This condition, also known as "cold tail," has been known for some time but remains largely unexplored. It occurs mainly in the summer months, is characterized by a distinctive tail posture, and is very painful.
The exact causes of the disease are still unknown. Water tail is often associated with previous strenuous activity (dog sports, hunting) or swimming in very cold or very warm water. It is believed that the symptoms are caused by reduced blood flow to the muscles in the tail area, compression or inflammation of the tail vertebrae joints. According to scientific studies, impaired blood circulation with subsequent muscle damage is the most likely theory.
Dogs that are worked intensively are predisposed to this condition. Sports and hunting breeds such as setters, pointers, retrievers, and beagles are therefore most commonly affected. Male dogs are more likely to develop the condition than females.
The most noticeable symptom is the typical tail posture of affected dogs. The tail is stretched horizontally away from the body at the base, while the rest of the tail hangs limply. The base of the tail is often painfully swollen, so that the animals sit in a "puppy position" with their pelvis tilted to one side to protect the tail. Due to the severe pain, some animals begin to lick or nibble at the painful area and may exhibit aggressive behavior.
If you notice that your dog is showing one or more of the above signs, take them to a veterinarian immediately.
A detailed preliminary report from the owner is particularly important in this case, as it provides the veterinarian with initial important information, especially with regard to the trigger of the disease. This information, in conjunction with the findings made by the veterinarian during their general clinical examination, usually enables them to make an initial diagnosis.
To confirm this, all other causes of a painful change in tail posture must be ruled out. These can include slipped discs, anal sac inflammation, prostate problems, or any kind of injury. In cases that remain unclear, an additional blood test can help. In the case of watery tail, elevated muscle enzymes are often found.
Due to the severe pain and suspected inflammatory reaction, the condition is primarily treated with anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving medication. In addition to medication, it is particularly important that the dog is rested and allowed to rest sufficiently. Heat treatments, massages, and physical therapy can also help support the healing process.
With timely treatment, the prognosis is good. Dogs suffering from water tail usually recover completely. Only in rare cases may a slightly altered tail posture remain.
The best way to prevent the disease is to exercise your dog regularly, but not too strenuously, and allow it plenty of rest. Sporting and hunting dogs in particular need sufficient training to cope with the high levels of exertion during the season. After walks in wet and cold weather or a swim in a cold pond in the park, the dog should be thoroughly dried off and allowed to warm up again in a warm place.
Despite its somewhat misleading name (hematoma = bruise), this very rare disease in horses is not a simple bruise, but a slowly growing tumor originating in the ethmoid bone or paranasal sinuses that can cause severe bleeding. Ethmoid hematoma can occur in horses of any age, but is most common in horses between 8 and 15 years of age.
Keratoconjunctivitis sicca, also known as dry eye, describes inflammation of the cornea and conjunctiva caused by insufficient or completely absent tear fluid, which in severe cases can lead to blindness.
Pyometra is a purulent inflammation of the uterus that occurs in most cases approximately two to ten weeks after the last heat and is the most common disease of the female reproductive organs. According to recent scientific studies, 25% of all unspayed female dogs develop pyometra within the first ten years of their lives. Female dogs that have not yet been pregnant and female dogs over the age of four are at higher risk of developing pyometra.
If your horse suddenly looks like it has run through hundreds of stinging nettles or been bitten by a swarm of mosquitoes, it could be hives, also known as urticaria. Triggered by certain stimuli, this excessive reaction of the immune system causes hundreds of small, round, raised swellings, known as wheals, to form on the horse's skin. In most cases, this rash disappears quickly once the cause has been treated.
If feed components or foreign bodies become stuck in the horse's esophagus, the surrounding muscles cramp up and a blockage occurs. Due to the risk of pneumonia caused by inhaling feed residues (aspiration pneumonia), a blockage is always a life-threatening emergency that requires immediate veterinary treatment.
Wobbler syndrome describes a complex of symptoms caused by nerve damage in the cervical spine. The often typical ataxic (irregular) gait of affected animals gave the disease its name, as the English word "to wobble" means to sway or stagger. It occurs particularly often in Dobermans and Great Danes, but other large breeds of dog can also be affected. Male dogs are twice as likely to develop the condition as females.
Bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchi (the airways in the lungs). It is one of the most common respiratory diseases in dogs.
Ataxia is Greek and means "disorder." The term actually describes quite well what ataxia is all about. It is a disorder of the horse's normal movement and posture that is caused by damage to the central nervous system. Ataxia is therefore not lameness!
You've probably heard of it, and if you see a horse with long, curly fur, irregular fat deposits, weakness, and possibly even laminitis, you immediately think: That must be Cushing's! But it's not quite that simple, because Cushing's has very different symptoms and the diagnosis should not be made hastily.
A cat can have kittens twice a year. Unfortunately, unneutered stray and outdoor cats are often pregnant, resulting in too many "unwanted" cats being born. In some areas, cats that appear to be homeless are caught and taken to the local animal shelter, where they are neutered by a veterinarian. However, if the birth was planned and takes place in a safe environment, it can be a wonderful experience for both the mother cat and her kittens.
Coccidiosis, caused by parasites, is a common disease in rabbits. A distinction is made between liver coccidiosis and intestinal coccidiosis. Young, stressed, or weakened animals are particularly at risk.
To the left and right of the anus, dogs have two anal sacs, which contain the anal glands. The foul-smelling secretion produced by these glands is collected in the anal sacs and serves as the dog's individual scent mark, which is released with each bowel movement. Inflammation of the anal sacs can be very unpleasant and painful for dogs.
