shih tzu with lazy tail

Question
QUESTION: I just adopted an 8 year old shih tzu who's tail isn't curled up over his back. I have trimmed the tail so it doesn't drag the ground, but I'm trying to find out if this is a medical problem or just normal for old age. Thanks

ANSWER: Hi Melinda-

It is actually more likely from poor or indiscriminate breeding. A sloppy or low set tail is a common finding in rescue and puppy mill bred dogs where breeders are less likely to pay attention to faults and breed standards. It's probably not old age, 8 years old is acutally just about middle age for him, he has a long way to go! I highly doubt that it is a medical problem, and you may find that as he relaxes more around you he tightens his tail and it snaps over his back.

Thank you VERY much for rescuing, and I hope that he works out wonderfully for you! Congratulations on your new addition!



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you so much for that information! His tail does come up at times when he is "talking" to me and sometimes when he is happy. Now I'm wondering about something else. He will be walking and all of a sudden pee while he is walking. I'm not sure he is noticing this is happening. Also, he will go squat to pee but only squat for a second before he walks away and continues to pee. The people I got him from told me he was potty trained and that the only accidents he had were in thunder storms where he refused to go outside. I let him sleep at my feet and he woke up in the middle of the night and peed on my feet and went back to sleep. I thought it was an accident, but he did it again the next night. I thought first that he may have a bladder infection, but then I noticed he walks and poops too!!! He is up to date on all his vaccinations and is neutered. The previous owners said he has arthritis in his back legs and to give him half a baby aspirin if he looks like he is in pain, but I have not done this yet. Also, I found that he has a hernia. They also told me that he was allergic to most dog foods and he must eat "nutro natural choice senior" food. But they gave me tons of different kinds of treats and some foil packages of "pedigree little champions" food. Doesn't this contradict the whole food allergy thing? I have asked them about the peeing and pooping but they swear that he never does this and they also said that his tail wasn't normally down like it is. They seem like nice people, but I believe they may be lying about all these things and I don't want to send him back. Thanks for any help.

Answer
Walking while defecating is perfectly normal. It just helps work the stool out a little easier. Some dogs always do this. Walking while peeing is fairly normal for males, or it could indicate in a dog that doesnt normally do this  that he is having a bladder infection. If he is peeing at odd hours and squatting and not able to urinate, or perhaps unable to stop urinating, it sounds like it could be a bladder infection or a kidney/bladder stone. A trip to the vet is a good idea if you have not already taken him in for his first examination. A hernia on his stomach where his "belly button" is is extremly common and is not an issue at all. A hernia anywhere else needs to be checked by the vet. I would be concerned that they said he was allergic to most foods but sent you with such crap as pedigree... that food is nearly all corn and wheat. Blah. Natural choice is a better food but still not great. You would be better putting him on a grain free food. Visit www.dogfoodanalysis.com for some ideas on good food. Look at 6 star foods.

Something I always learned in rescue is that if a former owner is talking, they are lying. Many of them could care less what really happens to their dog once they rehome it, and just say what they think you want to hear. My advice would be to ignore everything they said about him, consult your vet for a first appointment to get a good MEDICAL opinion of where you stand, and start from scratch with him as though you know absoutley nothing about him.

Good luck!