Limber tail syndrome

Limber tail syndrome, or acute caudal myopathy, is a disorder of the muscles in the tail, usually affecting working dogs.^[1]

It is an injury occurring mostly in sporting or working dogs such as English Pointers, English Setters, Foxhounds, Beagles, and Labrador Retrievers. Limber tail syndrome^[2] is also known as swimmer's tail, cold water tail, broken tail, dead tail, "happy tail" or broken wag.

Signs and symptoms

The injury affects the tail of the dog, causing it to be painful at or near its base. Limber tail can be recognized by a very flaccid tail, or a tail that is held horizontally for approximately 10 cm, and then drops vertically. The condition is also more pronounced in dogs that wag their tails a lot. Some dogs may also pant or shake.

Cause

Limber tail normally occurs shortly (within 24 hours) after swimming in water that is too cold or, on rare occasions, too warm.^{[citation needed]} The actual cause is unknown but it may be caused by the narrowing of the space through which the spinal cord passes, typically due to degenerative change to the inter vertebral disk spaces.^{[citation needed]} These underlying changes may not lead to visible change until the problem is suddenly exacerbated, such as during physical activity, after trauma, etc. Occasionally other changes are seen prior to or in conjunction with limber tail disease, such as urinary or fecal incontinence, postural abnormalities in the pelvic limb, or pain in response to touching the lower back.

Treatment

With rest, the tail returns to normal within a few days.^[3] Pain relief, such as a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug may be administered.^[3] The symptoms may recur.^[3]

References

^ De Lahunta, Alexander; Glass, Eric (2009). "Limber tail syndrome, or acute caudal myopathy". Veterinary Neuroanatomy and Clinical Neurology (3rd ed.). Saunders Elsevier. pp. 113–114. ISBN 978-0-7216-6706-5.
^ labrajoy.com
^ ^a ^b ^c Henderson, AL; Latimer, C; Millis, DL (January 2015). "Rehabilitation and physical therapy for selected orthopedic conditions in veterinary patients". The Veterinary Clinics of North America. Small Animal Practice. 45 (1): 91–121. doi:10.1016/j.cvsm.2014.09.006. PMID 25432683.

Steiss, Janet E. & Wright, J.C., Limber Tail Syndrome in Hunting Dogs, Sports Medicine Program Newsletter, Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, Winter 1995
Grayson, Peggy, Water and the dead tail syndrome, Dog World, May 5, 1995
Steiss, J; Braund, K; Wright, J; Lenz, S; Hudson, J; Brawner, W; Hathcock, J; Purohit, R; Bell, L; Horne, R (1999). "Coccygeal muscle injury in English Pointers (limber tail)". Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. 13 (6): 540–8. doi:10.1111/j.1939-1676.1999.tb02207.x. PMID 10587253.

[1] De Lahunta, Alexander; Glass, Eric (2009). "Limber tail syndrome, or acute caudal myopathy". Veterinary Neuroanatomy and Clinical Neurology (3rd ed.). Saunders Elsevier. pp. 113–114. ISBN 978-0-7216-6706-5.

[2] rajoy.com

[Henderson_2015-3] Henderson, AL; Latimer, C; Millis, DL (January 2015). "Rehabilitation and physical therapy for selected orthopedic conditions in veterinary patients". The Veterinary Clinics of North America. Small Animal Practice. 45 (1): 91–121. doi:10.1016/j.cvsm.2014.09.006. PMID 25432683.

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