Happy Tail

[boxer17]

Okay so we are fostering a female boxer with a tail and she has what we call "Happy Tail". Basically she a cut on the tip of her tail and we can't seem to get it heal.

We have been putting some neosporin and a bandaid and some tape but it doesn't seem to be healing too well. If we leave it off, it just busts open again..not good!

It is sort scabed over and such but I wish it looked better. Does anyone know how long it takes to heal?

Thanks!

 

[djheitz]

It can take quite a long time to heal, especially if they keep banging it and breaking it back open. We recently had a dog in the rescue that had it pretty badly. We ended up amputating the tail.

 

[Althea]

I had a rescue pit that had the same issue -- house looked like WWIII had erupted!

We had to have the tail amputated. I know people like their natural tails, but when this is the outcome...I gotta say, I prefer them docked. (Not that they all end up like this, but having been through it, it's not fun for anyone involved, especially not the pooch!)

 

[LILYLARUE]

Oh Boy! Do I know exactly what you are going through. Buster, my first rescue, vizsla mix, came home with this issue. From spinning in the kennel (severe anxiety). My walls looked like a crime scene!

Well, 4 tail docking surgeries later......he has a boxer NUB! LOL And has the bean down too!

Some dogs just refuse to heal. Buster's bandage was excellent and did the purpose great..........until he knocked it again. Sigh.....

What happened to his was that the 3rd vert from the tip was broken and swollen......didn't really visably see it. Well, that cause the blood pressure to build in the tip area. Hence the endless streams of blood. His first docking was between the 3rd and 4th from the tip. Would have healed, probably, if it didn't get infected and start the whole process over again. The second docking was immediate. To fresh tissue and un-injured vertebrae. Well, that was worse! It was a length that was in his way every time he would sit or lay down. Always in pain. Always crying. I just couldn't bear him going through this within the first month of finding his forever home. Went in the forth and last docking........"take it down Boxer Style! I said.....just like Lily's!" No muss, no fuss. He healed up beautifully without the discomfort of it's length.

I wanted to share this experience in case you have to head down the same road. If you need to dock, go for the boxer dock, short or long. Don't do a few and have a funky sized tail.....make it easy on the dog. But make sure to measure from the base of the tail to the floor and dock it a tiny shorter! LOL Will save them so much pain. It's a difficult amputation, especially the older they are.

 

[TossBranAbi]

I would suggest before amputation, trying EMT gel (can get it at Tractor Supply, just google it) and putting a good protective bandage on it and finish with vet wrap to keep it all in place.

The EMT gel will help it heal faster (I swear by the stuff) and hopefully you can avoid amputation.

I have used the EMT gel to heal up the tip of ears which have the same issue. It seems that with the ears, they start to heal and get itchy from healing so they shake their head and the ear breaks open again, causing a vicious cycle. After using the EMT gel, its a much shorter time to heal and it must keep it from getting itchy.

Good luck!

 

[samsons]

I would suggest before amputation, trying EMT gel (can get it at Tractor Supply, just google it) and putting a good protective bandage on it and finish with vet wrap to keep it all in place.

The EMT gel will help it heal faster (I swear by the stuff) and hopefully you can avoid amputation.

I have used the EMT gel to heal up the tip of ears which have the same issue. It seems that with the ears, they start to heal and get itchy from healing so they shake their head and the ear breaks open again, causing a vicious cycle. After using the EMT gel, its a much shorter time to heal and it must keep it from getting itchy.

Good luck!

would that work on sams torn out dew claw?

- i am trying to avoid surgery - aka amputation .. he has 2 "toes" growing out, on top of each other ( very small ) but he tore the nail off 1 and if it doesn't heal we will have to have the surgery ( just happened 4 days ago - was at the vet yesterday) vet said to put neasporin on it - which i have been doing since day 1 - still super painfull .. just looking for better ideas to help it heal !!

 

[boxer17]

We actually have been trying the glue stuff (instant bandaid) and it is not working. She keeps breaking it open. We were at the vet two days ago and they said they said it would have to be amputated.

fast forward to today - Well it is still breaking open all the time and the vet wants to amputate because she thinks it will just continue to happen and she is already on antiboitics because it is infected.

We were planning on adopting her, but with this development we are not sure. The rescue is refusing to pay for it because they don't agree with the vet. So we would have to pay the adoption fee for her and the additional roughly $600 for the surgery. I feel bad but that is just too much money right now. We offered to split the cost with the rescue and they said no...they could find a home for her that will pay for it.

So as much as we would like to keep her it appears that she will not be able to. :( And the worst part is that I do a lot of volunteering with them and this will most likely make that not possible any more.

No fun to make this decision.

 

[Althea]

Talk to your vet. See if they'd be willing to come down on the price. I'm really surprised the rescue is being so belligerent about it. They may not "agree" with the vet, but if it's infected...and they are going to take her from a good home??

There are other options, like carecredit (what I used) which cover medical procedures, and you may also want to consider a veterinary school who would do the operation at a fraction of the cost. Other vets may offer cheaper prices, and see if there is a vet clinic near you -- they offer surgeries much cheaper. If you really want to keep her, I promise you -- there is a way.

 

[boxer17]

Thanks for the information. We have used Care Credit in the past so yes it is great! This is their vet that is giving the price. It does include about $70 worth of pills which the rescue has on hand so it would be more towards $500. It have called numerous vets in town and their vet appears to be the cheapest around.

We don't have a vet school that I am aware of but I will check. Yes we would love to keep her but with this surgery plus the cost of the adoption it is just too rich for us right now. :(

There still might be hope if the rescue changes their mind, but I don't see that happening.

Thanks for the input! I actaully couldn't sleep well last night becasue of this but it's just one of those tough decisions that comes your way in life.