Dogs that love to be active all the time keep us pet owners on our toes, especially if they’re the ones that enjoy playtime activities like running around, playing fetch, or swimming. Once all is said and done, you may notice that your pup may seem a little less waggy. In addition, you may notice the tail is dripping or looking a bit unusual after spending time in the water.
Could this be what is known as swimmer’s tail? It should be noted that it may not be as bad as you think. However, it may be a good idea to get an in-depth understanding of what it is and how to deal with it accordingly, without panicking after a fun day with your dog.
What Is Swimmer’s Tail in Dogs Anyway?
In short, swimmer's tail (or acute caudal myopathy) is defined as temporary discomfort or fatigue in your dog’s tail. This is typical in situations where they may be swimming for lengthy periods. Sometimes, the issue can occur when they’re not swimming at all but rather engaging in vigorous exercises or wagging their tail frequently. Hence why it’s also known as “limber tail,” "limp tail," "dead tail," or “cold water tail.”
Your dog’s tail may appear limp or drooping at first glance, considering it may be different from their usual perky wag. Most of the time, it can be chalked up to the overuse of their tail muscles. When those muscles get overused, it can cause fatigue and soreness.
Common Situations When Swimmer’s Tail Can Occur
There are plenty of common situations that may result in swimmer's tail. As a pet owner who is vigilant about how your dog is doing after activity, knowing what those situations are is important. Here are some situations that may trigger swimmer’s tail:
- A day of extended swimming in lakes, pools, or the ocean.
- Strenuous outdoor exercises in cold or damp conditions
- Extended periods of playtime where there was a lot of tail-wagging (yes, it happens)
- Long crate rest periods that restrict tail movement, followed by sudden movements and activity
Nevertheless, these are situations where strain can be caused in the muscles. It can lead to a temporary change in tail wagging or overall posture. Simply put, swimmer's tail can occur when these activities happen, so there isn’t a cause for concern right from the jump.
What Are the Signs of Swimmer’s Tail?
Now, let’s discuss what the signs of swimmer’s tail are. What exactly could be considered “swimmer’s tail” if you spotted particular symptoms of it? Here’s a look at what those are:
- Tail may be hanging limply, usually straight down or slightly out from its base
- Sensitive to the touch
- Reduced wagging compared to the normal amount
- Your dog may have a difficult time sitting comfortably
- The tail base may look stiff or painful
The appearance may appear dramatic at first. However, most dogs will act normally and continue to eat, drink, and move around like it’s just another day in the life of a dog. Still, if you feel inclined to do so, observe and check on your dog and their tail from time to time to see if it’s still in good working order, as it should be.
Why Dogs Develop Swimmer’s Tail?
The tail of a dog is one of the most crucial parts of their body. That’s because it can help them with balance, communication, swimming, and stability during activities, such as jumping or running. Dogs tend to experience muscle strains similarly to humans, especially after overexertion. Specifically, your dog’s tail can get sore after intense use.
Swimmer’s tail can happen when your dog is hard at work paddling along the water. Also, water temperature can contribute to the issue. If the water is cold, it can cause muscles to tighten up.
What Breeds of Dogs Tend to Experience Swimmer’s Tail?
Any dog can indeed deal with swimmer’s tail, but the more active, like working breeds or hunting dogs that enjoy swimming, retrieving, and other active activities, can be at a higher risk. This includes the following breeds:
- Labrador Retrievers
- Golden Retrievers
- Setters (i.e, English or Irish Setters)
- Pointers (i.e, English Pointers)
- Spaniels
The common thing they share is that their tails wag vigorously both in social interactions and swimming. While the likelihood of temporary overuse is high with these breeds, it’s something to be aware of whenever you notice something out of the ordinary with your dog, especially when their breed is naturally active and energetic.
Swimmer's Tail vs. Sprained Tail vs. Other Issues: What to Know
Swimmer's tail and a sprained tail can make a huge difference. As mentioned, swimmer's tail can hang limp all of a sudden with pain at the tail base. Typically, no neurological effects are to blame. However, a sprained tail or tail fracture can be caused by traumatic situations, such as physical trauma like the tail being stepped on or hard wagging against objects.
