Dog Tail Injuries and Bleeding

Long dog tails are easily damaged.

Your dog uses its tail to balance and communicate. Happy dogs will wag their tails frantically, which could lead to an injury and profuse bleeding if the tail is caught on something sharp.

Healing

In the early stages of healing, continued wagging and can open the wound, making it bleed again.

Infection

Slow-healing wounds at are risk of infection. If the wound on your dog's tail changes color or looks shiny, take it to your veterinarian who will prescribe a course of antibiotics.

Bandaging

The wound needs protection, but heavy bandages will be wagged off or chewed by your dog. The best protective material is plumbers' pipe cladding approximately 2 inches in diameter. Cut a 6-inch length, open it out along its cut side then put it round the tail so that it extends about 1 inch beyond the tip of the tail. Tape the cladding to the tail with sticking plaster. Check the tail tip for improvement every few days, replacing the cladding and plaster when necessary. Ensure the bandage is not too tight or your dog will be in pain and you may cut off the blood supply to the end of the tail. If your dog's tail is not healing after a few days you must take it to your veterinarian for further treatment.

Surgery

If your dog's tail is repeatedly traumatized the skin may become so scarred, damaged and fragile that it may never heal. Your veterinarian may have to amputate part of your dog's tail, taking it back to healthy tissue which can then heal. The wound will be protected by a bandage and healing should be complete in 14 days.

References

• "Current Techniques in Small Animal Surgery"; M Joseph Bojrab; 1990