Tail Down (clean, vet, odor, outside)

[ABlondie3232]

Hello everyone. My 3 year old Corgi mix woke me up in the middle of the night to go outside. I was outside and realized his tail which is usually always erect was completely down and kind of to the side a little. He's acting completely fine, still playing and eating just fine. He stops to lick the tail/butt area every now and then. Anyone have any idea what it could be? I dont know if he could have been bit by something outside maybe...

[titaniummd]

Body Language in Dogs: how to read what your dog is saying, from Stacy's Wag'N'Train (http://www.wagntrain.com/BodyLanguage.htm - broken link)

[Connecticut Pam]

Originally Posted by ABlondie3232

Hello everyone. My 3 year old Corgi mix woke me up in the middle of the night to go outside. I was outside and realized his tail which is usually always erect was completely down and kind of to the side a little. He's acting completely fine, still playing and eating just fine. He stops to lick the tail/butt area every now and then. Anyone have any idea what it could be? I dont know if he could have been bit by something outside maybe...

Some dogs. and I say some because I am not sure, have glands in their butts that need to be cleaned out periodically, maybe your Corgi is one of those. The tail off the side I find is sometimes a clue that their butts aqre irritated, they have to poo or something else is going on in that area. Our Pit Bull does it too and she normally has to poo. Take your dog to the vet and see if perhaps his/her poo glands need to be cleaned.

[ShelbyGirl1]

It actually does sound like the anal sacs need to be expressed. It is most common in smaller breeds and can be painful...or moderately annoying to the dog. There could be a really pungent odor if the sacs need to be emptied. You can do this yourself...and believe me, it is not the most pleasant of jobs...or have your vet take a look.

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

There is also something called "cold tail syndrome" but I don't know anything about it. I think a vet visit is called for!

[FiveHorses]

Originally Posted by ShelbyGirl1

.and believe me, it is not the most pleasant of jobs...

Very diplomatically said.

[barndog]

southernbelle - that's freaky, the first thing i thought was "cold tail," too...but i don't know much about this condition either.

ablondie...here's a link for info on cold tail... Cold Tail, Dead Tail, Limber Tail

good luck! hope your corgi's okay!

[DawnMTL]

Artie has anal sac "issues" and needs to get them expressed a couple of times a year. However, his tale is rarely down (he's a Lab/Corgi mix) -- only when he's scoping something out in the yard.

When his anal sacs are bothering him, he does the classic "bum scootch" on the floor. He occasionally gives himself a sniff back there, but the bum scootch is the tell-tale sign that his anal sacs are acting up.

Maybe your guy is telling you that his anal sacs are bugging him by having his tail down, but it's not what I've been told to be the warning sign for "express needed down there, please!"

Maybe a visit to the vet is in order?

[ShelbyGirl1]

I had a Golden one time who always tried to tuck her tail whenever she was uncomfortable with the anal sac issues.

[Blondie621]

I agree with DandJ, sounds like an anal gland issue. I would still take him to the vet though!