My lab puppy (10 months) is this morning holding or rather not holding her tail up. It won't wag and it is hanging limply. I've tried to feel it and she doesn't like it being touched, although there is nothing obvious to see or feel. She is eating and although active, is much quieter than normal. I am going to talk to my vet, but in the meantime can anyone help me. I've got a horrible feeling that I read somewhere about a nasty virus that affects the tail.
Lorna

There is a condition, usually seen in hounds, presenting the same symptoms, (dead tail we call it)in fact one of my adult dogs suffered once......it usually occurs after swimming and the tail just goes limp for a few days (in my case 3 days) then 100% back to normal. No other symptoms at all. I know of several other hound owners whose dogs had the same problem......sometimes the minkhound pups get it as well after a days hunting.

I was just going to ask if she'd been swimming. Some info here : [link http://www.roachvalleyvets.co.uk/pethealth/dogsymptoms.asp?group=T&animal=dog]Limp Tail[/link]
Sara

Lorna - I've just searched the posts on here and there was a discussion on dead tail previously : Dead tail. Hope this is the cause - Please let us know the outcome.
Sara

my lab has suffered a similar thing - she loves to swim but when she jumps into the water her tail hits the surface whereas the rest goes under - therefore according to the vet she bruised the muscles on the underside of her tail - hence a limp tail and the inability to hold it up or wag it properly. She recovered quickly.

KirstyS :)

A long time ago my Lab cross had the same symptoms :-( We took him tot he vet (the one and only time he ever went unroutinely) and a severly bruised tail was diagnosed - he'd either whacked it against something (edge of a door?) or had it shut in a door (only two adults in the house and niether had any recollection of doing such a thing). He recovered within 2 or 3 days with no treatment (but trying to avoid making him excited enough to wag - not easy ;-))

I'm really grateful for all your replies, and YES, she'd been swimming. We went to the beach yesterday and she spent at least an hour in and out the water as we walked along the shoreline. A few times there were big waves which I wonder may have knocked her tail. We did dry her, but she was in the car for about an hour to get home and she was still damp. She was very restless when we got home, as if she couldn't get comfortable which surprised me as I thought she'd crash out and be really tired. I haven't taken her to the vet as after reading the replies, and the fact she's eating and wet nosed, I'll just see how she goes for the next 2-3 days. It's very sad having a lab without a waggy tail!
Lorna

sharpei do dead tails too---without swimmimg, as not many like water, it takes a few days then its back to normal, :)

Not Berry she does not mind the water at all her and Kalem had a great time today. Kalem turned on the outside tap . and the more he splashed the better she liked it , I went out to see what was going on and she certainly was not running away from the water , it is getting such a way that you never know what they are up to next , and she is in on it all , trust me :D

Hi, condition known as frozen tail in akitas after bathing, takes a while for tail to return to normal, just goes to show you, too much water !!!!!

Lorraine

Sometimes (for some obscure reason) it's called 'limber tail'. Nothing to worry about; it goes right all by itself. I think it may be a temporarily trapped nerve, a bit like whiplash in the tail.

Interestingly vet son Chris wrote a letter about it to the Vet Record, as many vets hadn't heard of it, and were stringing their clients along with cortisone injections etc!!

It's just a d**n nuisance if you've got a show in the next day or two. It's also a bit likely to recur once it's happened.

Jo and the Casblaidd Flatcoats

Wow I was so pleased to hear all this. We went away at Easter and my cocker x got the same thing, this was after a day runnung around at the beach, we were so worried it was broken or something and couldnt find a vet that was open. It was awful seeing Jake without his wag, it was really weird. The tail was stiff and hung funny and didnt move and he didnt like it being touched. Anyway the next day it was a bit better and the following morning it was fine again. I guess I will need to look out for the same thing in future, he could be more prone to it now. I am just relieved to know what it was, I had assumed it was sprained or something. Thanks everyone for all the info.

Hey Brainless - if our breed got the condition would the tail lock in the up position or would it droop as it does when they are concentrating. What do you think? Jackie H

Hi Louisdog, I know what you mean, we've been calling her Miss Wagless. On a scale of 10 the wag factor is currently back to about 4. I've never seen this before with either of my other labs. Can't wait for it to wag again. She's been swimming before with no problem, but as I said, the sea was quite rough at times, or my husband thinks maybe she knocked it underwater on one of the breakwaters.
Lorna

Wag factor 8 - and counting!!!! :) :)

I am so glad to hear it is nearly back. You don't realise how it's there all the time until it's gone for a while. Hopefully tomorrow it will be 100% returned! :-)

Thank you for the information. Our Golden Lab, Izzy was swimming for only 5minutes yesterday (for 1st time in ages) and my youngest noticed her tail was limp tonight.

She has damp nose, (Izzy not my daughter) was eating fine, greeting us fine, & keen to go for stroll, thou her tail had odd "droop"  which made her look like she'd been told off!!

Having Googled for info as to the possible problem, (wondering if it could be strained from swimming, or pins & needles from being inactive during today), it was nice to have it confirmed.

We will keep eye on her over weekend, but hopefully she will perk up again asap. It's got her lots extra tlc tonight thou.
Dizzy x

One of our Goldies had this once after swimming in a pond for 2 1/2 hours! (aged 9)
Vet didn't seem to know what it was, but recovered after a couple of days. :-)