Prevent water tail - with dog coats from Back on Track

A dog with water tail needs rest and warmth above all. But it is also possible to prevent the problem - and hopefully avoid it altogether - by giving your dog special care both before and after outdoor activities, and by protecting it (and its tail) from wet and cold.

What is water tail?

The symptoms are obvious: a seemingly paralysed tail that hangs limply downwards and clear signs of pain in the hindquarters around the tailbone. The condition has a medical name, acute caudal myopathy, which makes it clear that it occurs suddenly, that the location of the problem is down towards the tailbone, and that the symptom involves impairment of skeletal muscle function.

The condition is commonly referred to as water tail, but also tail paralysis, drop tail or retriever's tail - which describes both how the condition manifests itself and which dogs are usually affected.

Water-loving dog breeds; Labradors, Pointers and Retrievers - especially water-reporting bird dogs - seem to be over-represented. But other types of dogs can also get water tail. The common denominator is the triggering factors: dampness and humidity, bathing or rainy weather, and hypothermia (even mild) - often combined with some form of overexertion of the tail muscles.

It's clear that dogs with water tails are in a lot of pain. As well as causing suffering to the individual dog, it can be enough to put a stop to any planned activities - at least temporarily. On the positive side, it is not a serious disorder and the problem goes away on its own with rest and warmth.

Research cannot yet answer conclusively why the condition occurs (or what it really is) but it is likely to be a localised inflammation of the nerves and/or muscles in and around the tail root.

Our top tips for preventing water tail

Protect your dog (to the best of your ability!) from the main risk factors of cold and wet. The best way is to put a dog blanket on the dog - especially while it is not working or is fully occupied with energetic activities.

Let your dog rest and recover in a dog coat! During car journeys, this is a perfect way to keep the muscles warm and supple.

Let the dog dry off in a dog coat. It's important that your dog dries quickly and doesn't get cold. Our dog coats are highly breathable and the material is moisture-wicking. This means that the coat lets moisture out, but protects the dog from cold, wet and rain. This allows your dog to dry faster and stay warm.