Reason 1: They Are Overstimulated
When the dog in question is our own, they are most likely happy to see us! They loosely wag their tails in an upright position from side to side when they are happy. When they are happy and excited, they will do the same movement at a faster pace.
Think of a helicopter blade, yep that is what their tail will look like when they are happy and excited! You know, something like this:
When you begin to pet them, they may stop wagging their tail because they are overstimulated or at least extremely focused on the petting you’re giving them.
Overstimulation or sensory overload happens when too many things are happening at once or when one experience is especially intense. Thanks to your petting, their brains went from extremely happy to extremely happy and stimulated!
But this isn’t necessarily a bad thing!
It could just mean that your dog is super focused on the petting you’re providing. Of course, it could go too far and the petting could become uncomfortable but this is much rarer for dogs compared to cats.
In most cases, there’s is no reason to be alarmed if you see your pup’s tail go into freeze mode as soon as the belly rubs begin! And it may just mean that you’re doing a great job with belly rubs!
It May Be A Non-aggressive Way To Say They Don’t Want To Interact
Let’s begin with the bad side of this sign. Dogs, usually when you’re strange to them, may stop wagging their tails when you pet them to let you know that they don’t want to interact with you. This is a non-aggressive way to let you know that they wouldn’t like to be touched at that moment. Instead of biting you, which would be aggressive, they just stop wagging their tails.
Now, the first thing that you should do when it’s a strange dog, it’s to stop what you’re doing. You don’t need to be afraid since this is non-aggressive behavior. Just stop petting the strange dog and avoid touching them for the time being. As you’re going to see below, there are other more likely reasons why they’re stopping wagging their tails, but it’s better to be safe here.
So, if you notice the dog freezes every time you touch them, stop doing what you’re doing. Also, you don’t need to worry about it too much because dogs will usually move away from you if that’s the case.
Q: My cat has lost hair around her tail and my friend said it might be ringworm. A worm couldnt make my cat lose hair, could it? And please dont tell me we have worms.
Q: Why has my dog suddenly stopped wagging her tail? It droops at a funny angle when she used to hold it high.
A: I sometimes think we, as humans, don’t fully understand the functionality of our pet’s tails, until something happens and we do some research on the topic. I mean, we don’t have tails – how are we to know? (Am I the only one who just had an incredibly odd mental at that one?). Anyway, first of all, our animals have bones and muscles in their tails, so if you haven’t already, I would get your girl to your vet so you can see if you’re looking at a broken bone or not. If it was a sudden onset though, and you can’t really point to anything that would have broken it, you may be looking at a phenomenon called limber tail. (I had never heard of such a thing before this, so hang on and let’s dig in.) Limber tail is something that’s relatively rare, but seen in labs, goldens, setters, pointers and foxhounds. Usually what happens is they have somehow overexerted themselves, and basically sprained their tail. Sometimes even water that’s too hot or too warm can be the culprit, as well. Much like when we sprain a ligament, the best solution is rest – something that as owners of the above-mentioned breeds know can be a tough pill to swallow! Sometimes anti-inflammatory medications can help and painkillers may be prescribed if your four-legged kid seems to hurt from it. The good news is most pups seem to be back to normal within a few days or weeks. Again, I would suggest a visit to the vet, so he or she can diagnose and monitor the situation. Hopefully your girl will get her wag back soon!
A: It’s tail day with CVAS Q&A! I love it! For your girl, you need to get her to a vet to determine exactly what is causing the hair loss. It could be a variety of different reasons – from fleas to food allergies to anxiety to ringworm. Figuring out the cause will help you find a solution. I do need to mention that ringworm isnt actually a worm – its a common misconception because of the name. Believe it or not, I was able to discover its a name that has held on throughout history. When doctors first saw the rash – typically in a circle or ring on the skin – they thought it was caused by a worm. We now know its actually a fungus that feeds on the outer layer of skin and thrives in warm, moist places. Your cat actually has to come in contact with the fungus in order to contract ringworm. Hair loss, though, can be caused by a variety of factors and in order to fully determine whats going on with your girl, you should really make an appointment with your vet.
Ask the Shelter is a weekly feature aimed at pet education. If you have a question, contact Jennifer Vanderau, director of communications for the Cumberland Valley Animal Shelter, at [email protected] or 717-263-5791.