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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

Hand hold please - Dog having tail amputated today.

27 replies

SpanielsAreNuts · 18/05/2018 12:30

My poor little puppy is having his tail amputated today. He started of with a slight graze on the end, that has got worse and worse - it finally started looking much better earlier this week. Last night it was clear he was in pain with it, couldn't bare it being touched and and looked much worse. Today vets said it's gone on too long, appears to be infected now and obviously isn't going to to be possible to heal. They have kept him in to amputate a large section of the tail (they will leave it only slightly longer than a docked tail).

I'm really worried about him and pretty devestated it has reached this point. He is not even 11months old yet, poor boy.

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missbattenburg · 18/05/2018 13:28

Oh no!! Poor dog and you...

I have a 10 month old springer and can well imagine just how difficult it must be for you - not only with the worry of the op but also to think he won't have a tail afterwards. It is a simple op, though and whilst it must be very upsetting to think of him losing his tail, he won't miss it - he will just feel so much better and happier once the tail (and pain) have gone and he can get on with being a pesky young dog.

He'll be driving you mad again before you know it

BiteyShark · 18/05/2018 13:32

so sorry all that effort wasn't enough to save his tail. I know I would be upset for my boy to lose his even though he probably wouldn't notice that it was shorter.

Hope the operation goes smoothly

FrancisCrawford · 18/05/2018 13:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HappyGirl86 · 18/05/2018 13:34

Awww I hope he is ok. Will be thinking of him

OrcinusOrca · 18/05/2018 13:41

My dog had most of hers amputated too. No idea what caused it but the end had completely died so they had to amputate to save what they could. They kept enough skin that it could be stitched up across the end so it's a fully furry tail still and not got a bald bit where they cut. As soon as it was done she was so much happier. It was hard to keep the stump dry at all times because it was taped up and she wet herself once or twice when she was super sleepy after the op. Also hard if your dog is a waggy dog! She recovered really quickly and we were very careful of her tail for quite a while because I think it's hypersensitive for them. I forget her tail is even shorter than it should be now, I'm so used to it.

Hope you have him home soon

Thewhale2903 · 18/05/2018 14:09

My mother in law just had bother her legs and her right arm amputated at the same time due to an infection from a kidney stone cooperation that she's had several times before. She's fine and recovering well I'm sure your wee dog will too. Better that he's young easier to recover.

Original poster

SpanielsAreNuts · 18/05/2018 14:11

Waiting until 3pm - when they said I could call to see how he was and get an estimated idea of when he can come home.

I just can't believe, after it had finally started to heal at the start of the week, that it's gone so wrong.

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Original poster

SpanielsAreNuts · 18/05/2018 14:15

Whale I hope your mil continues recovering well.

Orcinus I'm glad she was happier as soon as it was done. I really hope my boy is.

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Original poster

SpanielsAreNuts · 18/05/2018 15:22

He's ok. They think he should be ok to come home at 5pm ish.

Can't wait to see him. My poor little boy. Wondering whether to crate my other dog tonight to make sure my other dog gives him peace?

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MadisonAvenue · 18/05/2018 15:29

On bless him, my dog had some of his amputated too. I felt so awful about it, he was only 10 weeks old. No idea if he chewed it or damaged it in his crate at night but he lost around 3" of it (which was a lot considering he was a pup) and the lovely white tip too. Like your dog's tail, it had started to heal nicely and was almost at the point of the scab coming off when he managed to open it again in a mad fit of puppy exuberance and it became infected.

Original poster

SpanielsAreNuts · 18/05/2018 19:37

He is home and looking so sorry for himself. When I picked him up he was whimpering- not in a pain way more of a "mum they were mean and I feel so sorry for myself" kind of way. He struggled to balance when he did a poo and wee (wee'd all over his one front paw because of it - poor thing).

Pup didn't stop whimpering until we were inside and I sat next to his bed and he climbed into my lap and went to sleep. After a while I had to move him into his bed so I could put my DC to bed and he has stayed asleep there. Back watching him now.

My other dog is currently in his crate as he is constantly trying to lick pups wound - I don't know what to do with him whilst pup heals. I'm half wondering if I can send dog on holiday to someone (my brothers lovely neighbours do boarding of one family of pets at a time, and I don't think they have anyone staying at the moment). He can't just be stuck in his crate or alone in garden here.

