My dog's tail is down and swollen after a bath. Should I see a vet?

It's possible he has some sensitivity or discomfort. It could be associated with the bath or completely unrelated. Monitor him for lethargy, restless or sensitivity around his back end. Look him over for obvious signs or injury such as bruising or swelling. If you notice anything or if he develops any of these symptoms, have him examined by your veterinarian.

That is good that it does not appear painful. Swelling at the base of the tail can be related to a tumor, a fat pad or less commonly- cellulitis due to infection or congestion of the blood vessels. To know for sure, you would need to see a veterinarian so they can palpate the area. They may recommend to collect a small sample of cells to look at under the microscope to get a better diagnosis. I hope this helps to point you in the right direction. Please feel free to post any additional questions!

Hello. It's hard to know without seeing the dog but he might have a sprained tail, or "swimmer's tail." This is a common condition in large breed dogs like labs who overexert themselves by running for hours, hunting, or swimming. They overuse the tail and it becomes very swollen at the base, extending 2-5 inches toward the tip. These dogs won't wag or use their tails and are very painful when you touch this area. It usually resolves on its own but I like to prescribe anti-inflammatory pain medication because these dogs are usually really painful. If it isn't much better now, I'd take him to your veterinarian for pain meds!

Bailey needs to see a veterinarian to have his tail evaluated. If he is that painful he may need to be sedated. The Veterinarian would be able to examine his tail and determine what is going on. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Difficulty walking is a situation that always warrants a visit to your veterinarian. We could have a musculoskeletal injury or a neurological issue, such as a herniated/slipped disk in the spine compressing the spinal cord. Your vet can do an examination to see if there are neurological deficits and may also recommend an x-ray to help determine the cause of the trouble walking, and if it is related to the swelling of the tail. Limber tail doesn't normally cause a swelling of the tail, but can cause the tail to be carried strangles, where it will stick out for an inch or two and then hang down limply. If the tail is truly swollen I would be more worried about an injury and x-ray may be needed.

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.

I don't see any swelling, which is good, the fact that she wags the tail normally is also a very good sign. there is probably no serious damage, at this point there is no reason to take her to the vet but i would recommend monitoring pain, the wagging (it's important that no part of the tail is dropped while wagged) and the swelling (this can start 24 hours after the damage. if you see any of those change please take her to the vet to get it checked.