Signs like localized swelling or bruising are typical, along with pain when the tail is moved or touched. Even spinal cord issues, like intervertebral disc disease, nerve compression, and other injuries, can lead to tail weakness to the point where it may not function as it should. Nevertheless, it is important to follow the advice of your veterinarian when it comes to providing pain relief for your dog.
What Are Some of the Best Ways to Reduce Occurrences of Swimmer’s Tail?
While it may be difficult to avoid swimmer’s tail all the time, there may be situations where you can reduce the occurrences of it happening. While we can’t deter dogs from being their playful and energetic selves, sometimes it’s a good idea to make sure such activities are regulated so they are not in pain after a day of fun and excitement. Let’s take a look at some of the best ways to reduce swimmer’s tail:
- Schedule Exercise Periods: While swimmer’s tail typically happens during extensive periods of exercise, it may be a good idea to schedule time blocks to the point where your dog is not overexerted as a result. Get a good idea of how long an appropriate exercise period might be so your dog can get adequate rest.
- Check the Weather Conditions/Water Temperature: As mentioned, cold temperatures can cause your dog’s muscles to tighten up. It may be a good idea to consider checking the weather conditions (if they are exercising on solid ground) or the water temperatures (if swimming is in the plans). If your dog is swimming, make sure to get them out of the cold water from time to time so they are not dealing with extensive exposure to cold temperatures in the water. Cold weather can play a role in limp tails that may look like something much worse.
- Allow for Moderate Activity Before Physical Activity Gets Intense: Like humans, it’s recommended to warm up before the exercise gets a bit more strenuous. For your dog, this means that you’ll want to only allow for moderate activity before letting them amp up the intensity. Warm-ups will lessen the risk of muscle strain and injury related to exercise.
- Never Skip Rest Breaks: It’s always a good idea to allow your dog to recover in between periods of exercise. Give them a chance to recover and relax so they can be able to reduce the risk of swimmer’s tail. Time the exercise periods and rest breaks to help achieve that balance your dog can have.
- Consider Warm Environments After Swimming: After your dog is done in the water, it may be a good idea to consider utilizing a warm environment where they can dry off and relax. This is a major recommendation whenever you and your dog are out and about on days when the weather is a bit cooler.
- Keep Them Calm Indoors: Yes, your dog can be energetic and excited about things like life in general. However, there is a time and place (like indoors) where that might not be such a good idea. At the same time, their tails will be wagging to the point where they might strain themselves. If necessary, consider Under the Weather’s Calming Chews as a way to help them stay calm.
- Optimize Crate Confinement Periods: If you intend to keep your dog in a crate, you’ll want to determine when those periods are. Whenever they are inside, their tail movements tend to get restricted. Don’t put them in crates for extended periods, as the lack of space they might be dealing with can hinder their overall mobility.
With this in mind, it is important to remember that your dog deserves to move around on a regular basis. They enjoy being active, excited, and exploring their own environment. Sometimes, your dog could use a bit of a dip to cool off. There’s nothing quite as exciting as you and your dog enjoying time outdoors. However, don’t let swimmer’s tail be something to worry about whenever you both enjoy yourselves and nature itself.
Keeping Tails Wagging: Simple Care for Swimmer’s Tail
Swimmer’s tail isn’t anything to be alarmed about at the end of the day. If you think about it, it’s similar to us humans dealing with muscle strains after a hard day at the gym. The best thing you can do is consider the advice we provided to help reduce the risk of swimmer’s tail from ever occurring. Yes, dogs are free to live their active, energetic lives, but sometimes it does come with a downside that could trigger worries and concerns. Nevertheless, Under The Weather knows that your dog deserves the best life possible, and we’ve got the supplements and food options that will help support their overall healthy lifestyle. Check out what we’ve got in stock today.
