When a dog has happy tail syndrome, the tip of its tail is broken off because it constantly hits hard objects. The term “happy tail syndrome” comes from the fact that this problem frequently manifests itself when the animal is wagging its tail.
Dogs and their owners aren’t delighted about this situation. Repetitive hitting of the tail against objects dries it out, cracks it, and can even cause bleeding at the tip in certain dogs.
When you fail to properly treat, repair, or manage your dog’s happy tail, the problem can become uncomfortable for both of you. This disorder has the potential to cause infection and nerve damage over time. Dogs often need to have their tails cut because they constantly bash them on hard floors and furniture.
Strong, skinny-tailed large-breed dogs tend to be the most susceptible. Although Pit Bulls, Shepherds, Great Danes, and Greyhounds make up the majority of the breeds diagnosed with happy tail by veterinarians, any dog is at risk.
Symptoms of Happy Tail Syndrome in Dogs
When dog owners see a few drops of blood on the carpet, they often start looking for injuries on their dog. Before the tail starts bleeding, some owners may observe hair loss and a broken tip. Dogs, otherwise, exhibit typical behaviour, including the consumption and elimination of food, water, urine, and faeces.
Causes of Happy Tail Syndrome in Dogs
The following factors can lead to a happy ending:
An excessive amount of tail wagging and collisions with hard furniture or floors
After being confined to a kennel or another small location where their tail is prone to being banged against furniture,
Walls, doors, and tables can all cause serious problems for the tail.
How Veterinarians Diagnose Happy Tail Syndrome in Dogs
On the basis of signs and breed, most vets can identify happy tail syndrome. However, your veterinarian may recommend bloodwork to check for anaemia, low platelets, or to perform specialised clotting testing. Your vet may also suggest monitoring liver and kidney function and continuing anti-inflammatory treatment for a longer period of time.
Treatment of Happy Tail Syndrome in Dogs
Medical treatment for happy tail can be challenging, and many dogs do need surgery to amputate the tail to a length that prevents them from banging it into surfaces. Your vet may propose non-surgical treatment options first.
A bandage will be placed on the tail to prevent further bleeding and protect the injured area. Stopping the dog from wildly swinging its tail is also crucial to the healing process and may prevent the need for amputation. Medication used to induce sleep could buy time for the tail to mend. Timeframes of several weeks to months are possible. If the dog keeps injuring the tail’s tip, the healing process will be more drawn out.
Your veterinarian will probably recommend a regimen of painkillers, NSAIDs, and antibiotics. To avoid dryness and cracking, your vet may suggest you take omega-3 fatty acids or use vitamin A or E oil topically.
They may also suggest using a tail sling like Happy Tail Saver for a longer period of time. Pool noodles and other nontraditional padding sources have been used by certain veterinarians and pet owners. Many dogs will wish to remove the happy tail and the bulky item tied to their tails because of the discomfort they create. This can lead to the more serious problem of a foreign body becoming lodged in the digestive tract. To avoid the dog removing the bandage, continuing to lick or bite at the tail tip, or even eating the bandage, an e-collar can be used.
Recovery and Management of Happy Tail Syndrome in Dogs
Dogs utilise their tail as part of their body language to transmit feelings to other animals and people, even if doing so causes them pain. Too often, these dogs’ tails must be surgically amputated to prevent them from doing harm with their swings.
A dog may only experience Happy Tail once, especially if it happened in a confined area like a kennel or boarding facility. The tail may mend after the first few episodes of happy tail, but it’s extremely frustrating if the condition persists and leads to amputation.
The time it takes for the tail to heal each time varies based on a number of circ*mstances, including whether or not any more trauma is prevented. After two weeks of pain medication and bandaging, your veterinarian may want to inspect the tail again to make sure it is healing properly.
If the owner is particularly frustrated, they may decide to have the tail amputated to spare the animal any further suffering or infection. Dogs recover quickly from tail amputation surgery, which is comparable to the recovery time for spaying or neutering. Even though the tail is a big part of who they are and how they express themselves, they will be perfectly happy and healthy without it.
