What's going on when a dog's tail is hanging down?

A dog's tail hanging down may be due to reasons such as fear, illness, shock, or tail injury. When a dog's tail hangs down, it's best to first exclude whether the dog is suffering from illness or poor mental health. If unable to determine the cause, take the dog to a pet hospital for inspection and let the veterinarian treat the dog according to its specific situation to avoid missing the best treatment time.

Fear

Dogs cannot speak, so they express their emotions through body language. When a dog's tail hangs down, it means the dog is feeling scared and downcast, mostly due to not adapting to a new environment. In this case, the owner needs to comfort the dog appropriately. Hold the dog in your arms and gently stroke and console it to give it a sense of security and make it slowly become less afraid.

Illness

If a dog's tail hangs down along with symptoms such as depression and loss of appetite, it may be ill. The dog is in physical discomfort due to illness, so its tail naturally hangs down. It is recommended to take the dog to a pet hospital as soon as possible for inspection and treat it accordingly based on the examination results.

Shock

When a dog is suddenly scared and feels fearful, its tail will also hang down. In this case, the owner should try to comfort the dog more and eliminate the factors that caused the shock. You can also use treats or toys to divert its attention.

Tail injury

If a dog has a wound on its tail, it will keep it hanging due to pain. The owner should check if the tail skin is damaged or the bones are deformed. If the situation is severe, seek medical treatment promptly. If it's minor, the owner can handle it at home. Before dealing with the wound, it's best to put an Elizabeth collar on the dog to prevent it from biting people due to pain.