Screw tail (also known as ingrown tail or corkscrew tail) is a heritable abnormality where fused tail vertebrae form a downward or spiral curvature, which causes excessive skin folds, an immobile tail and/or anal obstruction. As a result, moist skin infections and impaction of faeces occurs in the skin folds underneath the tail, resulting in itch, discomfort and smell. This can be difficult to manage medically as the immobile tail makes cleaning of this area very difficult. Management is also much more difficult in overweight or obese dogs.

This abnormality occurs most commonly in English and Australian bulldogs, but we also see it in Pugs, Boston Terriers and French Bulldogs.

Downward Deviation of Tail
Spiral Malformation of Tail
Spiral Malformation of Tail

Treatment Options

 

  1. Medical management
  • regular cleaning with an appropriate medicated shampoo, along with intermittent courses of antibiotics &/or anti-inflammatories, is generally required
  • can be successful in the short-term, but does not usually give good long-term control
  • infection (either bacterial or yeast) of the area is common & usually recurs

 

  1. Amputation of the vertebrae, with maintenance of the tail stub
  • this option is possible in tails that have a downward deviation only, without any spiralling.
  • it alleviates anal obstruction, while maintaining a small tail stub
  • skin folds around the tail are still present, so ongoing medical management is usually still required (but is generally much more successful now that the tail stub is mobile)

 

  1. Complete tail amputation
  • this involves complete removal of the tail (bones and skin folds)
  • it is the best option for spiral shaped tails, and results in minimal or no requirement for ongoing medical management

 

So…. ‘What will my dog look like after the procedure?’

 

This is a common question that we get asked. When done correctly, the cosmetic result after tail removal is excellent. Once the hair grows back it is sometimes hard to notice the difference. The big benefit is – no more itchy, smelly bottom, and a much happier dog!

Following are some pictures of two of our recent patients – Rosco the Aussie bulldog and Delores the British Bulldog.

On the day of surgery:

 

At suture removal visit two weeks post-op:

 

The lovely Delores two months after surgery with her hair almost fully regrown: