The Tale of Luca’s Tail

[F, Calla & Luca]

On Wednesday evening, while just lying on the bed with me Luca yelped once, and sat up looking frightened. He slept through the night but he seemed somewhat restless and clingy. He kept lying practically on top of me. By Thursday I could see he was walking in an abnormal manner with his tail low and almost tucked under him. I checked him over and when I ran my hand down his tail he jumped when I got near the last third. I hoped it was a sprain. He was pretty subdued and not himself. He did urinate and defecate. But then he did not eat his dinner, having skipped breakfast which is not unusual for him. I got him to eat some chicken breast and some kibble by 1 AM. I was now worried his tail was seriously injured, perhaps broken.

So first thing Friday we went to the vet. She told me people often think tails are broken but they rarely are. And she wondered if he had “cold tail”. But although the doodles went to the groomer Wednesday it was only for their nails. As the vet clipped away the hair on his tail, we could see the skin was raw and it looked awful. She thought Luca may have been chewing on his tail but he has never done this. Then she got a little farther up and we could see the break. OMD.  So the tail was cleaned up and some silvadene cream was applied and he was bandaged. We got anti-inflammatory and antibiotics pills too. And that alone seemed to give him some relief because by the evening, when my son who is one of Luca’s favorite people arrived, he was back to normal, having already eaten a huge bowl of kibble.

The mystery is how this happened. It certainly didn’t happen when I was there since Luca carries on if anything happens, even if it’s just that his ball is stuck where he can’t get it. That leaves the groomer’s, which is a zoo.  I left the dogs for less than an hour. Could his tail gotten caught in a door or something? Could a dog have grabbed him and he struggled to get free? There were a couple of big dogs there. I called the groomer and she said nothing happened. But the doodles won’t be going back. Could it have happened when he was in the yard? I heard nothing and he showed no signs when I let him in any time.

I waited to post until today since there was a possibility that if things looked bad that Luca would have to have the end of his tail removed. But today I redid his bandages. When I went to remove them it was very difficult  : ) I had put packing tape over them to keep him and the weather out. Luca had only tried halfheartedly to remove them himself. I was anxious not to hurt him but not a whimper was heard. It’s hard to lie on a dog and remove bandages, and put new bandages on. The tail is still very red but does not look necrotic or infected. The area of the break is not really swollen anymore. So Luca will be bandaged a while and he will look like a rat tailed boy for some time. It could have been worse. At least now Luca is holding his tail high. I prefer my wrap that blends with the rest of him.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Oh my goodness, what scare!  It sure sounds like his tail got caught in something... or maybe he got pushed into something in the yard ...with the two large dogs.  If he was bitten I think there would have blood, no?  My money is on the groomer's place though.  Hope it heals quickly.  My guy won't even let me brush his tail so changing bandages would be a feat.  I like your bandage better too.  

[Lynette Main]

Sorry,buts its really cute!!