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Why is my senior dog's tail swollen at the base but not hurting?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

My dog is fairly old. I noticed his tail is very swollen at the base but he is still happily wagging it and doesn’t seem to be in pain. What could it be?

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1 Answer

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Answered By Dr. Elizabeth

Veterinarian

Published on January 11th, 2019

That is good that it does not appear painful. Swelling at the base of the tail can be related to a tumor, a fat pad or less commonly- cellulitis due to infection or congestion of the blood vessels. To know for sure, you would need to see a veterinarian so they can palpate the area. They may recommend to collect a small sample of cells to look at under the microscope to get a better diagnosis. I hope this helps to point you in the right direction. Please feel free to post any additional questions!

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