Dog has Broken Tail

Question
Our 3 year old golden lab woke up this morning with what appears to be a broken tail.  He is not himself and is protecting his tail.  He won't sit down on it.  What would cause this?  May we give him baby aspirin?

Answer
What appears to be a broken tail might also be a back injury. Dogs will protect their tails if their hips or lower back (sacrum) is injured somehow.

Aspirin might help a little but he really needs to see a vet and determine what has happened and to what area.

Common causes for back injuries are running the wrong way, jumping off of things, climbing under fences, getting bumped by a car, something falling on them and even being bitten by another dog.

So it is important that the real problem be ascertained and not just assumed.

I hope he feels better soon.