Experience with Limber Tail?
Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2018 6:38 am
Hi All
Question about Limber Tail:
We live in Western PA for the past few days, we've been hammered with rain (3 days straight of constant rain) and cooler, fall-like temps (Which is actually a nice reprieve from the 90+ degree heat wave we were dealing with last week). Needless to say the dogs were getting cabin fever - they NEEDED some time outside to stretch their legs, so yesterday, we put on the rain gear and gave them some time outside. They were out in 45 minute spurts, about 3 times yesterday. Happy, playful pups. Came in and dried them off each time. That said, they did play and run pretty hard outside: The rain was not a deterrent for them.
Last night, our Lab/Weim mix was napping on the couch and got up to go outside to pee. I noticed she seemed to be holding her tail in a strange way. It was totally limp. When she came back in from going potty outside, she was restless - couldn't get comfortable sitting or lying down. Whimpered when she was lying down and kept nibbling and looking at the base of her tail.
All night she did this - very uncomfortable, groaning, nuzzling her tail. All the while the tail is totally limp: Doesn't perk up for treats or kibble or when she sees us. She just looks distressed and uncomfortable over it.
Finally, this morning, she passed out on the bed after being very restless all night and I left her there when we left for work.
She's eating/drinking fine; no digestive issues. She's had impacted anal glands in the past, but no evidence of that recently (not smelly/not licking her bum).
She's 4 years old and to our knowledge, has had no previous recent injury that would result in this. Very healthy.
Everything I can tell points to limber tail.
From what I read on that, we can give her some Rimadyl to help with pain (which we have in the cabinet already) and just rest her a bit.
Would it be worthy of a vet appointment? I hate to see her hurting, but if a trip to the vet will only cause more stress, i think it might be better to sit it out at home, rest up, and take a rimadyl occasionally to help with the pain.
Thoughts?
Question about Limber Tail:
We live in Western PA for the past few days, we've been hammered with rain (3 days straight of constant rain) and cooler, fall-like temps (Which is actually a nice reprieve from the 90+ degree heat wave we were dealing with last week). Needless to say the dogs were getting cabin fever - they NEEDED some time outside to stretch their legs, so yesterday, we put on the rain gear and gave them some time outside. They were out in 45 minute spurts, about 3 times yesterday. Happy, playful pups. Came in and dried them off each time. That said, they did play and run pretty hard outside: The rain was not a deterrent for them.
Last night, our Lab/Weim mix was napping on the couch and got up to go outside to pee. I noticed she seemed to be holding her tail in a strange way. It was totally limp. When she came back in from going potty outside, she was restless - couldn't get comfortable sitting or lying down. Whimpered when she was lying down and kept nibbling and looking at the base of her tail.
All night she did this - very uncomfortable, groaning, nuzzling her tail. All the while the tail is totally limp: Doesn't perk up for treats or kibble or when she sees us. She just looks distressed and uncomfortable over it.
Finally, this morning, she passed out on the bed after being very restless all night and I left her there when we left for work.
She's eating/drinking fine; no digestive issues. She's had impacted anal glands in the past, but no evidence of that recently (not smelly/not licking her bum).
She's 4 years old and to our knowledge, has had no previous recent injury that would result in this. Very healthy.
Everything I can tell points to limber tail.
From what I read on that, we can give her some Rimadyl to help with pain (which we have in the cabinet already) and just rest her a bit.
Would it be worthy of a vet appointment? I hate to see her hurting, but if a trip to the vet will only cause more stress, i think it might be better to sit it out at home, rest up, and take a rimadyl occasionally to help with the pain.
Thoughts?