The American Beagler Forum

My 13 inch female is so exhuberant when it comes to running rabbits that her tail is constantly going like a propeller at about 80 mph in the briars and brush. As a result her tail is not only constantly bleeding out in the feild, but the fur is gone from the last 3 inches and what's left of the tail is always red and raw and beat up very badly. My vet says I should stop running her in the running pen, but she lives for this.

Is there anyone out there with any suggestions? I have tried taping it up but nothing seems to stay on.

If it is that bad, then I would have the tail docked and then you won't have those problems. Won't look nice, but you hound will be happier that she doesn't have a sore tail all the time.

Emery

Have two dogs in my kennel that I docked tip of tail on when I was in AR. They had erect tail carriages and used them constantly. Took off to just below the raw area. I now tip tails on my pups when I do dew claws. It just blunts the tail, cannot really tell by looking when they are grown, but it thickens up the tail tip and seems to prevent the problem later in life.
Doc S