My dog's tail is swollen and limp after swimming. Is it limber tail?

You need to limit her movement as much as you can, keep her calm in the house, on her bed if possible, the less she moves the less she will feel the pain. if the tail is limp a fracture is one possibility, she might need an xray to rule it out.

Limber tail syndrome, or acute caudal myopathy, is a disorder of the muscles in the tail, usually affecting working dogs. This condition is not a disease, but a symptom of overuse of the muscles of the tail which causes inflammation and pain. However, it has to be differentiated from other causes of pain in the tail, such as a fracture, cancer along the vertebra or spine, neurological disorders, metabolic disorders, intoxication, infection, and other disease. Without examining Cleo myself, I can't say for certain what is causing her pain. I'd recommend taking Cleo into your vet as soon as possible to have her tail examined.

Hello. My first inclination is that Ryder somehow injured the tail. This is typical of a tail being shut in a door or stepped on. True limber tail usually involves the entire tail & generally resolves in a few days or a week. I recommend having the tail evaluated to make sure there are no injuries, especially a fracture. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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.

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.

Aw, poor George! I agree that it sounds pretty likely that he has limp (or limber) tail, particularly based on how he's holding his tail in the pictures. The good news is that this problem resolves on its own with a bit of rest over a week or two. Some dogs are uncomfortable with this issue and benefit from prescription non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications from their veterinarian, but many are ok without these pain relievers. Since George is whining and seems uncomfortable, it would be best to take him to his vet to inquire about these pain medications. Do not give him aspirin. Aspirin can cause both bleeding issues, as well as an increased risk of stomach ulceration. There aren't any safe over the counter pain medications for dogs. Be sure to continue keeping George rested for the next week or two until his tail is back to normal!

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.