Audrey's Tail is a MESS!
Submitted by CathyandAudrey on May 15, 2010 - 11:11amI feel HORRIBLE!
I completely forgot about her tail pocket, normally there is no issue with it, I just periodically get loose hair out of it. Well the past few weekends she has been outside all day with me helping me pull weeds. It is H O T so she spends a lot of time sitting in her pool. I never thought to dry it out under there, and now it's all red and inflamed and nasty. She walks a few steps then plops down and won't budge. She kept turning and looking at her back end but I thought it was her knee bugging her again.
It is so tight under there I am having a real hard time with it. I don't want to scrub it and make it more inflamed, and I don't want to add more moisture. I did a search on tail pockets and some say powder, some say no powder, some say diaper rash ointment, some say no ointment. I am not sure what to do! I have used the ear cleaner from the vet, and witch hazel and animax(panalog) ointment.
Any other suggestions??
Cathy and Audrey 
At some point you are going to have to clean it well....
Even though it will be uncomfortable for her...poor girl! Clean it and dry it as well as you are able. I use Desitin for Sophie once a week to keep hers from getting red and swollen...she has a tight bun that will need to be removed I'm afraid. Been dreading doing that to her..
Don't use alcohol (witch hazel) as it can be painful on irritated skin. I just put Sophie in my tub, get the spray nozzle on a decent spray, and jet the heck out of the tail pocket! Not so hard, I am kidding, but I get it good and wet in there. Then I use antibacterial hand soap or dish soap to really clean it well, then spray again until it is clear water.
Gold Bond powder might work well for you. Get a mustard or ketchup picnic squeeze bottle and put the powder in that. When you have as much moisture out as you can get from under the tail (I use paper towels and dab away until it seems dry. A blow dryer on low setting from 6 or more inches away works well too), insert the tip of the powder bottle and apply as deep as you can get it all arround the pocket.I usually only do Sophia's tail once a week. Any more than that and it actually makes it more irritated! With your girl, just keep a daily eye on it. If it looks red again, repeat the routine. Best wishes!
Amy and Sophia
I am dreading it too :-(
I know it's going to hurt her. I have a sprayer for the tub that we use to give her baths, and she hasn't had a bath since before Thanksgiving, so she could use one. It's so tight I don't think a hairdryer will help, but I like the paper towel idea, to tell if it's really dry or not.
Thanks for the help! I feel so bad that I didn;t even think to dry it.
Cathy and Audrey
stick with the panalog.....
that will take the inflammation down,,,,once she seems more comfortable .....wipe with witch hazel every other day...i dont like powders becasue they cake up in their....i only use panalog for tail pockets....any time it starts to get yucky i put some in and that includes the ropes on his face....
Thanks Judy
it does seem a lot better. I wiped it with Witch Hazel today and she didn;t seem to mind as much.
My husband bought sodium enhanced pork, and I didn't know it and have been feeding it to the dogs for a few days now. Well this am Audrey had loose poos, so her whole butt was a mess. She didn't mind at all getting cleaned because she HATES to have a dirty butt.
Cathy and Audrey
I don't like powders either
I have never found Gold Bond to be of much use under the tail.
Tail
My Spike gets like this. I was given a product called ENDIT, it's an ointment and you can go to the website. I put it as far up and under the tail tath I can and it took care of the problem.
interesting
I'll look into it. Normally her tail's not a problem, but with summer here and the amount of time she spends in her pool, I need to keep this from happening again.
Thanks!
Cathy and Audrey
My Oz needs his tail amputated
I have come to the conclusion that his tail amputation in a necessity for health reasons and for him to be comfortable.. Now my only problem is I do not have the money to get this done. I live in NJ and have had 2 consultations and each one was $3000 cost. I do not have that kind of money or credit cards. So I am so upset and at a loss right now. I want to do whats best for him. the only money I have left over each month goes towards my other Bulldog Jewels' allergy problems which is exhausting!!!
Oz is always scooting on the ground to itch his tail, I use desitin which seems to help with the pain but doesnt really help with anything else, I am at the point of no return, where nothing is working anymore.. It is so upseting. Hey if anyone out there knows of a good vet that might be a little cheaper, please let me know... I am desperate.. Thanks.. Good luck with your bullie, it is so sad to see them uncomfortable...
amptation
I live in Wilmington, nc and I got a quote for $300.00! It might pay to visit NC. The vet owns bulldogs and has done a ton of them.
my lab mix had to have her tail amputated
and it was $500. She does have a little stub though, so maybe you are getting such high quotes because they have to get so close to his spine? That does seem like an awful lot.
Someone posted here a while ago about some organizations that help people get the funds needed for vet care for their dogs. I'll see if I can find it.
Cathy and Audrey
here is the link....
someome here posted this a while ago. Maybe you can find some help....
http://www.speakingforspot.com/helppayingforveterinarycare.html
Cathy and Audrey
oh and audrey here is a tip....
wilson tail is super tight to his butt.....so before baths i stuff about 20 cotton balls in their real tight.....and when its hot and humid i do it also...you just have to remember to take them out every day...i apply a little panalog to them the cotton balls....raw feeding helps with alot of things and i know it would be 100% worse other wise....but some things we just have to keep an eye on...and tight tails is one.....
also i like tea tree oil diluted....
great idea!
I will have to put some in there next time she plays in her pool.
do you dilute the tea tree oil with water?
Cathy and Audrey
i do 50/50 but i make very small batches....
a tablespoon of water and a tablespoon of tea tree oil......i rather it be fresh.....but use the cotton balls...it has saved me alot....just be extra careful to make sure you get them out....i say that becasue wilson has a really tight tail and i forgot one..whew after a day....you will remember its their...becasue he has idc i stuff them between his pads to keep the moisture out......
Gentocin
Is a great anticeptic spray that I have used under MacKenzie's tail a time or 2. Mine don't have pockets but MacKenzies tail can get icky and yeasty and if i clean too good I have been known to irritate it. The Gentocin spray has really helped.
Agree with Judy about the cotton balls.