Tail Fractures: How to Identify Them and What to Do

A pet's tail is an extension of its spine and is very prone to accidents and injury. Unfortunately, all it takes is accidentally stepping on a pet's tail, shutting a door on it, or some other type of accidental trauma to break or fracture the bones in the tail. This is why it's important for all pet owners to be aware of the common signs of tail fractures in pets, along with which steps they should take to care for a pet with a broken or fractured tail.

Signs of a Tail Fracture

Often times, a fractured or broken tail won’t be extremely obvious. And unfortunately, because a tail injury can happen at any time, owners who aren't around when the initial accident happens may have a hard time telling that a pet is injured in the first place. Visibly, owners should look for kinks or lumps in the tail that weren't there before. These could be the sign of a broken or fractured tail. 

On the other hand, even if the tail appears normal to the human eye, pet owners should still be on the lookout for other signs of a break or fracture. For example, perhaps a dog that often wags its tail when its owner comes home from work suddenly seems unable to wag its tail or appears to be in pain. The same concept may apply to cats; many cats use their tails regularly to exhibit their mood, so if a cat suddenly seems to have a "limp" tail or is otherwise in pain, then it may be due to a tail break or fracture.

What You Need to Do

If you think your pet is suffering from a broken or fractured tail, then the first thing you'll want to do is to contact an emergency veterinarian as soon as possible. Even though a break in the tail isn't going to damage any vital organs, it can still be a very painful experience for your pet. In the meantime, try to keep your pet as comfortable as possible until you're able to get him or her to the veterinary care that's needed.

Seeking Emergency Animal Care in Los Angeles

When your pet is in need of emergency animal care in the Los Angeles area, look no further than the Animal Emergency Centre. We specialize in emergency care for pets and have an emergency veterinarian on-staff to address your needs. Whether your pet has broken a bone, swallowed something poisonous, or is in any other way in danger, we're here to assist you. Our caring and compassionate team will provide your pet with the gentle care he or she deserves.

For all your pet's emergency medical needs, contact the professionals at Animal Emergency Centre. Our veterinarian is here to assist you and help you improve your pet's quality of life. Give our office a call at (818) 760-3882 to find out more about our emergency services and our staff as well