Alyosha Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 (edited) Just wondering if anyone has come across something like this before. My young Borzoi girl has had increasingly weird tail carriage over the last few months, with it coming up higher than it should and curling into a ring (like an afghan ). We (and her breeders) thought maybe it was a growth stage and it may or may not get better. But we have noticed lately that she is increasingly not moving her best, not reaching or driving like she used to, especially in the rear. So we're going to get her to a Chiropractor as maybe there's something not quite right with her lower back. We've got to wait for our appointment now, but I'm very curious as to whether the two issues could be linked. Has anyone seen anything similar? I can imagine back issues casuing a lack of tail carriage, but could they cause an increase in carriage? The place where it is curling up is well down the tail, past halfway... Edit - atrocious spelling - sorry! Edited May 2, 2009 by Nattylou Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longdogs Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 (edited) Just wondering if anyone has come across something like this before. My young Brozoi girl has had increasinlgy weird tail carraige over the last few months, with it coming up higher than it should and curling into a ring (like an afghan ). We thought maybe it was a growth stage and it may or may not get better.But we have noticed lately that she is increasingly not moving her best, not reaching or driving like she used to, especially in the rear. So we're going to get her to a Chiropractor as maybe there's something not quite right with her lower back. We've got to wait for our appointment now, but I'm very curious as to whether the two issues could be linked. Has anyone seen anything similar? I can imagine back issues casuing a lack of tail carriage, but could they cause an increase in carriage? :rolleyes: The place where it is curling up is well down the tail, past halfway... Often when there is a back injury the tail is held down and slightly tucked under in an arc. The chiro is a good idea. These are a couple of checks you can do while waiting for the chiro appt. Feel his tummy, is it tight like a drum? Turn the toes on his back feet under and put his foot back down, 1 foot at a time. Does he correct his foot immediately? Hold a piece of his favourite food in front of him and move it slowly towards one side of him then the other. Then move it down to his front feet, then over his head towards his back. Then let me know the results. ETA oops sorry, just reread she's a girl Edited April 27, 2009 by longdogs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebanne Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 I believe the 2 issues could well and truly be related. Might be referred pain, might be out along the tail and the back. I will be interested to hear how you go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puggy_puggy Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 Have you had a vet look at her? I would be very much suspecting her spine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alyosha Posted April 27, 2009 Author Share Posted April 27, 2009 (edited) Mmmm. So am I Puggy wuggy. I feel bad that I didn't put the two together earlier :rolleyes: . I think a vet visit prior to Chiro might be best. On the movement front, she is super laid back and hard to motivate, so it was easy to think of it as maybe just part of her personality. It seems to be something that has crept up too, and not come on suddenly. Poor girl. She doesn't seem in outright pain, she was galloping this afternoon, and I notice that as she relaxes into running her tail seems to straighten again... As she moves back into shorter strides it starts to curl up. Very odd. I just tried the other tests on her Longdogs - thanks for that. Her tummy doesn't seem too tight, maybe a little - hard to tell as I can feel her tighten it as I touch it. Rear toes under she corrects immediately, no delay - she won't put weight on them curled under. Following food - she follows with her head without flinching, side to side and down her front legs. Also up over her back she tilts her head back to almost 90 degrees. Any ideas? I had heard that their tail is often carried lower when the back is out, but I didn't think of it being higher... And Rebanne, I'll certainly let you know how we get on and if we find anything. I hope Miller is doing better. Edited April 27, 2009 by Nattylou Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puggy_puggy Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 Personally I would be getting xrays or at least seen by a vet before having anything manipulated. You could do more harm then good if she has a damaged disc in her back. Can you find any sore spots along her spine? Does she yelp or turn to look at her back foot if you pinch between the toes? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longdogs Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 It doesn't sound like a back problem to me given the results of those tests you tried, but I am neither a vet nor a chiro. Might be a good idea to let your vet have a look at her. I would still keep the chiro appointment though. Hopefully it is only something minor and easily fixed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebanne Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 Personally I would be getting xrays or at least seen by a vet before having anything manipulated. You could do more harm then good if she has a damaged disc in her back. I am the opposite, if I think there is a skeletal/muscular problem I take my dog straight to the chiropractor. Helps he's a fully qualified vet as well. He is my first port of call if my dog is lame, sore, moving strangely etc. He is a specialist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsfevr Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 Im with rebanne we go chiro /bowen first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alyosha Posted April 27, 2009 Author Share Posted April 27, 2009 I think if it is her back it is right down behind her hips, in the croup area. Will let you uys know teh result of the Chiro, and not decided on the vet yet, I might have a chat to mine tomorrow and see what he thinks. Thanks for all your time and input. