Tail mutilation Australian Sheperd

RE: Tail mutilation Australian Sheperd

David Bentley — Sun, 05 Feb 2023 11:43:07 GMT

I had a case in a Belgian Shepherd dog about 15-20 years ago affecting the whole tail. No pruritus anywhere else. The tail was a mass of excoriations and scar tissue and amputation was offered. Eventually sorted it by shaving the tail and bandaging regularly with dressings and loads of that lovely green Dermobion ointment (which I believe contained chlorophyll, prednisone and nitrofurazone amongst other constituents - damn shame they stopped making it was fantastic for all sorts including devolving injuries.

RE: Tail mutilation Australian Sheperd

marion — Fri, 03 Feb 2023 09:10:01 GMT

Thank you for your answer.

The dog has just finished a course of antibiotic and before I put him on Apoquel, he was on NSAID without any improvement.

Before the problem with his tail he was licking his paw and responding to a course of antibiotic (after a change from amox/cla to cefalexin). The problem with his paw ended but he kept licking his tail. What kind of parasite I could find? I'll put him on Bravecto now.

No I didn't check his anal gland but will!

Thank you for your help!

RE: Tail mutilation Australian Sheperd

Michael Woodhouse — Fri, 03 Feb 2023 00:01:06 GMT

Do you have a picture?

Is the dog on anything else? I think I'd have gone down the route of a decent NSAID (+/- gabapentin for neural pain) and depending how it looks possibly antibiotics. Chuck in a Bravecto to r/o parasites. If not improving and you decide to amputate then take tail short - biggest mistake is not removing enough.

Any other signs of itch?

To me trauma and irritation is vastly more likely as a causal factor.

I take it you checked the anal glands.......