Lorna,

I hope Miss Emmy Lou's tail is better. Please make sure it is not coming from her rectum. I guess I am paranoid considering what we're going through with Bubba right now. Praying all is well by this time.

Nancy & Bubba

Neumann and Taz live to have their tails cleaned. We call it their "bums", after all, they are English~~! The boys love their tails cleaned, if only they were as receptive of their ears, faces and noses~~!! Bill, Carolyn, Neumann and Taz

thank you!

They work very well to flush out the tail pocket. You will get so much more gunk out. Try first with warm water. After she gets used to it mix water & malaseb shampoo & wash well you can use your finger to pull out all of the old hair. Rinse well with water & then dry. I do not apply anything in their tail pockets. I just do this every two weeks & clean every other day with baby wipes & occasionally Malaseb wipes. Good luck, hope your baby is better soon. If it is a pretty bad infection, you might need abx from the vet.

Come see my online photo albums http://public.fotki.com/a5hley/

I put some Otomax in her tail pocket. I am leaving it alone til tomorrow!! You are the best!

I'd skip the powder. You don't want to make glue!

Oh thanks you guys! Since I live alone with Emmy Lou and my 2 Bassets I usually bathe them in the shower..(they all weigh a lot) but she hopped right in the tub. I soaked her butt for ten minutes then dried it with cotton. Still bleeding...now I will put some antibiotic ointment & powder and take her to the vet in the AM.
Don't know how I'd live without all you guys!!!! I feel much calmer. I adopted her last year in July when she was 3. her birthday is Thursday, she'll be four. I love her sooooooooooooo much!!!!!!!

I use warm water & an astringent (Biore') on cotton cosmetic squares-after the pocket is clean, I put Gold Bond powder or just regular baby powder on some more cotton squares & rub it in the pocket so it's nice & dry. Sometimes, Bowzer will come up to me & turn his butt in my direction with that pleading look like "will you do my tail pocket now?" At least he likes it!

Junior gets irritation around his tail sometimes if I don't bathe him weekly. When it starts to bother him he will come and put his butt right in my face and look back over his shoulder at me like, "Do something, Mom!" He doesn't have a pocket, but his tail fits tight against his bum and it gets red and irritated at the base. I wash it with Malaseb and dry really good with a cool air hair dryer. Then I apply A&D baby rash ointment. He is always so thankful and will sit very still for the whole process.

I am going to get her in the tub right now! I have SulfOxyDex Shampoo...that is anti-bacterial.
I feel so bad for her.

I have found they are much more receptive to tail area cleaning while being given a bath. Maybe the bath itself is enough of a distraction that they don't notice the tail pocket being cleaned. Use some Malaseb shampoo if you have it and suds it up good. Leave it for 10 minutes or as long as you can and rinse it well. To dry it, stuff some cotton balls in the pocket for a few minutes if she will let you.

Others here with more pocket experience will advise any meds to use.

Sending prayers and positive thoughts your way. I'm sure it is something very easily treated. Let us hear from you.

Nancy & Bubba

Well I woke up early, took Miss Emmy out to do her business. Then we came in and I used cotton and saline solution to wipe her tail pocket...still bleeding. I put some antibiotic ointment in the pocket. It isn't her rectum, I checked her poop and wiped her rectum specifically. I am going to take her to the Dr as soon as they are open. We would both feel better if he looked at her and gave her some anitbiotics. She's acting as if nothing were wrong, but I am an overprotective mommy, so I won't be able to concentrate at work today (11-5 today) unless she's seen. I will worry excessively. Thank you, everyone for all your care and concern! Will post when we return from the vet.