The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Pets & Working Animals => Dogs => Topic started by: becca1401 on August 14, 2009, 05:57:57 pm

Title: Sore tail
Post by: becca1401 on August 14, 2009, 05:57:57 pm

I have a Bedlington terrier and for some time now she has been chewing the base of her tail. It isn't scabby or bleeding but she does certainly seem to chew it alot so I presume it is very itchy. I wormed her not long ago so I have ruled that out.It seems like some sort of exma. Does anyone know of anything I can put on it to stop it from itching.

Many Thanks :dog:

Title: Re: Sore tail
Post by: ukag0972 on August 14, 2009, 08:36:42 pm

Any cream you put on will, no doubt, be licked off by your dog.

I'd take it to the vets, excema can be a very irritating condition and I think steroid cream would be better for it.
It's really best to get it checked!

Title: Re: Sore tail
Post by: doganjo on August 14, 2009, 08:43:47 pm

Beccy, are you sure she hasn't got fleas? If you have a very close comb in your grooming box, take it along her spine and down around the vent, then wipe on a piece of white paper.  You might see the little jumping pests, but maybe just their excrement.  Put a little water on the black specs and they will turn dark reddish brown if its flea dirt.  That may be causing her to itch and perhaps even open up the skin.  If it is open you can use steroid cream but she will need an Elizabethan collar on for a few minutes till the cream is absorbed (that's all it needs - just a few minutes).  I take it this isn't the one with the pups?

Title: Re: Sore tail
Post by: becca1401 on August 14, 2009, 08:56:31 pm

I have de flead my dogs when I wormed them so I don't think its that but I will have a look to see. She is one of those dogs that does get skin problems even though the rest of her is fine at the moment. I think I will have to bite the bullet and take her to the vets to solve this problem. Shes due to have pups any day so I may have to leave it for a while.

Title: Re: Sore tail
Post by: BadgerFace on August 14, 2009, 09:00:41 pm

If you have treated her for fleas (with frontline or similar) and she is still scratching, it could be mange. Scratching armpits, down front legs and tail base, are classic mange sites. Mange is rife among foxes, and is easily passed onto domestic dogs. A vet visit would be a good idea  ;)

Title: Re: Sore tail
Post by: leena on August 14, 2009, 09:07:32 pm

mites

Title: Re: Sore tail
Post by: becca1401 on August 14, 2009, 09:13:56 pm

She is the only one of my four dogs affected but if you think it is mites I will get her off to the vets as she is due to have puppies any day and the puppies will end upwith them.

Many,many thanks for the advice.

Title: Re: Sore tail
Post by: kazschow on August 25, 2009, 08:47:57 pm

It may be your dog has infected or impacted aal glands, and needs them manually emptied.

Title: Re: Sore tail
Post by: Rosemary on August 25, 2009, 10:15:22 pm

Oh, joy for all concerned!

Title: Re: Sore tail
Post by: kazschow on August 25, 2009, 10:41:56 pm

hehehee nice job

Title: Re: Sore tail
Post by: Bodger on August 25, 2009, 10:47:35 pm

Our border terrier had something similar, it ended up being that she was allergic to wheat in her diet.

Title: Re: Sore tail
Post by: sandy on August 29, 2009, 10:43:23 pm

I remember a lab we had that had to regulalry have her anal glands emptied!!!!!!!! Lovely job :o

Title: Re: Sore tail
Post by: doganjo on August 29, 2009, 10:51:42 pm

I had to do one of my Cockers regularly - a very smelly task!

Title: Re: Sore tail
Post by: bedrock on September 08, 2009, 07:03:56 pm

It sounds like you dog has got mange. There two different types Scarcoptes witch is scabies and 
Dermedex Mange witch is harder to get rid of and sometimes stays with a dog forever. A vet can identify what your dog has got and advise you on how best to treat it.  ;)atb bedrock