The dog breeds most likely to suffer tail injury – Boxers top the list

Seeing your faithful companion happily wagging their tail is one of the best parts about being a dog owner.

But through accidents or even over–enthusiastic wagging, our furry friends can sometimes end up with painful tail injuries.

Researchers from the Royal Veterinary College have now revealed which breeds are the most likely to suffer one of these nasty injuries.

Boxers come in at the top of the list, with these large dogs being 3.6 times more likely to hurt their tails than mixed–breed dogs.

The English Springer Spaniel comes in second (2.46 times more likely), followed by the Cocker Spaniel (1.86 times).

In contrast, tail injuries are rarest for French Bulldogs, which are almost 10 times less likely to hurt their tail than a mixed–breed dog.

Based on the findings, vets are urging owners of the most injury–prone dogs to be especially careful.

Co–author of the study Dr Dan O’Neil says: ‘Although this new paper shows that tail injuries are relatively uncommon in dogs overall, owners of very active types of dogs such as Boxer, English Springer Spaniel and Cocker Spaniel should be aware of their increased risk and try to reduce trauma to these dogs’ tails.’

Besides wagging to greet their owners, dogs’ tails play an important role in helping them balance, communicate with other dogs, and scent mark their territories.

Worryingly, tail injuries disrupt these normal, healthy behaviours and cause ‘serious welfare risks’.

Tail injuries are most frequently caused by blunt force trauma, such as from catching the tail in a door, or from cuts and lacerations on sharp objects like barbed wire.

In some cases, they can also be self–inflicted as dogs can chew on their own tails due to pain, irritation, or anxiety.

Previously, some breeds like Boxers and Dobermans would often have their tails cut off while young for aesthetic reasons.

However, since non–medical tail docking was banned in 2007, researchers are now getting a better understanding of which breeds are most at risk of tail injuries.

In this new study, scientists analysed veterinary clinical records from a population of two million dogs under veterinary care in 2009.

Tail injuries accounted for just one in every 435 cases in which a dog underwent treatment at the vets, but some breeds are much more at risk. 

Compared to breeds not recognised by The Kennel Club, which includes most crossbreeds, breeds in the working and gundog groups were around twice as prone to tail injuries.

Larger dogs were also more at risk, with dogs weighing 20 to 30 kilograms (44–66lbs) being significantly more likely to be injured than those weighing less than 10 kilograms (22lbs).

Additionally, dogs less than 12 years old were statistically much more likely to need treatment for a tail injury than older dogs.

Lead author Dr Camilla Pegram told Daily Mail that, although the paper did not specifically investigate the connection, the difference is likely due to differences in activity levels.

Dr Pegram says: ‘Working breeds, for example, are active, energetic and more likely to be outdoors than other breeds, increasing exposure to environmental hazards.’

She adds that dogs with ‘longer, stronger tails’ might also be at higher risk of developing tail injuries since they can hit them on surfaces with more force.

In some cases, large dogs can even develop so–called ‘happy dog syndrome’ – damaging the tip of their tail by repeatedly striking it on hard surfaces.

On the other hand, small breeds, such as those in the ‘toy’ category, were much less likely to hurt their tails.

Some breeds, such as the French bulldog and Pembroke Corgi, have also been selectively bred not to develop the hind parts of their spines.

That means these dogs are born with congenitally short or absent tails, making tail injuries very rare.

However, these same variations also make flat–faced breeds significantly more likely to develop spine deformations, which can be debilitating in the long term.

Generally, the research showed that tail injuries were not life–threatening and could be treated with pain relief and antibiotics in the vast majority of cases.

However, in 9.1 per cent of cases, the injuries were so significant that the tail needed to be surgically amputated.

With these risks in mind, the researchers are urging owners of large energetic breeds to pay close attention to their dogs’ tails. 

This is especially important during high–energy activities and play, when dogs are most likely to hurt their tails.

Dr Alison Skipper, veterinary and research adviser at The Kennel Club, says: ‘Research like this gives everyone who cares for dogs the knowledge to help prevent injuries and protect their wellbeing – ensuring more dogs can live happy, healthy lives with their tails wagging.’