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Original poster

SpanielsAreNuts · 18/05/2018 19:40

madison 10weeks old is so very young poor thing.

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BiteyShark · 18/05/2018 19:41

Poor thing. Mine is always knocked for six after an operation or sedation but bounces back in a couple of days.

Sending your other dog on holiday sounds like a good idea as you can then concentrate on getting pup better without worrying about him.

Original poster

SpanielsAreNuts · 18/05/2018 19:48

His tail looks so strange - the shaved fur and stitches obviously make it look extra weird too. Its a stumpy little thing. He is keeping it tucked down as much as he can but has wiggled it (I don't think the wiggles qualify as a proper wag) a few times - its normally out wagging like mad.

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Original poster

SpanielsAreNuts · 18/05/2018 19:53

bitey I don't think he has ever slept this much in the evening. Evenings are usually one of his very active times. I hope he bounces back, I feel so sorry for him.

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BiteyShark · 18/05/2018 20:00

I am sure SpanielDog will be much more himself tomorrow after a good nights sleep back home.

mineofuselessinformation · 18/05/2018 20:03

I'd separate your dogs, as much to let the one rest as to stop the other one licking the wound.
Hopefully he'll feel a bit brighter tomorrow.

Original poster

SpanielsAreNuts · 18/05/2018 20:58

Well nanny dropped in some left over ham. Thats perked him up no end and he's had a little wonder round the lounge and checked the main place DC are likely to drop crumbs. That's made me feel better seeing him do that.

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CollyWombles · 18/05/2018 21:03

Poor pup! Some.dogs wag their tails so much they damage it from hitting it off walls and furniture.

I managed to trap my dogs tail in a door. The vet told me it would likely need amputated too. I used normal plasters for people, plastered the end of his tail and each day I had to trim the plasters off with nail scissors and put fresh ones on. Thankfully his tail healed as he couldn't bite the plasters off, they were too sticky and attached to the hairs on his tail.

I'm glad to hear your pup is doing fine!

noitsnotteatimeyet · 18/05/2018 22:08

One of my dog’s best friends is a springer who had to have a third of his tail amputated when he was about ten months old. He’d injured it when he was wriggling through scrubland and it kept on getting infected. The wound wouldn’t heal and the tissue started to die. He recovered pretty quickly and he’s absolutely fine now. His tail is completely covered by fur and he still has feathering on it - and he’s just as waggy as ever!

KeepYourFriendsClose · 18/05/2018 22:19

My dog had happy tail and needed it amputated, took is balls at the same time poor lad but it was really awful I remember. They left him with a bit of a stump and he wagged that just as much as the long tail! He was way better off without it but the healing process was a bit odd using Velcro hair curlers and vet wrap or pipe insulation and vet wrap was comical! Even though it was just cosmetic I did really struggle when he got it done, after the guilt (??) came a love of his 'happy tail' story and quirkiness though x

BiteyShark · 19/05/2018 07:14

How is he today?

Original poster

SpanielsAreNuts · 19/05/2018 13:09

He is lively and happy. Doesn't seem at all bothered by it. He is super waggy again with his whole back end going with it (although it looks very odd without his lovely long tail wagging with it).

My other dog has gone away for the day.

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Fortheloveofscience · 19/05/2018 13:16

Just read this - glad to hear he’s doing so well. Although the ban on docking has prevented it being done to tiny pups without pain relief etc, it has left a lot of springer-types with tail problems. Their long whippy tails split so easily, and it can be a real pain to manage if it happens repeatedly. In the long run having it removed now has probably saved you both a lot of trouble.

Original poster

SpanielsAreNuts · 19/05/2018 13:55

forthelove I know having experienced a waggy tail injury I think I can finally see why it was done to such tiny pups. I've always felt docking was barbaric but I can understand why it was done now - especially back when they couldn't use anesthesia on dogs.

Although I also think the fact that they were docked led to their breeding creating further tail issues (they were bred without thought to the tail, as they were routinely docked).

It's a shame because cavaliers who weren't docked have lovely long very waggy tails and don't get tail injuries.

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