Tail amputation?

Mooch · 01-02-2013, 07:14 PM

Hi all

Has anyone had to have their dogs tail amputated? If so has the dog had difficulties adjusting to it?

I just got home from the vet. I took Mojo in on Monday to have a small lump under her tail checked out (the Vet originally thought earlier this year that it was just another sebaceous gland cyst)
It had gotten bigger and looks pretty raw.
So the vet took a biopsy and sent it off to get pathology results. Turns out they found spindle cells which apparently often get linked to nerve cell cancer.
So tomorrow she's going to take the lump off and try to get clean margins (there's not much to work with on a tail sadly) she said she will have to leave it as an open wound as it's not possible to stitch closed.
The lump will be sent off to check that she managed to remove everything - if she hasn't Mojo will have to have her tail amputated

Please keep your fingers crossed that she mages to get it all off!

Verivus · 01-02-2013, 07:46 PM

I know the idea of having a tail-less dog isn't nice, but I remember a case at my old clinic where we had a lab come in with a mass under her tail right near the base. I don't remember what it came back as, but the owners opted to have it removed, no amputation. Well the area would not close properly and the owners kept having to come back. In the end we ended up amputating the tail and the dog was fine.

holland · 01-02-2013, 07:51 PM

Hope everything works out ok

Bear GSD · 01-02-2013, 07:54 PM

You should pm Shepherdmom. She rescued a GSD not too long ago that had to have her tail amputated. I think the dog adjusted nicely.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Mojo!

MichaelE · 01-02-2013, 08:07 PM

I hope everything turns out OK.

It must save a lot of Christmas ornaments though.

GSDElsa · 01-02-2013, 08:16 PM

One of my family's labs growing up had to get his tail amputated. He adjusted just fine! It was a tragic loss, though...he has one of the BEST lab tails I've ever seen! His butt had a cute little white rabbit look after that.....I don't have a picture of him on this computer, but here's a picture of a picture

selzer · 01-02-2013, 08:16 PM

keeping fingers crossed for Mojo.

ksotto333 · 01-02-2013, 08:17 PM

Sorry to hear about her troubles..hate to hear your news..

GsdLoverr729 · 01-02-2013, 08:24 PM

My first shepherd had to have his tail amputated at 3.5 yrs. He didn't miss a beat (:

GSD2 · 01-02-2013, 08:54 PM

I know of someone whose puppy had to have it's tail amputated due to an injury at birth. This dog does anything any other dog can do, plus some. I have seen pictures of them on a board (surf board, I think) on a lake, they hike and do many water sports, very active dog and owner, it doesn't appear to bother the dog in the least.

I'm sorry to hear that you are going through this, I hope they are able to get clean margins with the biopsy/removal of the mass. Dogs don't seem to react like people, even when a leg is amputated they seem to adjust quite well.

I hope everything works out well for you and the removal of the mass will be all that is necessary.

01-02-2013, 07:14 PM	#1 (permalink)
Mooch Master Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Australia Posts: 869	Tail amputation? Hi all Has anyone had to have their dogs tail amputated? If so has the dog had difficulties adjusting to it? I just got home from the vet. I took Mojo in on Monday to have a small lump under her tail checked out (the Vet originally thought earlier this year that it was just another sebaceous gland cyst) It had gotten bigger and looks pretty raw. So the vet took a biopsy and sent it off to get pathology results. Turns out they found spindle cells which apparently often get linked to nerve cell cancer. So tomorrow she's going to take the lump off and try to get clean margins (there's not much to work with on a tail sadly) she said she will have to leave it as an open wound as it's not possible to stitch closed. The lump will be sent off to check that she managed to remove everything - if she hasn't Mojo will have to have her tail amputated Please keep your fingers crossed that she mages to get it all off!

01-02-2013, 07:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
Verivus Elite Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Tucson, Arizona Posts: 1,098	I know the idea of having a tail-less dog isn't nice, but I remember a case at my old clinic where we had a lab come in with a mass under her tail right near the base. I don't remember what it came back as, but the owners opted to have it removed, no amputation. Well the area would not close properly and the owners kept having to come back. In the end we ended up amputating the tail and the dog was fine. __________________ Chrissy Pookie, Papillon 4/17/09 Kaiser, GSD 4/14/11

01-02-2013, 07:54 PM	#4 (permalink)
Bear GSD Elite Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Boulder, Colorado Posts: 1,930	You should pm Shepherdmom. She rescued a GSD not too long ago that had to have her tail amputated. I think the dog adjusted nicely. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Mojo! __________________ Bear GSD 10/16/11 Elsa GSD 12/23/03 - 11/10/11

01-02-2013, 08:07 PM	#5 (permalink)
MichaelE Elite Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 1,167	I hope everything turns out OK. It must save a lot of Christmas ornaments though. __________________ Bear, Anna, Molly, Ossie, and The Countess Lisl von Schlaf An Unhappy German is a Sour Kraut!

01-02-2013, 08:16 PM	#6 (permalink)
GSDElsa Crowned Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Central, NY Posts: 4,045	One of my family's labs growing up had to get his tail amputated. He adjusted just fine! It was a tragic loss, though...he has one of the BEST lab tails I've ever seen! His butt had a cute little white rabbit look after that.....I don't have a picture of him on this computer, but here's a picture of a picture __________________ J, mom to: - Elsa - "Da Pookins" - Medo - "The Beast From The East"

01-02-2013, 07:51 PM	#3 (permalink)
holland Crowned Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 4,261	Hope everything works out ok

01-02-2013, 08:16 PM	#7 (permalink)
selzer Crowned Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Denmark, Ohio Posts: 20,843	keeping fingers crossed for Mojo. __________________ RIP Arwen, CD RN CGC RIP Whitney, RN CGC Jenna, RN CGC & Babs, CD RA CGC HIC (not AKC) Heidi, RA CGC & Tori, RN CGC SG3 Odessa, SchH1, Kkl1, AD Ninja, RN CGC & Milla, RN CGC Joy, Star Puppy, RN CGC Dolly CGC & Bear Gretta Hepzibah

01-02-2013, 08:17 PM	#8 (permalink)
ksotto333 Master Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Ohio Posts: 737	Sorry to hear about her troubles..hate to hear your news..

01-02-2013, 08:24 PM	#9 (permalink)
GsdLoverr729 Knighted Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: North Ga, USA Posts: 3,179	My first shepherd had to have his tail amputated at 3.5 yrs. He didn't miss a beat (: __________________ Kymmey http://KaohzandKumatz.yolasite.com Mom To~ Dakoda (b/t GSD), Simi (b/w DSH), Nashoba (sable GSD)

01-02-2013, 08:54 PM	#10 (permalink)
GSD2 Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: California Posts: 187	I know of someone whose puppy had to have it's tail amputated due to an injury at birth. This dog does anything any other dog can do, plus some. I have seen pictures of them on a board (surf board, I think) on a lake, they hike and do many water sports, very active dog and owner, it doesn't appear to bother the dog in the least. I'm sorry to hear that you are going through this, I hope they are able to get clean margins with the biopsy/removal of the mass. Dogs don't seem to react like people, even when a leg is amputated they seem to adjust quite well. I hope everything works out well for you and the removal of the mass will be all that is necessary.

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