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirislin Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 Someone who specialises in greyhounds might be the go. They're the experts on movement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alyosha Posted April 28, 2009 Author Share Posted April 28, 2009 Someone who specialises in greyhounds might be the go. They're the experts on movement. We're thinking alike! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted April 28, 2009 Share Posted April 28, 2009 (edited) I think if it is her back it is right down behind her hips, in the croup area. Will let you uys know teh result of the Chiro, and not decided on the vet yet, I might have a chat to mine tomorrow and see what he thinks. Thanks for all your time and input. Nat, Sandra Hasset at the Animal Medical Centre in Phillip is a Chiropractic Vet. Lowered tail carriage may be an indicator of discomfort or low level pain, if nothing else. Edited April 28, 2009 by poodlefan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alyosha Posted April 28, 2009 Author Share Posted April 28, 2009 Nat, Sandra Hasset at the Animal Medical Centre in Phillip is a Chiropractic Vet. Lowered tail carriage may be an indicator of discomfort or low level pain, if nothing else. Ooh, second recommendation for Sandra... Thankyou. But tail going upwards?? Maybe it could cause some tightening and pull it up?? Maybe I'm clutching at straws and my gorgeous girl has a dud tail... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lowenhart Posted April 28, 2009 Share Posted April 28, 2009 Also don't forget teething plays havoc with ears and tails. High tail carriage during teething is not unusual. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anniek Posted April 28, 2009 Share Posted April 28, 2009 Someone who specialises in greyhounds might be the go. They're the experts on movement. We're thinking alike! mmm my first port of call is the muscle man Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebanne Posted April 28, 2009 Share Posted April 28, 2009 Someone who specialises in greyhounds might be the go. They're the experts on movement. We're thinking alike! mmm my first port of call is the muscle man My experience with greyhound muscle men has not been very good I have to say, you need to find someone who actually knows what they are doing. Miller has been having some growing pains and at the shows he was looked at by 2 muscle men, one said he had a fracture in his foreleg, the other said he had done his monkey muscle in the other leg but neither were right. Both highly recommended. Of course Miller has now broken his toe but that's a whole different story. I have had my dogs to one greyhound man, once, and he was okay (and cheap) and for general tuneups I suppose I would use him again but for anything a bit more in depth I always use Ian. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anniek Posted April 28, 2009 Share Posted April 28, 2009 Someone who specialises in greyhounds might be the go. They're the experts on movement. We're thinking alike! mmm my first port of call is the muscle man My experience with greyhound muscle men has not been very good I have to say, you need to find someone who actually knows what they are doing. Miller has been having some growing pains and at the shows he was looked at by 2 muscle men, one said he had a fracture in his foreleg, the other said he had done his monkey muscle in the other leg but neither were right. Both highly recommended. Of course Miller has now broken his toe but that's a whole different story. I have had my dogs to one greyhound man, once, and he was okay (and cheap) and for general tuneups I suppose I would use him again but for anything a bit more in depth I always use Ian. I know what you're saying, we use Graham Brown for our fosters if we need them cheked. I took a bitch to him a few weeks ago - she was a bit growly with the other dogs - even past the settling in phase. There was something about her gait - couldn't put my finger on it but something didn't look quite right. I took her to the oval to let her free trot and again, something not quite right and she wouldn't stretch out. Anyway, took her to Graham and he manipulated her - the most horrid sounds of creaking and clicking. Anyway from that moment on she was a different dog. No nore growls, started doing zoomies-(I did want to take her back to have her "put back out" for a while though to save my lawn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alyosha Posted April 29, 2009 Author Share Posted April 29, 2009 We're off to a Vet Chiro on the weekend, which seems the best of both worlds. I hear you about teething, but she's just turned one... If I feel along her spine down her croup there seems something slightly out of line/raised a little bit. I don't know if I'm imagining it, but if I feel the same area on my older dog I can't feel it - his seems even. So it will be interesting. I would love for her tail to come down and straighten. She is such a lovely looking girl, and it is the only thing you notice about her at he moment. I would hate to confine her and have her go stir crazy but am really worried that she'll hurt herself doing zoomies around the yard. She's also only 7 points from her title and I'm not really wanting her back in the ring until it's looking better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alyosha Posted May 2, 2009 Author Share Posted May 2, 2009 Well off we went today. She had some issues with her neck, shoulders and particularly her pelvis. Her sacrum was apparently tilted downwards and sideways, causing restricted movement in her rear legs. As the major misalignments are so close to the tail base it seems highly likely that some of her tail carriage issues are due to them. How many remains to be seem as her pelvis settles back into alignment. We have another visit in a fortnight. A really interesting thing though. The vet told me that such a pelvic misalignment often leads to anal glands problems - lo and behold, impacted and infected - ewwwww She hasn't shown any discomfort though that I've seen, at which the vet was very surprised as they were pretty nasty. So a course of antibiotics and extra bones and fibre until next visit and hopefully they'll be better. The vet seemed to think the gland issue link comes from the major tendons through the pelvis being off kilter, and not placing correct internal pressure on the glands - so diet apparently won't improve it until the pelvic issue is fixed. Sonya was a very good girl - although very worried about the smell! The vet was lovely with her so I'm pretty sure she'll be happy to go back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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