Suppose your dog walks with its tail down. Yes, it is a cause for worry. Your dog may have a condition called limber or limp tail. A limp tail can often cause your pet severe pain, making it uncomfortable if you do not prevent or treat it.
Your dog walking with its tail down could be as a result of injuries, cold, underlying medical issues or a depiction of your pet’s mental condition.
Dogs like to express themselves and can communicate with you through different means. Your dog’s body language is often a means of communication with you. You must watch your pup’s actions to determine what they are trying to tell you.
How your pet positions its tail can indicate a variety of emotions. It could be that they feel uneasy, defensive, or even calm. However, when your dog walks with its tail down and between its legs, it could be due to fear, anxiety or suffering from a limp or limber tail.
You should not be worried unless the cause is medical. However, it commonly denotes a feeling of fear, sadness, shame and anxiety, which is indicative of your dog’s emotional or mental state at that time.
Table of Contents
What Could Cause My Dog To Walk With Its Tail Down?
Medical Issues
Prostate issues, anal gland irritation, and osteoarthritis can all cause your pet to pull his tail down to relieve pain and discomfort. A limp tail can affect any dog, although dogs with longer tails are more likely to be afflicted.
Additionally, the tail may become limp due to acute inflammation caused by muscle irritation. Even if you do nothing to prevent or treat the condition, your dog’s tail may gradually recover to the point where it is normal again after a few days.
Injuries
A sprain can cause tail damage in some situations, and the sprain will affect the joint and the surrounding area of your pet’s tail. Similarly, muscle injuries can also manifest if you overexert your dog.
Suppose your pet has been inactive for a while and you take it for a long walk or jog; your dog may become tired and walk with its tail down, likely losing its capacity to wag. These symptoms are frequently accompanied by swelling at the base of your pup’s tail, which can be very painful.
Putting your dog in a crate that is too small for him can result in tail damage after some time. This is because the tail has been in one position for far too long, similar to how your limbs can fall asleep after being in one lying position for too long.
Limber Tail
Limber tails in dogs are a condition that can suddenly appear in your pet, making it unable to wag its tail since it is limp. When a dog has a limber tail, the tail protrudes a few inches horizontally from the dog’s torso before dropping vertically.
Aside from being unable to wag its tails, the limber tail condition is sometimes accompanied by swelling and pain. The additional symptoms, such as sleepiness, whimpering, whining, licking or chewing on its tail, are thought to be caused by swelling and pain.
Cold
Extreme weather is neither good for humans nor dogs. Cold weather or water affects the human joints, affecting their ability to move freely without pain. Similarly, if your pet is exposed to extreme cold, it may find it challenging to wag its tail, hence the drooping or limber tail.
Emotional And Mental State
Fearful, subservient, or stressed dogs may walk with their tail down. It is likely terrified and intimidated by other people or animals he considers stronger and superior to it.
If your dog’s tail is drooping and closer to its hind legs, it could indicate they are melancholy, sick, or insecure. Suppose your pet’s tail is tucked between its legs; it usually means your pup is scared or defensive.
How Do I My Dog From Walking With His Tail Down?
You can prevent your pet from having a limp tail by providing a crate with enough space to comfortably accommodate your dog. Also, do not allow your pet to always lie in its crate for long periods without leaving the box.
Similarly, ensure it is lying comfortably, not impacting its ability to wag its tail. You must not expose your pup to extreme cold as it can also cause your pet to have a drooping tail.
Endeavour to ease your pet into any exercise after a time of low activity. It is common for overexertion to result in your dog walking with its tail down due to muscle inflammation or injury. This allows your dog to get back into shape before you push him too hard.
Observe your pup as often as possible for you to recognize what it is trying to tell you through its body language. When you are more conversant with your pet’s body language, you can understand what it is trying to communicate to you more frequently and effectively.
Furthermore, it will reduce worry and anxiety when you understand the signs it gives out. This will significantly improve how you understand and can care for your dog with a limp tail by helping you identify and prevent potentially dangerous situations.
Create an enabling environment free from stress and worries for your pet. This will make it more confident and measure up to other dogs or people. Remember that it can affect your pet’s emotional and mental state when you are unhappy.
What Should I Do When My Dog Is Walking With His Tail Down?
A limp tail will usually go away on its own. Still, you can try to prevent this or visit your veterinary doctor. A decent warm pack on the base of the tail may be all you need to soothe the damaged muscles, and plenty of rest and recuperation is the path to recovery.
If your pet’s drooping tail continues for an extended period, your pet may require professional treatments. Your vet may prescribe anti-inflammatory pills, antibiotics, or pain ointments, to get your dog back on track.
Conclusion
The movements of your dog’s tail carry some important information, and understanding how it moves, bends, shakes, and wags is a great way to strengthen your bond with your dog.
When you understand why your dog is walking with its tail down, you can provide it with the comfort or assistance necessary. This understanding helps build the trust and bond between you and your pet.
