“A dog is a man’s best friend”, indeed. This is one such quote we are all pretty familiar with. Their warmth, their enthusiasm for our quirks and treats puts a smile on all our faces. How then, could one possibly be worried about them wagging their tails, are they suffering from Happy Tail Syndrome?
Something that is so endearing to us, lets us know that they are happy and content, will surely not have any negative sides to it, will it? Well, sometimes they do. Let us explain this strange consequence of your fluffy friend.
Dogs Wagging Their Tail
Like we laugh to convey our happiness, dogs primarily signify joy when they wag their tail. We say primarily because it can signify a lot of other emotions as well. You might just mistake your pet retriever wagging its tail for joy when it’s actually in discomfort or very nervous. Moreover, it could go through intense emotions like anxiety, submission as well as excitement.
We will break down the various approaches to your dog’s seemingly happy reaction.
Different Meanings To Why Your Dog Wags Its Tail
Let’s explore the whys and hows of different events triggering the voluntary action of wagging your dog’s tail.
Happy Wagging Of Tail
This is the most obvious of all, and instantly denotes a sense of utmost joy, whereby the dog experiences extreme euphoria, and assures that it is comfortable where he is.
Look for signs like :
- The relaxed state of the dog’s tail
- The dog’s body gently moves along with the wagging
- A sensed happy expression on the dog’s face
When you check out these three marks, then your dog officially is overjoyed at your presence and you have nothing to worry about!
Anxious Wagging Of Tail
If you notice the following signs, it might not be a good denotation of your dog’s state of mind.
- Your dog’s tail is high and moving in a back-and-forth motion
- Your dog’s body remains quite erect and perfectly rigid
- The tail may be low and wagging slowly – which signifies grief and hesitancy
- Wagging of the tail develops into moving narrowly but rapidly- which signifies anxiety and hyperactive tendencies.
In conclusion, a sense of stillness or rapid movement procures an uncomfortable situation for your dog.
Consequences Of Happy Tail Wagging
Happy Tail Syndrome
There are unending consequences to your dog incessantly wagging its tail. Be it for joy or for nervousness, when it starts to whip its tail back and forth in an aggressive manner, the thin part of the tail skin may tear apart as it hits a small object nearby.
This is only possible when :
- The dog is massive in size
- The strong tail hits solid objects
- The wagging session goes on for a long period of time
Type Of Dogs With A Happy Tail Syndrome
Surprisingly, this bizarre consequence of tail wagging is only prone to certain breeds of dogs, depending on their size. The most common breeds are
- Labrador Retrievers
- Pit Bulls
- Great Danes
- Greyhounds
- Doberman
You will notice, each one of these dogs is pretty big in its structure and strength. Their tail holds a massive amount of weight with respect to their body structure.
So, when they perform the back-and-forth movement, unlike smaller dogs, their tail requires more energy, hence causing more impact on their skin.
Problems Relating To Happy Tail Syndrome
Because the wagging specifically affects the thinnest layer of the tail, such a syndrome becomes a challenge to treat for vets. Firstly check for the very first signs of the syndrome :
- The wound is raw
- The skin is abnormally reddened
- The skin starts to bleed and faces irritation
The common preventions to happy tail Syndrome applied are :
Bandaging Of Wound In Happy Tail Syndrome
How Do I Stop A Happy Tail Bleed?
When the case is assessed as reletivluinor, with little damage to the tail overall, your vet will suggest you to carefully clean and sanitize the wound with water, and wrap a soft bandage around the split area.
Other professional methods of bandaging include :
- Pool noodling
- Padding
Buy your dog a special happy tail Syndrome sling, or a soft collar to protect itself from licking its wound or chewing off the bandage.
Minor Stitching Of Wound In Happy Tail Syndrome
When bandages don’t assuage the wound, minor stitching may be recommended by your vet, but only with close analysis. Don’t be scared, as minor surgeries may require a better journey to treating your dog’s wound.
Happy Tail Syndrome Infection
The two most important things to ensure when you keep the bandage around the tail is its clean and dry. However, things may not work out and you start to notice certain irregularities eventually. Immediate veterinary help is highly recommended then.
Smelling, oozing out, and leaking of the wound – Your vet will thoroughly cleanse the wound and analyze the margins first. A viral infection or bacterial intervention may be assessed eventually.
Unstoppable bleeding – this is an additional symptom, along with the Bald spots on the tail
Raw patches on the tail, that may indicate something serious with no improvement.
An anti-viral infection medicine or certain antibiotics are recommended to ensure proper healing if your dog’s tail is infected.
Treatments For My Dog’s Happy Tail Syndrome
How Serious Can A Happy Tail Syndrome Get?
Professional treatments may be required if the wound either shows no signs of healing, or the happy tail Syndrome occurs repeatedly, even after healing. Possible treatments include :
- Laser therapy treatment of happy tail
- Surgical wound correction
- Happy Tail Amputation
Before you get scared, these methods are relatively safe and extremely effective if your dog’s sound doesn’t seem to heal under natural treatment. Hence, it is very important to keep in line a few things while you are in the first stage of treating your dog’s tail.
Things To Keep In Mind While Treating My Dog Happy Tail Syndrome
- Examine the severity of the tail wound, and bring your dog to the vet immediately.
- Keep the bandage clean and dry
- Keep in check the shape and the motion of the tail’s appendage when you wrap the bandage. Your vet doctor will guide you through this
- Regularly visit the vet, for removal and application of bandage to prevent further infection.
- Apply sedatives in moderation. Too much of sedatives may completely decrease regular activity, making your dog lethargic.
How Long Does It Take For Happy Tail Syndrome To Heal?
Generally, your dog with happy tail Syndrome will have to endure for a few weeks to heal completely. Hence, ensure the wound does not escalate into something serious and keep in mind the above precautions to fasten the healing process.
Ways In Which Your Dog Stays Calm During Its Illness
- Do not make them active, keep them calm
- Provide them with occasional treats to keep them satisfied
- Use sedatives to moderate activity but with limitations
- Keep them company. Hire a dog caretaker to keep them under surveillance
- Buy an e-collar to prevent them from turning and chewing the bandage off.
How Do I Prevent My Dog From A Happy Tail Syndrome
We all love our dogs too much for them to be prone to such syndromes. The best way you can keep such illnesses away from your dog is
- Contain its hyperactive nature through therapeutic methods. It may be excited, or nervous. Carefully observe your dog and treat him accordingly.
- Keep in check the furniture and other solid objects around your dog to prevent any injury in the first place.
- Keep your own behavioral patterns in check. Dogs respond to our own reactions and try to correspond by imitation. They can also get overactive to your grief as a way of uplifting your spirits. Be calm, and stay happy around them.
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