Lab tail

Question
My 10y/o choc.lab is starting that downward spiral I fear.  She has a new "buldge" in the right hind quarter(lateral to the sacrum/just superior to the Iliac crest), cannot move her tail, and a UTI.  The vet cultured the urine and found enterococcus.  Ok, we put her on amoxicillin 500mg bid x 30days.  During the same visit we had her x-ray'd.  She took 2 views.  Lateral view(from the left...) & a anterior view(supine).  It's her right side so I am unsure why the lateral view was done from the left.  The dogs bowels were full so the views were the clearest but it did show a significant amount of arthritis in the right hip.  She gave me the cd to look at at home.  She put her on daremax for the pain in her hip and told me to watch her tail and see if she begins to move it at all.  

Well, I have an appointment with her on Monday.  I'm angry.  I think there is a fracture in the tail...because the x-ray shows a segment of the tail which is completely seperated(non-union type fracture).  Not sure if it's the film or not(because it is right along the edge of the film) but it appears to be and she presents as if it were fractured.  She still has problems going to the bathroom(has changed from urinating all over to having BM's while sleeping).  She is having problems when we go for walks "squating" and cannot lift her tail because of obvious discomfort.  Her temperature is within her normal limits(101.4) ad her appetite is normal. The blood in the urine I think has subsided but will be cultured monday at the visit.  

Reason I am writing all this is because I wanted to know if any of this sounds familiar???  Should I be directing the vet to be looking at something else?  Can a fractured tail cause impaction?  I am extremely frustrated and don't have all this time and money to be spending on useless dx's...  Can you help us at all?  Thank you for your time.  I really appreciate it.

Answer
Mike -

Yes, constipation can be a common side effect to a fractured tail.  There may be nerve damage from the tail fracture that may result in a disruption of your dog's ability to defecate. With proper medical attention, the nerves may regenerate and your dog may regain the ability to defecate on its own.


 I am not sure why you are asking if you should direct your vet to look somewhere else?  If you are not comfortable with your veterinarian, you should find another doctor for your dog.

Best Regards,

Charlotte Sherrell, DVM