Crooked puppy tail
Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2021 6:02 am
Hi Laurie:
I am hoping that you might have 2 minutes for a question about a puppy with a deviated tail. I remember when I did my internship with you, you examined a litter of puppies to determine who had MSK issues and who would make good breeding/show dogs in the future. It was great to see that MSK flaws could be picked up so young.
Anyhow, last week I saw an 11 wk old male Rat Terrier (cute little thing), bought by a lady who has owned, shown and bred Rat Terriers for awhile. His cropped tail (cropped about 1/3 its length) is chronically deviated to the left and kept primarily in a ventral position. The pup can occasionally move the tail into a normal position, but only for a couple of seconds. He also chews frequently at the tip of the tail. The left pelvis is very slightly in a dorsocranial position, no obvious discomfort.
I have done AP grade 2 mobes on the left iliac wing and generic joint gapping and taught owner to do the mobes. Also digital stimulation on the right perineal region.
My question is whether this is likely to be hereditary or traumatic/neurologic and whether any amount of rehab can correct the tail position? The lady is likely to return the pup if this cannot be corrected as she won't be able to show or breed the pup.
A million thanks for your thoughts on this case.
J
I am hoping that you might have 2 minutes for a question about a puppy with a deviated tail. I remember when I did my internship with you, you examined a litter of puppies to determine who had MSK issues and who would make good breeding/show dogs in the future. It was great to see that MSK flaws could be picked up so young.
Anyhow, last week I saw an 11 wk old male Rat Terrier (cute little thing), bought by a lady who has owned, shown and bred Rat Terriers for awhile. His cropped tail (cropped about 1/3 its length) is chronically deviated to the left and kept primarily in a ventral position. The pup can occasionally move the tail into a normal position, but only for a couple of seconds. He also chews frequently at the tip of the tail. The left pelvis is very slightly in a dorsocranial position, no obvious discomfort.
I have done AP grade 2 mobes on the left iliac wing and generic joint gapping and taught owner to do the mobes. Also digital stimulation on the right perineal region.
My question is whether this is likely to be hereditary or traumatic/neurologic and whether any amount of rehab can correct the tail position? The lady is likely to return the pup if this cannot be corrected as she won't be able to show or breed the pup.
A million thanks for your thoughts on this case.
J