What it is
The tip of the tail has little padding but plenty of small blood vessels, so even a small split there bleeds freely. Each joyful wag knocks the wound open again before it can close, and blood is flicked across walls and furniture, which can make a small cut look far worse than it is. A wound that keeps reopening can become infected, and the tip can grow very sore.
The problem is acquired, not inherited: it comes from a long, slim, short-haired tail meeting a narrow space, such as a hallway, a crate or a kennel, in a dog that is simply delighted to see you.
Life at home gets easier when your dog has room to wag: greet it in an open space rather than a tight corridor, and keep it from wagging against hard edges. A sore tail can make a dog guard its back end or shy away from being touched.
Signs you may notice
- Blood spatters on walls or floor
- Raw or bleeding tail tip
- Bald patch at the tail tip
- Licking or chewing the tail
- Guards the tail from touch
You may notice spatters of blood on walls, furniture or the floor, and the tip of the tail looks scraped, bleeding or bald. The dog may lick or chew the tail or guard it from being touched.
When to see a vet
Book a visit if the tail tip keeps bleeding or reopening, or if it looks swollen, smells unpleasant or seems very painful.
This is general information, not veterinary advice. For your own dog's health, tests and treatment, see a vet.