Speaking Of Stud Tail

[patricia]

Is this what it looks like? I have been concerned about this and the Flashman goes in for his check up real soon and I was going to have this checked. Is this stud tail?

Thanks!

Flashy: Mommy: isn't dis puppy porno??? Hey...Maybee all da gurlz will write to da Flashman!

Edited February 6, 2008 by patricia

[Jiffer]

Certainly looks like it. I have never seen a dog with it that bad before, though.. so maybe a checkup is in order.

[turbotaina]

Certainly looks like it. I have never seen a dog with it that bad before, though.. so maybe a checkup is in order.

 

Agreed. Turbo has stud tail, but it's basically just thinner hair, not completely bald like Flashman's. It doesn't look like the skin is disturbed at all, but do you ever see him chewing there?

[patricia]

No...he never chews there...I kind of wonder too if it is due to his hypothyroidism as his hair on his butt is thinning...but on his test 6 weeks ago his blood levels were good.

[Guest SusanP]

Huh? Stud tail????

[Jiffer]

Huh? Stud tail????

 

There's a gland 1/3 the way down their tail that every so often causes baldness or less fur in that area. Even if their tail is fully furred, the fur in that spot is usually more coarse than the rest of their coat.

[Guest terri643]

Huh? Stud tail????

OK, I give up. What is stud tail?

[turbotaina]

Huh? Stud tail????

OK, I give up. What is stud tail?

 

 

See post #6

[Guest SusanP]

And this is only on boy dogs? Intact males only or all males? Is the gland on the underside or topside of the tail? I never knew this before!

[turbotaina]

No...he never chews there...I kind of wonder too if it is due to his hypothyroidism as his hair on his butt is thinning...but on his test 6 weeks ago his blood levels were good.

 

Interesting that he's hypothyroid, because that was my first thought. But I think in hypothyroid dogs, you'd have more tail involvement ("rat tail"), not just one small section.

 

When did his tail go bald? Just recently?

[patricia]

Yes...just recently...HOWEVER...when he was diagnosed...he had massive hair loss on his chest...legs...hips...neck and tail. They sent the test off to Michigan and when we got the results he was very low and was started on Soloxine. He also had gained weight. Once on the meds his coat filled in and he lost the weight he had gained. It has been a challenge keeping his levels where they should be.

[turbotaina]

Very odd. Perhaps you can put a call in to your vet and maybe email them the picture? My vet is really good about things like that, but I know some vets aren't.

[Guest Lori]

I don't know anything about the subject, just wanted to say that I enjoyed seeing the Flashman's butt.

[patricia]

I don't know anything about the subject, just wanted to say that I enjoyed seeing the Flashman's butt.

Oh I know...himz got the cutest little Mama's Boy Buttz!

[Guest jettcricket]

Huh? Stud tail????

 

There's a gland 1/3 the way down their tail that every so often causes baldness or less fur in that area. Even if their tail is fully furred, the fur in that spot is usually more coarse than the rest of their coat.

Wow...that's interesting....my Cricket has a very slight loss of hair in that area. Do females get it?

 

Huh? Stud tail????

 

There's a gland 1/3 the way down their tail that every so often causes baldness or less fur in that area. Even if their tail is fully furred, the fur in that spot is usually more coarse than the rest of their coat.

Wow...that's interesting....my Cricket has a very slight loss of hair in that area. Do females get it?

Ok...I just goggled it. Here's what one website says:

 

"Do not be misled by your pet's smooth, dry skin into thinking that things are ok on the inside too. Oils that go unnoticed are constantly being secreted to the surface. A major oil producing gland is located at the juncture of the tail and body. The oils get distributed around the coat and skin during grooming times. But, at times oil production gets out of balance leading to excess secretion which is not well distributed. The added oils lead to a condition known as 'stud tail'. This condition is pronounced in unneutered tom cats and dogs. Most times the situation rectifies by itself, but if left untreated, it may lead to painful sores further worsened by bacteria.

 

Mild cases of 'stud tail' can be treated at home by dusting the affected area with cornstarch followed by a bath with an antiseptic soap. For developed stages of the disease, neutering helps."

 

So I guess it just affects males.

[Jiffer]

I've seen it in both males and a few females (perhaps from hormone therapy during racing?). Echo gets it very mildly.

They don't have to be intact to get it either. Atlas and Uber are both fixed males and they both get it seasonally. Orion has never experienced it (oddly enough, he was the oldest of mine to get neutered, too)

[Sighthounds4me]

Gunnar had it, and I had a bitch (non-Grey) that had it when I was in my teens. Gunnar was neutered when he was 2, and we got him at 9.

 

My intact male does not have it (at least, not that I've noticed, though he does have a LOT of hair!), and none of his breeders' boys have it, either, intact or neutered.

[Guest FullMetalFrank]

Flashy's tail looks a lot like Frank's... It's less obvious on Frankie because he is brindle, but he has always had an odd spot there and more recently the baldness.

[maximum]

Huh? Stud tail????

 

There's a gland 1/3 the way down their tail that every so often causes baldness or less fur in that area. Even if their tail is fully furred, the fur in that spot is usually more coarse than the rest of their coat.

 

Hunh, I always wondered about that spot on Max's tail, the fur is thinner there and MUCH coarser. Interesting...

[Meandmy]

My Shadow's looks exactly like Flashy's. Completely bald. And, he's got a super skinny tail, so you can see the bumps of the bones. He's fuzzy everywhere else, and the vet said it's nothing at all to worry about. He's never gotten a scab or anything there.

[Guest shelbygirl07]

My pom louie has that same problem and it spread up his back. After numerous trips to the vet they think he had cushings disease. We are waiting for his tests to come back to confirm. He has a small tail but it is bulbus now. We worked very hard at fixing his skin issues andnnow his skin and coat are beautiful except for the hairloss. He is neutered.

[patricia]

My Shadow's looks exactly like Flashy's. Completely bald. And, he's got a super skinny tail, so you can see the bumps of the bones. He's fuzzy everywhere else, and the vet said it's nothing at all to worry about. He's never gotten a scab or anything there.

My vet was not concerned either and when I had Flashy to the kennel they also confirmed stud tail and nothing to worry about.