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Post by jimh on Jun 26, 2006 20:37:36 GMT -5
guys i am at a lost trying to figure this out. we just noticed today my labs tail just hangs straight down with no life to it. it almost looks as if she's scared but it's not that, something has happen to her. yesterday several families got together for a scout bike ride and afterwards we all where invited to a families house down on the Big River. we brought the pooch along to play in the water and she swam and fetched till the folks couldn't play or throw any more. there where about 15-20 kids there and they all swam with her. i'm thinking one of them might have hung on to her tail and maybe broke/dislocate it? could that have happen? also she don't sit right. i feel around and she doesn't pull away in pain but it doesn't at all look right. could she have been bitten by something? or could a sudden hip problem have caused it? i am going to get her to the vet tomoorow if possible but i really would like some insight on what could cause it.  |
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Post by Bill on Jun 26, 2006 21:02:06 GMT -5
My brother-in-laws kids use to swim with his dog and hang onto its tail and let it pull them around. One day it developed a kink in it. The vet said it was from the kids haning on it. Kink never did go away but the dog didn't complain either.  |
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Post by Jack on Jun 26, 2006 22:01:14 GMT -5
I've heard of a syndrome called 'tail droop', but I can't say I know much about it.
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Post by jimh on Jun 26, 2006 22:03:58 GMT -5
I've heard of a syndrome called 'tail droop', but I can't say I know much about it. this happened yesterday afternoon. not over time of days or weeks, but in an afternoon. |
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Post by jimh on Jun 26, 2006 22:09:34 GMT -5
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Post by deputydon on Jun 26, 2006 22:18:10 GMT -5
Let us know if the Doc. is right.. BTW I bookmarked the site Thanks for sharing it w/ us
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donnie
Grand Member
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Post by donnie on Jun 27, 2006 7:52:36 GMT -5
I agree with ask a vet jim. I wouldn't sweat it too much. The Tail is a great indicator of how a dog feels physically. (aside from Scared, happy etc.) She most likely was exhausted from all the exercize. How was the temperature? How often is you dog exposed to sustained activity of this level? How is her gait? Is she favoring a leg or limping in any mannor?
Obviosly without seeing her it's next to impossible to tell, her tail may indeed be broken but I'm betting against it.
Here are some things to watch for in the heat or when exercizing a dog preseason or on a hard hunt.
#1 pull up some of the loose hide on her back and see how it falls. If it snaps back into position relatively well your ok, if not she's dehydrated at times I've seen dogs hide stand up in that position.
#2 check the color of her gums. If they are becoming very light in color she is reaching exhaustion. time for a break.
#3 watch the tail attitude a high tailk indicates a dog in good shape. The lower the tail the more tired the dog.
The not sitting right I can only guess at but I'm guessing she sits more on one hip than the other. That's called a lazy sit. If she customarily sits on her butt, but is now sitting on one hip or the other She's tired. If you see improvement today I think she just needs a little time off.
Good Luck
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Post by jimh on Jun 27, 2006 8:30:08 GMT -5
bbs.sitstay.com/showflat.php?Cat=1,2,3,4,9&Board=health&Number=192658 yet another example. i have a call into the vet and i'm waiting to hear back. thanks for all the input
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Post by jimh on Jun 27, 2006 12:32:19 GMT -5
Well the Vet confirmed what you guys thought. she is slightly better today so we will continue to give her asprin twice a day and watch her. this was a bit of a wake up call for us as our pooch is mostly a house dog but if we are to continue to get her out then we need to educate ourselves on her limitations and what to look for. i had talked to a friend of mine and her lab had similar problems if over exerted especialy when swimming.
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donnie
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Post by donnie on Jun 28, 2006 7:59:43 GMT -5
Glad to hear it Jim!
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Post by jimh on Jun 28, 2006 10:16:03 GMT -5
yep it's half way up today (please keep it clean).
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donnie
Grand Member
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Post by donnie on Jun 28, 2006 13:52:32 GMT -5
Sometimes halfway up is the best we can manage.
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Post by jimh on Jun 28, 2006 14:04:13 GMT -5
Sometimes halfway up is the best we can manage. you and Rush aparently  ;D wait a minuet wasn't I the one who said keep it clean  |
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;D