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What is Happy Tail?

Happy Tail Syndrome


                One of the readers of Patton’s Postings recently asked how we treat the condition known as “happy tail.”  First of all, what is happy tail?  Some dogs, usually large breed dogs like Labrador Retrievers can suffer from this problem.  Happy tail occurs when the dog wags his or her tail with such force that repeatedly knocking the tip of the tail against a wall, furniture or other object causes trauma to the tip of the tail.  The tip of the tail usually breaks open and bleeds.  It bleeds a lot!  Dogs with happy tail can leave your home looking like a crime scene.  Despite the cute name, happy tail is anything but.  Because of the location of the wound at the tip of the tail, a good blood supply to the area and the fact that we usually cannot stop the dog from wagging his tail, these injuries are nearly impossible to heal, and often require surgical amputation of the tail to prevent chronic trauma. 

                If the injury to the tail tip is minor, medical treatment may be attempted with bandaging the tail and restricting activity by confining the dog and/or using mild sedatives to prevent further trauma to the tip of the tail and to allow the injury to heal may be attempted.  Antibiotics and pain medications may also be necessary and some wounds on the tail tip may require sutures.  However, as one can imagine, keeping a bandage on a tail is very difficult so medical management is often frustrating and unrewarding.  The dog may also reinjure the tail even if it heals, as she may go back to wagging and traumatizing the tip.

                As mentioned above, if the tail will not heal or the dog repeatedly reinjures his tail, docking or surgical amputation of the tail is often the only way to permanently resolve happy tail syndrome.  The tail must be docked quite short (think Rottweiler or Doberman) to prevent further trauma.

                So, there you have it.  Happy tail syndrome is not a happy condition, but with medical management or surgery, your dog can remain happy and healthy, albeit he or she may have to give up her long tail in the process.  

                This blog brought to you by the Patton Veterinary Hospital serving Red Lion, York and the surrounding communities.

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