Puppy's tail slammed in door, swollen but wagging. Vet visit?

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.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This would warrant a veterinary evaluation for further assessment and treatment. These types of traumatic lesions can result in a fracture of the tail which can be quite painful. Even when a fracture is not present, this tends to result in a lot of pain. They would be able to evaluate her and at the very least start medications for pain. Good luck and have a good night!

If he is getting bloody from hitting the walls aka "happy tail", it is likely going to need to be bandaged and padded to help it heal. Your vet would be the best person to show you how to properly bandage it. The tail can be quite tricky because you have to wrap it in a way where it sticks and doesn't cut off any circulation yet it is padded to help it heal. If you decide to try to bandage it yourself just do not wrap the tape tight or it will cut off circulation which could cause the tail to die. I would make an appointment to see you vet as soon as you can. I hope this helps!

It looks like Bella likely either has an infection on her tail or may have possibly injured/broken a bone. Both conditions can cause swelling and pain. First make sure you protect the tail by having Bella wear an elizabethan collar. The more she chews on it, the worse she makes it. Secondly, call her doctor and get her in asap for an exam and appropriate medication as it likely hurts. If she will allow you to apply cool compresses, that can help with the swelling and the pain. You can wet a rag and put it in the refrigerator (NOT the freezer) for 5 minutes then apply it to the area. If she does not tolerate it, allow the rag to warm up a little (too cold might be uncomfortable as well). Hope she starts feeling better!

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Cali. Unfortunately this cannot avoid a vet visit. This will be very painful to her, and there are no OTC pain medications you can give her. Many human ones are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given. She really should see a vet for this for pain medication, but to also make sure her tail isn't broken. Please take her into a vet now. Best of luck.

You are correct that limping can be an indication of pain, and Millie sound like she is in a lot of pain, so please make an appointment to have Millie seen by a veterinarian. Causes of the limping could be infection (such as an abscess) trauma, a muscular or nerve injury, a fractured bone, a tumour/mass, or a foreign body embedded in the leg. Some infectious diseases such as Lyme disease and joint diseases such as arthritis or joint infection can cause limping as well. Please make an appointment to have Millie seen by a vet as soon as possible to determine the cause of her signs and guide treatment. Pain medications meant for humans can be very dangerous (and even deadly) for dogs, so I do not recommend giving any to Millie without consulting with your vet.

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.