Tuc Lost His Wag: Limp Tail Strikes Again!

Puppy Tuc lost his wag!

I've written about Limber Tail Syndrome (aka, Cold Water Tail, Limp Tail, Dead Tail, Flaccid Tail, Lost Wag, Broken Wag, Broken Tail, etc...) here before: in February, 2008, and in July 2005 (just click on the underlined dates to see those posts). In fact, my Limber Tail posts still generate the most reader "hits" at LabTails each day -- far more than any others. It's a little-known-but-more-common-than-you-think injury that happens to sporting breeds after swimming, bathing, or playing in cold water.

Thankfully it's not serious, though it is painful, and it clears up on its own.

For more information, feel free to read the previous posts listed above, or check out these articles from The Labrador Retriever Club, Inc. and Woodhaven Labs.

In any case, Tuc developed his first case overnight (the rest of the canine crew have had their turns).

I broke out the kiddie pools yesterday -- 80s outside, low humidity, clear skies, brilliant sun. A delightful day for the kids to get wet. And since it appears we won't be going to the cottage any time soon (our usual dock-jumping, Lab-swimming, water-retrieving place), the kiddie pools will have to suffice.

As expected, Tuc and Pinot had a ball:



That was yesterday (note Tuc's tail in the pool pics above - happy boy!).

This is how his tail looks today:






You have to remember, this is Tuc we're talking about here: always-happy-Tuc; wiggle-butt-Tuc; our gives-Kenya-a-run-for-her-money-as-wiggliest-Lab-at-our-house-Tuc; our drink-spilling-coffee-table-clearing-lethal-tail-Tuc!

Poor sweet boy. He looks so confused and pathetic. He's hurting. He can't wag. It's too uncomfortable for him to sit down. And I can't even give him a butt-rub in consolation (he's really tender back there).

I honestly don't believe I've ever seen Tuc with his tail down -- not even when we've reprimanded him. He is the epitome of spunk, spirit, and endless optimism.

Flaccid tail has tempered him a bit, though. A wee bit, perhaps, but a bit nonetheless.

Ahhhh, but there's good news for him.

BOTH Elsie and Kenya are in heat now, so he's got plenty of things to sniff to keep him distracted:


He seems happy enough to sniff, even if he can't lift his leg the usual way to mark his territory.

And besides, he's got a couple of weeks still to enjoy their pheromones. He just can't do anything about them for at least another year (Ridge still reigns in that department).

So if he's got to have Limber Tail it may as well be now.

Poor boy. He'll get over it, just as the rest have done over the years.

I'm still convinced, however, that there's nothing more pathetic than a Labrador retriever who lost his wag. Especially one like Tuc.

'Til next time,

Joan