Specky Joined The Happy Tail Club.

[cello]

The last night at Sandy Paws, Specky somehow managed to bash her tail. There was blood everywhere! Anyways, I bandaged it best I could (thanks to those who helped me!) and that lasted until we got home. Yesterday I took off that bandage as I wanted to really give the tail a good clean and rewrap. I cleaned it with chlorahexadine, and then coated with antibiotic cream and EMT Gel. Then gauzed and vet wrapped half her tail, finishing off with surgical tape to anchor the vet wrap. The bandage has stayed on fine, and there has been no bleeding through it. Now, my question is, what do I do next? Do I change the bandage everyday? If not, how often? Does the tail need to air dry periodically? Please advise on this.

Carol Ann

[GeorgeofNE]

I would change it every 2 or 3 days as long as it is DRY and clean!

 

I would also go easy on the ointments after the first bandage change. If it's not bleeding anymore, you will want to keep it wrapped and padded for AT LEAST three weeks. But I personally think just a dab of cream is more than enough. Don't fool yourself into leaving unwrapped to "breath." Nothing will frustrate you more than thinking it is healed only to have it open up again!

 

I've had LOTS of experience with this--16 weeks of a blood bath from my mixed breed dog--he needed major surgery then (leg) and the vet was kind enough to amputate what was, by then, a raw bloody mess at his tail tip. Even after having 2 inches removed, he STILL had a nice long tail!

 

Good luck. There is a veterinarian who has greyhounds of her own who posted a great piece on this--can't remember who, but I bet if you Google "veterinarian, greyhound, happy tail" you could find it.

[Guest Tigonie]

I agree with the above. Here are some more details:

 

Go out and buy yourself a roll of paper tape and a package of foam hair curlers (medium or small--look at the hole in the foam to see what's most appropriate for your dog's tail thickness). Remove the plastic clips from the curlers, and cut a slit up the side of the foam. Open the slit, and place a foam curler around the tail, letting about 1/2 inch hang past the end of the tail. Tape over the curler and about 6 inches up the tail. Leave the end of the curler open (untaped), and this will allow for air circulation.

 

Untape to check it every few days, to clean it and insure infection doesn't set in. Leave it on for a few weeks after you think it's healed. Your neighbors will eventually stop asking what's wrong with your dog's tail. If all goes well, the problem will be solved and will not come back again.

 

If it persists but is not infected, I would not make a special trip to the vet for happy tail. But I would mention it the next time you go in. Besides wrapping and hoping it heals, the more drastic solution is to dock the tail. Your vet can advise you about how serious the damage is and if/when to dock--and if so, how much to amputate.