Dog problem.

So my basset hound Mimi is eccentric to say the least.
Ridiculously high energy and has a 14inch tail.
IT WAGGS LIKE A BAT OUTTA HELL
She's been cutting the tip like crazy and getting blood everywhere. Which isn't my concern.
My concern is infection.
I can clean it but I work long hours and can't be home all the time to clean it and I'm worried she's gonna get sick.
I've read up on how to wrap it but it seems like a temp fix till she just cuts it open again.
Opinions are appreciated and the thought of having her tail cut is just.... Idk I just don't like it

Why not have her tail docked? From the sounds of it you'd be doing her a favor. My cousins dog wagged its tail so hard into something that she ended up breaking her tail lol. So yea, my recommendation would be to look into docking. I'd rather do that than have an infection set in that could really hurt her.

I've treated and wrapped "happy tails" a few times.
This particular dog would wag it's tail so much, it would leave blood streaks across walls. She would lick it so much to clean the wound that it never really healed on its own without human intervention.

Clean the wound. You can use neosporin on it. If there's a big gash, you can use liquid bandage. Wrap it up (I use breathable gauze and vet wrap). And you can change bandages once a day.
She will probably try to rip off the bandages or pick at the wound, so I suggest giving her an e-collar or cone until it's healed enough.

This is probably kind of ghetto, but have you thought about "baby proofing" your house? Like put padding on corners and edges of stuff(chair legs for example) so your dog's tail won't get sliced open.

I'm with Mike. If she ends up breaking a bone in there, and an injury on her tail gets infected, that could lean to bone infection which is a lot more painful than just docking. Not to mention, it would still end up requiring docking to prevent the infection from spreading.

:-(

Yeah I already baby proofed everything.
She even opens the wound just hitting the floor. She sounds like thumper from Bambi.
I guess my options really are best at docking her.
That's so sad though.
She is so beautiful and I can't imagine seeing her in pain and a cone.
I guess I'm going to have to look into it and do it ASAP.
My poor baby. This really is breaking y heart :'(

It'll probably end up being better for her in the long run than having a constant injury on her tail.

Tail docking isn't as simple as people say it is. It is an AMPUTATION. It is a slow and painful recovery for an animal. Just remember that. I am not against amputating a tail if its the only alternative but people often think tail amputation isn't a big deal. Anyways. I would just exercise her more to curb the high energy. My friend's lab was like this. Blood specks everywhere on the wall, knocking everything over that was at a human knee's height. It was terrible. They didn't amputate but they did exercise the dog a lot more and he wasn't wagging so intensely afterwards. Your dog probably needs at least 2 hours of structures exercise everyday to curb that energy.

I know :-(
Thanks. I have to talk to my husband ad look into how much it's gonna be.
Not that money's an issue over her health but during this time of year.
This is sad.

I've seen my share of tail dockings and it's not a pretty sight. I once told the surgeon at my clinic it was like cutting off your baby's finger or something. He just laughed and admitted he didn't like doing them. That it was unnecessary. But people did it to meet breed requirements. While I understand that your case may be slightly different as this effects the health of your dog, I think you should try exercising her more first. If she is able to get some of that energy out, maybe she wouldn't be so hyper all the time, and her wagging would become less crazy. If that doesn't work and the problem continues, I would consider looking at other options. But before you do something irreversible, I would try some alternate measures first. :gj: Or even, as Nikki said, "baby" proof your house a bit. If your kid kept walking into the corner of the table and hitting their toe, you wouldn't cut it off would you? Probably not. Just a thought. ;)

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Originally Posted by barbie.dragon

Tail docking isn't as simple as people say it is. It is an AMPUTATION. It is a slow and painful recovery for an animal. Just remember that. I am not against amputating a tail if its the only alternative but people often think tail amputation isn't a big deal. Anyways. I would just exercise her more to curb the high energy. My friend's lab was like this. Blood specks everywhere on the wall, knocking everything over that was at a human knee's height. It was terrible. They didn't amputate but they did exercise the dog a lot more and he wasn't wagging so intensely afterwards. Your dog probably needs at least 2 hours of structures exercise everyday to curb that energy.

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Amuptation is great deal better for the animal than bone infection. I'm speaking form personal experience.

By the way, a leg amputation takes about 8 weeks to heal and that's mainly the bone. The skin was healed up nicely in about three. A docking isn't going to take that long to heal.

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Originally Posted by Raptor

Amuptation is great deal better for the animal than bone infection. I'm speaking form personal experience.

By the way, a leg amputation takes about 8 weeks to heal and that's mainly the bone. The skin was healed up nicely in about three. A docking isn't going to take that long to heal.

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All because it seems healed it doesn't mean they're not feeling pain or discomfort. Regardless it is a big procedure and other options should be exhausted before doing an amputation.

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Originally Posted by barbie.dragon

All because it seems healed it doesn't mean they're not feeling pain or discomfort. Regardless it is a big procedure and other options should be exhausted before doing an amputation.

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A goat that's in pain isn't going to eat properly. It's going to lay around and fuss; it's going to do poorly.

...Said goat also isn't going to be bouncing around on all the furniture...Or using the limb to walk on.

I have baby proofed. And trust me ive tried getting her tired from walks and play. It's like she's on meth or drugs.
SHE NEER GETS TIRED
It's freaky.
And I have her trained to calm down before affection but its like a huge burst of energy when she sees I say ok. Petting time.
I really think docking is going to have to be the option.
It's gonna suck for both of us but at least she won't be at risk of infection.

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Originally Posted by sookieball

It's like she's on meth or drugs.

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Because meth *isnt* a drug...?

:rofl: sorry, i had to

I had this same issue, lots of people I know said to clean it out,well and put spruce sap on, or pine if no spruce is avaliable. I didnt read all the replys, on my phone...

¡ERMAGHERD A DERK!

This is going to sound stupid. Can you put her in tight fitting pants or even panty hose, then make the tail go down a leg hole or wrap around her side? Stuff like this is worth a try, even if you look stupid.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by barbie.dragon

Regardless it is a big procedure and other options should be exhausted before doing an amputation.

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I have docked tails, and it's not a big procedure. The animals don't even notice the difference.
Breaking a tail over and over again is painful. More painful than docking. Best just to prevent the dog from hurting itself even more if the situation is serious. Which sounds like it's getting there.

Also a reason why it's the standard for many breeds to have a docked tail. Not only for looks, but for practicality. (Example, many sporting, working, and terrier breeds have docked tails to prevent the tails from getting caught or banged up doing their work. )

OP: if you're not comfortable with docking, is there an option to rearrange your furniture to give your dog more room? Maybe the extra space will help the dog not hit things as much. Or maybe coming up with a tail sock to protect her tail.


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Originally Posted by satomi325

I have docked tails, and it's not a big procedure. The animals don't even notice the difference.
Breaking a tail over and over again is painful. More painful than docking. Best just to prevent the dog from hurting itself even more if the situation is serious. Which sounds like it's getting there.

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The goat I mentioned had a bone infection in her front left leg, with minor damage to the bone. She screamed the entire night she was in the house before her surgery. After she had her surgery and came home, she was quiet. Even when the drugs wore off.