My dog is licking her tail, in pain, and can't poop. What's wrong?

Your dog could have hip or back problems that make it painful to posture to defecate and would also make it hurt when her tail is manipulated. It could also be infected or inflamed anal glands. This condition is very painful and makes it difficult to defecate or even move. Without treatment, the gland may rupture, causing a open wound on your pet's rear that will require wound care and antibiotics as well as some pain relief. I recommend getting your pet seen by your vet. They will examine your pet, possibly do some x-rays and labwork and be able to give you a better idea of what is going on and how best to treat it.

I'm so sorry that Maggie is feeling so ill. I'm very worried about her, and you really need to take her to a vet. If she isn't moving and seems painful (which i think may be occurring based on you saying that she whines when her tummy is touched) and she is leaking from her back end, she needs medical attention now. It could be a number of different things--from gastroenteritis, to an intestinal obstruction, to pancreatitis, to a liver or kidney issue. I wish I had an at-home solution for you, but she really needs to go in to see a vet.

I'm sorry to hear that Mayhem hasn't been feeling well. The signs that you describe - reluctance to use stairs, pain on manipulation of the tail, not pooping (likely due to pain while posturing/squatting), lethargy, and a decreased appetite - are all most suspicious for a sign of back pain. This could be a result of a soft tissue injury while playing, intervertebral disc disease (IVDD), fibrocartilaginous emboli (FCE), among others. Regardless of the cause, it sounds as though Mayhem is quite painful and would greatly benefit from an urgent trip to the vet for an exam and pain medications. Do not give any pain medications at home (including aspirin), and only give medications prescribed by his vet as most human pain medications are not safe for use in dogs. I hope that he feels better soon!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your dog. It would be best if he could be evaluated today. Being a toy poodle, he is small. It will be very easy for him to become dehydrated from the loose stool. He sounds nauseous by the way you described the lip smacking. I suspect that he is not eating well. He could be painful from gastrointestinal upset or it is common for small breed dogs to experience neck or back pain. While he could be constipated, a lot of dogs with strain with diarrhea only passing a drop or two. So it appears that they are unable to defecate. In the meantime, try to encourage him to drink water and eat if he is interested. I hope this information helps!

If she is yelling in pain I highly recommend bringing her to a veterinarian so they can provide pain medication. Most over the counter medications are toxic to dogs. She needs a veterinarian to help diagnose her and treat her. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Maggie. The gel with her feces was likely mucus. This can occur secondary to inflammation in the colon which is common with diarrhea. I recommend that she sees her veterinarian to determine the cause of her symptoms. Her hindlimbs and lower back should also be assessed. It is unusual for a dog to be hesitant on stairs simply due to diarrhea. I hope this information helps!

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.