Ive just got in from work and there is blood all up the walls and all round the kitchen units, poor little Fagan has split the end of his tail.  I think he first did it a couple of weeks ago when I saw a bit of blood on the radiator but his tail looked ok, just a little scab and there was no more blood so I left it.  This time it just keeps coming out and being a Setter he doesnt stop wagging his tail (he even wags it in his sleep :rolleyes: ) so I have had to bandage the end of it up just to save my furniture (which is cream ) I did read on here a while ago (I think it was jeangenie who posted it) about something I could dip his tail in to stop it keep splitting ? either that or I thought I might get him docked *tongue firmly in cheek* ;)

Claire :)

Good Luck.  My springer split his tail when four months old.  By 11 months the bleeding still hadn't stopped and it had become normal routine to wipe the blood from the kitchen walls, radiator, fridge, etc several times a day.  We were unable to bandage right to the end effectively and whatever we tried didn't seem to work.  In the end (after a long saga)he had his tail amputated. 

See if you can get hold of some alum from a chemist. If no luck there, it's used as a mordant in dyeing, so a handicraft shop might have some. (The manufacturer's name on the box I have is Thornton & Ross.) Make up a solution of 1 teaspoonful in half a pint of warm water and dip the end of the tail in that - you can add a little TCP as well if you like. Do this two or three times a day and it will dry the wound very quickly. After three days I then rub a little baby oil or similar into the skin to help it stay supple. I found it worked like a charm with my old dal! Hope it works for you too.
:)

Thank you very much, I will try to get some tomorrow.  At the moment his plaster is doing the job but the pup seems to think its a new toy attached to Fagans tail :p

I will let you know how I get on

Claire :)

Poor Fagan, I hope his tail heals soon! :(

-Kay

I find the only thing I can get to stay on a tail is Micropore. I put a piece of dressing on the wound to act as padding then bind it with micropore. I weave the fur into layers of the tape so that the fur keeps it in place. Whatever you do, don't bind it too tight or you can stop the blood and gangrene can set in.

Regards, John

Ive cut a strip of fabric plaster on it at the moment and its staying on but then he hasnt tried to rip it off, its the puppy who keeps grabbing it :D :D

My dog, Casper had this happen to him too. We were staying at my mums and went out for a couple of hours, when we opened the kitchen door, there was blood splattered all over the kitchen, and living room, took us ages to clear up! She is still finding the odd spot even now (a year later). I stuck a plaster over the end like you have, and when it looked a bit ragged, replaced it with a fresh one. This did the trick and he has had no further problems, thank goodness!

ive seen a great dane with its tail on a sort of pully thing (under his tummy),is this to stop damage or something else?

Ive never seen that before.  Fagans brother also split his tail and he has to wear a piece of hose pipe over his :D :D :D

I had this happen to a Dane I had from Dane rescue. He had an old injury to his tail which had obviuosly never been treated. The first morning after we got him the house looked like phsyco. He had to have half his tail amputated and the vet had the bright idea of putting a babys bottle on the end to stop it getting damaged. It worked though and healed nicely.

We had the same thing happen to a Wolfhound once. Micropore was the best thing for keeping on as John said. Also the dressing to keep it padded a bit. It also helps if you teach him to sit every time he greets you. He can't flail his tail about if he's sat ;). We were told to use surgical spirit on it to toughen it up
Good luck with it. It may take a while, but persevere
Anne

Hi, we used to have this problem with Livvy- blood everywhere. We noticed it happened more in the winter when with heating and all ,her tail skin was dry and cracked easily. Our problem was with us returning home or guests arriving, as she banged her tail in the hall, on radiators etc... We now shout "watch your tail" and she runs into an open space! She has been much better this year, it has only split once and that was minor. Last year it happened several times and she had various bandages put on by the vets, which she soon wagged off ;-) Just try to encourage her to wag away from things she can bang it on, and we also use vaseline to keep it moist. Thank goodness we didn't follow vets suggestions of having a bit amputated as 'fingers crossed' she is fine now!