appropriate nsaid pain medication for her size. She may have a sprained tail if it is sore and swollen just at the base of the tail, maybe 2-5 inches from the anus. This is common in large-breed dogs who have a big day of running or swimming (common in hunting labs) and then can't wag or lift their tail the next day. It is usually self-limiting, but extremely painful. Sunni needs some Rimadyl, Deramaxx, Metacam, or other dog-specific anti-inflammatory pain medication as this will make her feel much better much more quickly than time alone. Other pain medications like aspirin can have bad side-effects like stomach ulcers or GI bleeding, and would not recommend these. Maybe your vet has some donated medication or other options if you can scrape together the exam fee and explain your situation. Best of luck!

She could have a tail sprain causing discomfort or skin irritation in that area. An anal gland infection would be another possibility. If she is that painful I would recommend seeing your veterinarian for an exam to determine what’s causing the pain.

If this has only been going on for a day or two, 'swimmer's tail' or 'limber tail' is a possibility. This is a swelling of the muscles at the base of the tail that can result in significant pain, and it can seem like the dog is unable to move it's tail. An injury would be less likely with no history of trauma. Spinal/lumbar pain is also possible. Anal gland inflammation could also cause some discomfort although it would be unusual to cause such extreme pain. Unfortunately I think a physical examination by a veterinarian would be necessary to diagnose the problem.

She may have Limber tail syndrome which is basically a sprained tail. The condition can be painful so she may need an anti-inflammatory and pain medications. Have your vet examine her to determine if treatment is needed.