Simon has this problem. He wags his tail all the time, and he wags it hard. I have tried everything. I don't understand this b/c I have had him since he was very tiny, and I tried to teach him that life is long and miserable, but he just won't listen.
He bruised my retina one time b/c he jumped up on my bed and hit me in the eye with it. It's that really sharp, strong Pit Bull tail that's more like a whip than a tail.

It's often dry and sometimes I put antibiotic ointment on it when it gets cracked looking (from dry or cold) but yesterday I noticed there were streaks of blood on my walls so I checked everyone and it was Simon's tail. I will take a pic tonight when I get home. He has damaged it to the point where the last 1/4" looks like it has no skin at all, and he's worn it almost to the bone (which really isn't hard to do at the very tip.) Before anyone thinks I just let it go to that point, let me explain: it was merely dry before yesterday. I had him in the car w/me and while I stopped to say hi to my horses for a few mins, he got into my $10 box of protein bars and ate about 4 of them. He was a bit sheepish the whole way home and wagged his tail in the car so hard that he made it bleed. How do you stop a dog from wagging it's tail? Esp. while driving? I honestly did't notice it until I got home and noticed the blood on the walls. He moves so fast it'd be hard to see anyway.

I'm wondering if anyone has had any luck w/a particular technique to remedy this. I used to watch a GSD pup who did the same thing by spinning in her crate. They taped and medicated it for a few weeks and covered her crate in towels, but he does it in AND out of the crate, and I know him too well to think he'll leave it alone if taped, unless he's got an E-collar on.

Anyway, just hoping someone would pipe up and say "Oh! I know what to do!" I don't want my gorgeous boy missing the tip of his tail. He's currently perfect!

BUMP. C'mon....anyone? Please?

Sounds like Simon has Happy Tail.

I found these two threads on greyhound forums:

http://forum.greytalk.com/index.php?showtopic=179528&hl=tail
http://forum.greytalk.com/lofiversion/index.php/t187427.html

They mention wrapping and treatment techniques...one using pink hair curlers, which is a little hard to imagine...but hey, it might do the trick and get it healed.

Thank you. I was beginning to think I give more than I receive on this forum. LMAO. <joking, of course!>

I really don't want to amputate like all those people mentioned. I'm a tad superficial about my gorgeous blue(ish) boy.

I don't know about how to prevent him from injuring the tail again, but as far as healing it up I really like "Bag Balm"... the stuff in the little green tin. Works great on skin abrasions, etc. It is very thick too, so it doesn't come off easy.

After it is healed up maybe you could put one of those yellow smiley faces on it that people put on their car antennae's...

Thanks. I'll try Bag Balm. It's not that bad right now; I just don't want it to get worse.

I know you don't want to amputate. The tail wrapping was what caught my eye. I'm sorry, I should have warned you it was mentioned in those links.

I'm a big girl. I needed no warning. I was just saying that's exactly what I'm trying to avoid. I do know a few Pits w/short tails though from this syndrome. LOL. Jennifer Lee pm'd me another idea of a topical solution I will try in addition. Thanks again!

 Quote: Jenni Williams

Jennifer Lee pm'd me another idea of a topical solution I will try in addition.

I would love to hear what this other idea is... while I am generally happy with the Bag Balm I am always on the lookout for other helpful goo's! Apollo always seems to get into some situation where he needs one thing or another (burrs, thorns, some idiot closing his tail in the screen door (that would be me ) etc.)...

EMT ointment. Supposed to provide some kind of protective barrier. I don't know why she was shy about posting it publicly! LOL.