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My dog's tail is hurt. Is it broken or bruised? What should I do?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Small (up to 22lb) | Female | unspayed | 18 lbs

How do you know if your dog’s tail is broken or just bruised & can you do anything

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on February 3rd, 2020

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your about Lily. The only way to tell if her tail is broken is to have her seen by a vet for x-rays. If it is broken, yes the vet can treat it. It will also be painful to her, and the vet can prescribe pain medication. Please do not give her any human pain medications as many are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given. I'd take her into a vet now. I hope this helps!

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT
Licensed Veterinary Technician
Published on July 14th, 2018
If he is painful, then he should be seen sooner rather than later so the doctor can prescribe pain medication. Do not medicate Austin without the advice of your veterinarian.
An x-ray may be indicated to confirm fracture. He may have suffered a muscle or soft tissue injury which can be just as painful.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Andrea M. Brodie, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on May 1st, 2018
A tail can be broken, indeed and it is very painful. Sometimes a car can drive on a cat's tail, the cat shoots off and pulls the tail so hard it cat get damaged. He could also have had a fight and gotten injured. I suggest you take him to your vet for an exam. The vet may want to do radiographs to see whether there is a fracture, and will also prescribe pain medicine/NSAIDs to relieve inflammation and pain. A broken tail will usually heal by itself over time, but it is a painful injury.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Dr. Strydom, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on May 14th, 2019
The tail does appear broken from the photo. If there is an open wound then he should see a vet as antibiotics (oral) will be needed to prevent infection. If there is no wound, your vet is not likely to do anything except dispense anti-inflammatories and/or pain medication. These type of fractures are not splinted as the tail is extremely difficult to bandage. Surgery is not done on these except in the case of severe injury and in those cases, the tail is amputated. Most often these injuries are left to heal on their own. There will always been a kink in the tail where the break is.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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