My dog's tail isn't wagging, but she shows no pain. What's wrong?

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.

Very gently feel every bone in the spine starting at the neck towards the tail. Include the tail. Your dog may have injured its spine or tail. If there is a pain in the spinal cord (he may react at the area where he is in pain) then you should take him to the vet for an exam and treatment right away. If you cannot find a spot where it hurts, you may want to observe your dog and see whether it gets better and take him to the vet if does not improve or gets worse. Your vet will examine the spinal cord, do an x-ray to make sure there is no fracture or slipped disc, and give your dog a general exam in case the source of the pain is somewhere else (abdomen, muscles).

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.

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.

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!

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!

She could have a problem with her anal glands an need them expressed or she could have a problem with her back and/or tail causing some pain. It would be a good idea to have your vet take a look at her to determine the cause and treat. She may just need her glands expressed or she may need a pain medication and/or anti-inflammatory. She could have some arthritis causing discomfort.