Why is my dog suddenly aggressive, tail down, and not playing?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Jess! The most common cause for a limp or down tail and decreased activity is back pain. Back pain can be from a slipped disk or a muscle strain or sprain. They tend to hurt and thus do not want to play or jump up or do stairs. Pain also affects the appetite. I highly recommend a Vet visit today as it is Friday. The vet should be able to elicit back pain on exam. I treat with anti-inflammatories, pain medications, muscle relaxants and strict rest. I wish Jess the best!

Gabby could have a tail sprain, also known as swimmers tail or limber tail. The muscles at the base of the tail swell and cause significant pain. A skin infection, wound or tail fracture could cause similar symptoms. I’d recommend seeing your vet for an exam to determine what’s going on. They can also prescribe pain medication.

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.

Firstly feel the tail carefully to make sure it is not broken and there are no obvious lacerations or wounds. She may have trapped it in something or simply overused it and hence it could be painful or sprained. She could have been bitten in the tail or have a wound which has got infected, this can damage it. Sometimes dog's tails become fatigued after being in cold water for a long time, it can cause the muscles to seize up. If you find any sign of infection, wounds or possible damage take her to the vet for treatment. Otherwise give her time and it should improve with rest.

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.

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.

I do not think it is anything you are specifically doing wrong. As dogs age they can have a change in personality but it is important to start training to turn this behavior around. IT sounds like she is scared and having some anxiety. I would recommend starting with basic commands like sit, stay and come. I also would recommend getting her in training classes so you can start to redirect her behavior. Once she starts feeling more confident it most likely will help with her behavior around other dogs. i hope that helps