What causes a dog to hold it’s tail down?

There are a number of potential reasons for a dog to hold it’s tail down. Inflammation of the rectal and anal area will cause pain. The dog’s response is to tuck it’s tail. There are also glands called anal sacs that if painful may cause these symptoms. (See article on analsacculitis) A potential parasite problem could cause discomfort. If there has been a history of diarrhea or urinary tract disease the resulting discomfort would also cause this. Sometimes it may be a symptom of a musculoskeletal or neurological disease. The list could go on and on.
Are any of these conditions a reason to be concerned?

Though not always life threatening, any sign of discomfort displayed by your pet needs to be investigated and a diagnosis as to the cause should be made. Your veterinarian is the best person to do this for you.
How can my veterinarian tell what is wrong?

After taking a history of the problem your veterinarian will conduct a complete physical exam of your dog. If the cause of the problem is obvious from the history and exam, the appropriate treatment will be recommended. In some cases the cause may be subtle and require advanced diagnostic procedures. Laboratory tests, X Rays, a myelogram, or ultrasound are examples of some of the tools available to your veterinarian or veterinary specialist. Once the abnormalities are identifies, the appropriate treatment can be prescribed.

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