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SM dogs/ ripping hair out of tail????

chloe92us

Well-known member
She seems to be going through a painful week, reluctant to get on the sofa and moping around. I think I'm going to have to see a neuro and get her on a proper drug program. The Rimadyl is losing effect I think.

She has also ripped the hair out of her tail in one particular spot. I've put the cone on her head on and off for the past two days and have been treating the area with antibiotic cream, but she still goes after it as soon as I take the cone off. Have any of your SM dogs ever done this? I have looked to see if there is a tick, fleas, etc but nothing. I don't know if it has anything to do with it...thoughts?
 
I haven't heard of that for a symptom Trish. I think maybe its something else and not sm in regards to ripping out hair from tail. I've read so much on this subject and don't ever recall reading about something like that.
 
My Ruby, Megan (aged 10 years), was originally diagnosed with SM in 2006. Her main problem at that time was a stiff rear leg and a limp, though she later developed some neurological symptoms too (eye-rolling etc).

Last year she suddenly started to scratch and yell pitifully, so we all thought this was the SM progressing and she was put on Gabapentin for a time. My own vet was never convinced that it was the whole story, though, and a few weeks later he was proved right when she lost the fur on her back legs and tail and we all realised she actually had picked up fox mange!! This then took 3 months to sort out, so I really regretted not starting the treatment sooner.

I think when you've got a dog with SM you tend to think that any problems must be related to that condition, whereas, in reality, they can still have all the usual things wrong with them as well.

Do hope your little one gets sorted out soon - I would definitely go to your vet. All best, Marie-Anne
 
My dog bit her back legs & bum raw. she chewing at their tail could be the sm
 
The specialist i saw about harleys hips, said he had dogs (cavaliers) constantly chasing their tails, I think its the repetative issue of sm, if they do one thing for long enough that will itself become a problem. di
 
I agree with Wagtails that it is a good idea to see a vet and have this looked at as a distinct problem in its own right. If the vet finds there is no other apparent cause -- eg something like mites, mange, flea dermatitis etc -- then yes, talk about new meds.

Rimadyl is a very basic painkiller and while it can be fine for some dogs, most I know of that get a diagnosis of SM eventually move on to other things, especially for scratching.

Sm can cause skin crawling sensations and pain and itchiness for humans. What you are seeing could be related to SM or could be something else. I find it really helpful to review the human SM and Chiari sites for insight into what the dogs may be experiencing.
 
OMG, I'm now freaking out. I took the dogs to the dog park last week for the first time EVER. Could it be mange? I'm reading online and the sore is dry and cracked looking and she won't let me touch it. I'm calling the vet.
 
Our Barney showed signs like this a few years ago when he was a pup really! Scratching the base of his tale until it developed a little bald patch and went scaley and horrible. It turned out to be something akin to Fox mange- we get a lot of urban foxes where we live in the 'burbs' of Leeds. He got some topical ointment ( whcih he didnt lick) and had an antibiotic injection which appeared to do the trick. Never had a problem since.
Our first cav used to have an allergy to grass seed and every spring we had to take him to the vet for an antihystamine injection. Theyre delicate little creatures- bless em!
 
I took her to the vet and he gave her a cortisone stab and a round of antibiotics. Don't know how, by looking, he could rule out mange but she hasn't been chewing since.

I still think it may be related to the SM, she's had a rough week.
 
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