Swimmer’s Tail in Dogs: Signs, Symptoms, Treatments

A wagging tail is one of a dog’s most recognizable features. But what do you do when your dog has lost their wag? While a tucked tail can indicate anxiety or fear, if your dog’s tail is limp when it would normally be perky, you may be looking at a case of swimmer’s tail.

In This Article

• • What Is Swimmer’s Tail in Dogs?
  • Common Causes of Swimmer’s Tail
  • Signs of Swimmer’s Tail in Dogs
  • Treatment Options for Swimmer’s Tail
  • How to Prevent Swimmer’s Tail in Dogs

What Is Swimmer’s Tail?

Swimmer’s tail comes on quickly and affects the muscles in your dog’s tail. According to Dr. Jerry Klein, Chief Veterinarian for the AKC, it’s basically a tail sprain. “The term swimmer’s tail is the most common name for a condition technically called acute caudal myopathy.” He notes that the term “acute” refers to the condition coming on quickly, and “caudal” refers to areas of the body located further from the head, such as a dog’s rear or tail. Myopathy, meanwhile, refers to a disease in the muscle.

Acute caudal myopathy goes by many names besides swimmer’s tail, including:

• Limber tail
• Limp tail
• Dead tail
• Flaccid tail syndrome
• Cold-water tail
• Broken wag
• Sprained tail

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What Causes Swimmer’s Tail?

Despite its name, swimmer’s tail doesn’t only occur in dogs that swim. Of course, dogs use their tails a lot when swimming. But the condition is usually caused by overuse of the tail within the previous 24 hours, resulting in a sprain or strain of the muscle groups that move and wag the tail.

“Swimming, especially early in the season when water is cold and a dog is not fully conditioned, is the more common cause,” Dr. Klein explains. “But other strenuous activities, such as hunting or vigorous play, can cause this condition as well. Occasionally, this condition can occur if a dog is kept in too small a crate for a prolonged period of time and the tail cannot comfortably position itself.”

Because it’s caused by overuse, swimmer’s tail can happen in any dog. However, it’s most common in breeds in the Sporting or Hound Groups who often do a lot of physical activity, like swimming and hunting. Research on limber tail in Labrador Retrievers also suggests that swimmer’s tail may be more common at higher latitudes due to colder temperatures.

What Are the Signs of Swimmer’s Tail in Dogs?

Besides not wagging their tails, dogs with this condition have a limp tail. The tail droops down between their hind legs, straight from the base, or sticks out horizontally for a short distance, then hangs down and droops for the rest of its length.

Other signs of swimmer’s tail may be obviously immediately after injury, or appear the following day. Signs to look for include:

• Pain or lethargy
• Loss of appetite
• Restlessness or an inability to get comfortable
• Reluctance to squat to use the bathroom

Symptoms usually resolve within two to 10 days. However, you shouldn’t assume that your dog has this condition. Other conditions mimic symptoms of swimmer’s tail, so you need your veterinarian to rule those out. “Never try to self-diagnose or treat your dog’s condition without a veterinarian,” Dr. Klein advises. “Occasionally, other conditions such as a tail fracture or dislocation, lower back and spinal cord issues, anal sac impaction, skin infections, and prostate disease in male dogs could be missed.”

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Treatment Options for Swimmer’s Tail

Before beginning treatment for swimmer’s tail begins, your vet will want to rule out other conditions. They’ll take a complete history of the onset of signs and observe the tail. Additionally, they’ll likely examine and palpate the entire tail and surrounding region, including the pelvic area, rectal area, and anal sacs. Rectal exams are common, as well. Finally, your vet may use radiographs (X-rays) to rule out any fractures in the tail’s vertebrae.

It’s crucial to ensure your dog gets plenty of rest post-injury. Try your best to keep your dog calm and neutral so they’ll avoid efforts to wag. Your vet might also prescribe anti-inflammatory medication to ease the inflammation in the muscles and provide pain control. Dr. Klein warns owners to never treat or medicate their dogs on their own, especially since human anti-inflammatory medications are toxic to dogs.

How Can You Prevent Swimmer’s Tail in Dogs?

Swimmer’s tail has no long-term consequences, according to Dr. Klein. Recovery typically takes a few days to a few weeks, after which your dog can resume their usual activities.

It is possible for the condition to recur. To reduce the risk of recurrence, make sure you’re using an appropriately-sized dog crate or travel carrier. Your dog should be able to position themselves comfortably and have enough room to turn around and lie down. When crating your dog, let them out for a stretch at least every four hours.

When your dog is participating in a physical activity, watch them closely to ensure they’re not overexerting themselves. Make sure your dog is in good overall shape, and build up activity levels slowly, gradually exercising your dog. Avoid prolonged exposure to extreme conditions, like swimming in very cold water.

While there’s no guaranteed way to prevent swimmer’s tail, gradual conditioning and injury prevention measures are your best defense.

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