Hello! My dog is a 60lb Pitbull mix. Yesterday morning when we woke up we noticed her tail was down, almost between her legs. When she goes potty she lifts her tail like she normally does without any signs of discomfort.
I took her to her vet today and he checked her tail completely and it is not broken. He also did a rectal exam to see if maybe something was bothering her there. But also found nothing. So we basically found no answers to this, he said to keep an eye on it for the next couple of days.
Do you have any idea what it could be? There has also been no change in anything in the household to cause her anxiety or anything like that?
Lizeth
Orlando, Fl
I’m guessing your dog has suffered soft tissue trauma (a sprain or strain) to her tail.
Pit Bulls and Pit Bull mixes are, generally, happy-go-lucky friendly tail wagging dogs. If a dog wags too hard or strikes a solid object with her tail she can suffer from pain or cramping that will cause the tail to hang limply between the legs.
Pit Bull mixes also generally are stoic creatures, so I’m not surprised that she acts like it doesn’t hurt to assume her normal posture for urination. But in reality I’ll bet she’s sore. I’ll also bet that she goes back to using her tail normally within a few days.
Anal gland infections are another common cause of limp tails, but these usually turn up on rectal exams. I’m guessing that an anal gland problem isn’t playing a role in your dog’s issues.
I recommend that you let her take it easy for the next few days. I also recommend that you not lose much sleep over this matter. Her tail probably will be back to normal soon.
Photo: tail up and wagging, like a typical Pit Bull.
