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My dog's tail is swollen, bloody, and she's biting it. What's wrong?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | American Bulldog | Female | unspayed | 50 lbs

My dogs tails is swollen and it seems like it hurts her because she doesn't let us touch it to look at it. It's swollen from the middle to the end. She keeps biting it. She also has blood on it.

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1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Elizabeth

Veterinarian

Published on June 11th, 2017

It looks like Bella likely either has an infection on her tail or may have possibly injured/broken a bone. Both conditions can cause swelling and pain. First make sure you protect the tail by having Bella wear an elizabethan collar. The more she chews on it, the worse she makes it. Secondly, call her doctor and get her in asap for an exam and appropriate medication as it likely hurts. If she will allow you to apply cool compresses, that can help with the swelling and the pain. You can wet a rag and put it in the refrigerator (NOT the freezer) for 5 minutes then apply it to the area. If she does not tolerate it, allow the rag to warm up a little (too cold might be uncomfortable as well). Hope she starts feeling better!

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