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Do dogs contract the canine version of Carpel Tunnel Syndrome? That is what researchers and veterinarians are trying to find out as they closely examine the inscrutable phenomenon known as limber tail syndrome.

Limber tail syndrome is a condition mostly found in hunting dogs like Labrador Retrievers, English Setters, Foxhounds, Pointers and Golden Retrievers. It is gender neutral, affecting both male and female dogs. The average range for affected dogs is between five months and nine years.

Also referred to as cold water tail, broken wag, and dead tail, limber tail syndrome is detected when a dog's tail goes limp or when the tail is held stiff for three inches or so before dropping straight down. While some dogs display a similar tail position when they are standing still, limber tail syndrome is noticeable when the tail position remains stiff while a dog moves around.

A dog's tail is an integral component for maintaining body movement equilibrium. With hunting dogs, intense physical activity can cause the tail to be susceptible to a repetitive motion injury. The muscles that form at the base of the tail become inflamed and cause immense pain. The intensity of the pain lasts for twenty-four to forty-eight hours before a slow abatement.

Although an exact cause of limber tail syndrome has yet to be found, researchers at Auburn University have pared the list of potential causes. Because most of the dogs that exhibit limber tail are hunting dogs, the researchers have concluded that over exposure to cold and damp conditions, combined with extended periods of overexertion, cause the tail to inflame at the base. The researchers also see the condition in dogs that have been confined to crates for extended periods of time.

The best remedy for limber tail is rest. Dogs can completely recover from limber tail within two weeks. If not, then the underlying reason for the inflammation is requires the dog to undergo blood tests and an x-ray examination. Researchers are still in the process of validating dog owner claims that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) speed up the recovery process.

Limber tail syndrome can be prevented with the same mindset that humans apply before working out. A dog must be highly conditioned before it spends a day running at full throttle. Hunting dogs must be slowly reintroduced to the physical demands of retrieving before every hunting season. Immediately dry off a dog that has either retrieved something from a body of water or taken a bath, especially if the water is unusually cold. Dogs that are transported in crates need to have enough room to stand up and turn around. Let them out of their crate every hour or so.

As research continues on limber tail syndrome, the hope is that one day a medicinal remedy will be available to alleviate the acute tail pain. Until then, use common sense when you employ a hunting dog. Just like with our outstretched arms that constantly pound on the keyboard and move a mouse, a dog's tail that is in frenetic, uninterrupted motion is highly susceptible to muscle and tissue damage.

Learn more about this author, Keith Bailey.
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