My dog's tail is limp after playing. Can I give him aspirin?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Bear. He could have sustained an injury to his tail and it may be painful. If he has had recent trouble defecating, this can also cause the dog to hold his tail differently. Finally, he may have a problem with his anal glands that is causing him pain. If this posture persists, he should see his veterinarian. In the meantime, do not give any over-the-counter pain medications as these can be painful to dogs. I hope this information helps!

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!

Poor Wednesday! Unfortunately, I am unable to prescribe any medication without examining Wednesday myself. I do not recommend giving her aspirin, as it may have some unwanted side effects in dogs such as damage to the kidneys, gastric ulcers, and bleeding issues when given in high doses. She should definitely be seen by a vet as soon as possible, especially because she is limping. Your vet can take x-rays to see where the trauma is, and perform blood work to make sure that Wednesday's organs are functioning properly to handle any pain medication, as well as place a cast or splint if necessary. You should try to keep her as calm and quiet, with as little activity as possible until she is examined by a vet. Good luck and I hope Wednesday feels better soon!

You need to limit her movement as much as you can, keep her calm in the house, on her bed if possible, the less she moves the less she will feel the pain. if the tail is limp a fracture is one possibility, she might need an xray to rule it out.

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!

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.

There aren't any supplements or OTC medications that will make Stella feel better right now. I would recommend taking her to the vet for some prescription pain medications. It sounds like she has limber tail, or swimmer's tail, and rest and anti-inflammatories are the best treatment. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/acute-caudal-myopathy-limber-tail