Split tail! Please help me!

[Savage Destiny]

So I came home tonight to discover that Riddle has split the end of her tail. Blood everywhere- Down the hall, on the doorways, etc. I am terrified of her having a permanently split tail... I've heard of dogs having tails which just split worse and worse until they had to be docked. I do not want to put her or myself through that ordeal.

I am going to buy some Vetrap tomorrow and gauze/wrap it... Hopefully she won't chew it off. I don't want her to have to have a cone around her head for eternity to keep her tail protected. I have some ointment from my vet which he gave us for a tough to heal notch in her ear... Its worked pretty well for her ear, but Riddle is such a happy dog! She is ALWAYS wagging her tail! I fear that this constant wagging will only make the split worse.

Any ideas are welcome, I'm f.reaking out right now!!!

[dobermom]

Vetwrap is a good start.

One of my foster Danes had that problem.

I hate to see "happy tail", thats why I have no problem with docked breeds.

Hows the tail today?

[Savage Destiny]

Its not bleeding this morning, probably due to the ointment, but then again I haven't been letting her wag her tail against things either.

I'll be getting the Vetrap at work today and we'll see whether or not she'll just chew it off tonight.

[GSDNewbie]

I wish you all the best this can be a tough thing to care for and heal.

[golden&hovawart]

Happy tails are so difficult to take care of that's why some breeds are docked!.
I would wrap the tail,up,and keep her calm until it gets well.

[Diamond]

I hope she's doing alright, I've never heard of a dog's tail splitting before.

How far/long is it split?

What do you think caused it?

[agilitydog]

Growing up we had a greyhound that had to have the end of her tail removed because she was constantly breaking it open. I hope all is well with the tail today.

[rottiegirl]

You can vet wrap it as mentioned above, and spray the outside of the vet wrap with bitter apple to keep her off, I friend of mine fostered a Boxer who had his tail, and he kept breaking it open, eventually he had to have it docked.

[Savage Destiny]

Originally Posted by Diamond

I hope she's doing alright, I've never heard of a dog's tail splitting before.

How far/long is it split?

What do you think caused it?

The split isn't that long right now, thankfully. Its right at the end of her tail. I know what caused it- constant wagging and hitting her tail on things like walls.

She's doing so-so with the Vetrap... she's got a short attention span, so as long as she's occupied she forgets about it. But I'm worried about her eating it in her crate tonight, since she tries to chew it when she remembers it.

I'll try Bitter Apple, but I honestly don't think it'll help... This dog will eat a rock if you let her.

[nana]

Smear some of the burdok root all over her bandage! put a bit in her mouth(burdock root)to remind her how horrid it is.