Modern Beagle

A beagle is a very distinct type of dog with big droopy ears and beautiful classic hound colors. One of the things that sets it apart from other breeds of dogs is its tail. Its tail is of average length with a white brush tip, moderately set high with a bit of a curve. The mood of a beagle is expressed in its tail. You can find a calm beagle lying down with its tail tucked close to its body. It can make other gestures with its tail like wagging, curling, pointing it towards the ground, and others. There are many issues that a beagle’s tail may experience over the course of its life, and it can leave a lot of pet owners concerned. In this article, I’ve broken down some of the most common types of tail injuries in beagles, along with what remedies you can try to use to fix them. Signs and Symptoms of Beagle Tail Injury Limpness is one of the telling signs of tail injury or condition. A limp tail cannot be held up for a long time but soon falls back down. When limp, your beagle will have difficulty in wagging its tail. Defecating will be difficult as well, and it will not be able to sit properly. The dog will likely experience pain due to this, and will often whimper and lie down because it is in distress. You will also notice that a few inches of the tail may hold out horizontally 2 to 4 inches, but then drop vertically. It will seem as though the beagle’s tail is broken. This condition is an acute one that happens suddenly, almost seemingly out of nowhere. This is commonly known as limber tail. Limber tail is often associated with pain and swelling at the base of the tail, and may require a vet to take a look at it. Another sign of tail injury is when you find your dog experiencing pain trying to raise its tail or move it at a certain angle. If the tale is bent at an unnatural seeming angle, it can be a strong indicator of a potential sprain or dislocation in the tail. When you touch your dog’s tail and your dog reacts with extreme sensitivity and pain, then it is possible that the tail is fully sprained or fractured, which may require a cast to be set by a professional. Causes of Beagle Tail Injuries Limber tail syndrome, also known as swimmer’s tail, cold water tail, broken wag, etc. causes limpness to the tail. This is essentially a bruising of the tail with muscle damage at its base. One of the most common causes of this injury is through swimming. Beagles can often overexert themselves when swimming, and tear the muscle in their tails when trying to tread water. However, even if a dog does not enter a body of water, it can still acquire this condition. In most cases, the primary underlying cause is overexertion. When the dog is made to do strenuous activities without proper conditioning, it overuses its tail for balance and so the muscles are stressed and damaged. Even if you are simply innocently taking your beagle for a long run or moderate hike, you may not be aware of the stress it is causing its tail. Another cause of this injury is when a dog whips its tail too quickly. This can happen when it is wet and it tries to shake itself dry. And worse, while doing it, the dog can whack or thump its tail against a hard surface like a wall. This cause can be hard to prevent, but you’ll want to keep a close eye on your beagle when they’re drying themselves off like this. The injury can also be caused by its exposure to cold weather, such as swimming in cold water, running in snow, or even just undergoing fast temperature changes from inside to outside. When the dog’s body is hot from running and then quickly jumps into a pool or takes a cold-water bath, the tail becomes can experience muscle and even nerve damage. Being in confined spaces like too small of a crate for extended periods of time can also cause this injury. If the beagle is crate training in a crate that’s too small, it’s tail may press against the walls of the crate, which can restrict blood flow and lead to some serious swelling. There are endless other ways a dog’s tail can be injured. Because of its moderate length you could accidentally step on it, it can get caught in a closing door, or it can get hurt playing rough with other dogs. What’s important is knowing how to prevent and treat the most common injuries listed above, I’ll get into that next. How to Prevent and Treat Beagle Tail Injuries Dog exercises should not be overdone since overexertion is one of the leading causes of limpness of the tail. This condition is very painful for your dog so you should make sure that it is treated immediately. When you bring your dog to the vet, its tail will be examined, the spine will be checked and x-rays will be taken. The vet will determine if the tail is merely bruised, sprained or if it has been fully broken. Anti-inflammatory medication is usually given once the condition is diagnosed. Warm packs at the base of the tail are also applied to help relieve the pain. Rest is needed by your dog so that the muscles can heal fast. It only takes a short time for the dog’s tail to go back to normal. When your dog is recovering, make sure that you keep it inside and refrain from making it do any strenuous exercises. If you have any other concerns, consult your vet as you monitor your dog’s recovery. On average, it should only take around 2 weeks for your dog to fully recover from Limber tail syndrome. Even if the tail is broken, it will heal by itself even without setting it. But if the base of the tail is the one fractured, then your dog might need to undergo surgery to prevent future nerve damage. When your dog’s tail is starting to heal and move as usual, you should simply take it easy for the next couple of weeks. Don’t push your dog to do exercises after a prolonged period of low activity so that the injury will not happen again. If you need to exercise your dog, then start with less strenuous exercises such as simple walks. The period or level of activity should gradually be increased as your beagle starts to show better signs of health. Make sure to visit your vet for check-ups as often as possible. This will make it possible for you to detect injuries and signs of infection before they get worse. Also make sure that if you are going to put your dog in a crate, that is it the right size. Choose something that will allow the dog free movement, and try not to confine it for a very long time. Sprains can be avoided by restricting your dog from rigorous activities. Canine anti-inflammatory medication can help control symptoms of a sprain, but rest and low levels of activity are the best medicine. More powerful medication can also be used to treat simple fractures, but surgery may be necessary in some cases. If the injury is severe and unable to heal, then the tail might need a partial amputation. For a damaged nerve or spinal cord injury, treatment may include anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, painkillers, and even tissue or spinal surgery. Keeping a watchful eye on your dog, especially if they are prone to overexertion, is the best way to prevent any of these injuries and can save you a lot of trips to the vet. Itchy Tail in Beagles If a beagle has an itchy tail, it is usually caused by an infection or allergy. They react to this by constantly scratching, licking or chewing at their tail to ease the pain and irritation. If the skin is dry and the beagle continues chewing on its tail then it can make the skin crack, bleed or can even lead to balding areas on the tail. It is important to have the cause of the itching diagnosed. It can be contact allergy, food allergy, or something more viral that could require antibiotics from a vet. A vet can determine what triggers the allergy. You can then help your dog to avoid it. Your vet can also provide medication such as antihistamines or anti-inflammatories. Broken skin should also be treated to avoid infection. Steps can be taken at home to help this condition by using a moisturizing shampoo to bathe your beagle. To help the beagle’s skin and coat to retain moisture, a leave-in conditioner can be used. The best way to prevent cases of itchy tail is to groom your beagle regularly with frequent baths. Compulsive Tail Chewing in Beagles It’s a fairly common bad habit for a beagle to chew the tip of its tail excessively. If there are no health conditions associated with it, then it can be just a matter of compulsive or obsessive chewing. This is done by your dog as a self-coping mechanism to deal with stress or boredom. Stress can be caused when the dog is alone or not given enough attention. It is important to help your dog fight separation anxiety with regular walks and bonding time. Make sure not to confine your dog in a small space so as not to cause a claustrophobic response. You can help the dog feel as though it has company by leaving a radio or TV playing in the background, or by leaving it a comforting toy. If you have to leave your dog home alone for hours on end, you can check out this guide on how to keep your dog entertained while indoors. If your beagle is chewing other parts of their body, like their legs and paws, you may want to look into flea preventatives or other allergy remedies with your vet. Final Thoughts Your pet beagle can experience tail injuries especially when no one is watching. You might be surprised to find it having these conditions. To protect your pet, make sure to monitor its activities everywhere it goes, regularly groom and care for it, and bring it to the vet regularly for a proper check-up.

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