Why is my dog tucking her tail and acting like her rear end hurts?

Your dog could have hip or back problems that make it painful to posture to defecate and would also make it hurt when her tail is manipulated. It could also be infected or inflamed anal glands. This condition is very painful and makes it difficult to defecate or even move. Without treatment, the gland may rupture, causing a open wound on your pet's rear that will require wound care and antibiotics as well as some pain relief. I recommend getting your pet seen by your vet. They will examine your pet, possibly do some x-rays and labwork and be able to give you a better idea of what is going on and how best to treat it.

The most common things that could cause this behavior are flea bites around the back or tail, anal sacs that are full and itchy or infected, or a tail injury. You can check for fleas by combing the fur with a fine tooth comb. If you see fleas on the comb then give a bath and apply a flea prevention product. If you see him scooting I recommend your veterinarian express the anal sacs to empty the fluid and see if there is an anal sac infection. You can feel his tail and if there is a tail injury there will be one area that is more sensitive. Usually tail injuries will heal without treatment over a few days. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Savage.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Tinka. I recommend that she sees her veterinarian today. Tail injuries can be very painful. It is important to determine if the source of pain is her tail, her anal glands or her lower back. The veterinarian will carefully examine her and then determine how best to treat her. In the meantime, keep her quiet and do not give any over-the-counter pain medications as these can be toxic to dogs. I hope this information helps!

She could have a tail sprain causing discomfort or skin irritation in that area. An anal gland infection would be another possibility. If she is that painful I would recommend seeing your veterinarian for an exam to determine what’s causing the pain.

There are many possible reasosn but anal gland discomfort and spinal pain are common reasons for this sort of occasional, darting pain. I would recommend getting her glands checked as well as a full physical exam for any obvious causes or signs of discomfort such as reduced muscle in the hind legs etc

It sounds as if Maggie is either constipated, or is having trouble with her anal glands. These glands are just inside the rectum and may need to be emptied out, at your vet clinic. The other possibility is that she has a painful back or pelvis, which could be making it difficult for her to position herself to pass stool. Sounds like she could use a trip to see her vet, as soon as possible! Best of luck with Maggie!

This could indicate a fracture of her tail or dislocation as the tail has joints just like the rest of the body. It could also indicate an anal gland issue or even a problem with the lumbosacral joint. Do not give your dog in a human medication as it could be toxic to dogs. I recommend having your dog seen by her veterinarian or an emergency veterinarian as she may need x-rays to diagnose the problem as well as dog safe medication for pain. keep her quiet and restrict her activity until she can be seen by veterinarian and do not try to manipulate the site at all.