Flower has infection in the 'pre-caudal tail gland' the one about a third down from the top of the tail, it is also hairless. She has had about 4 treatments with antibiotics and it clears up for a few days then returns. It fills up and bursts (a bit like a boil) and I am sure is very sore, the vet says it is an infection of the hair follicles.

Has anyone else experienced this, I am trying to find a more natural remedy as I do not like giving antibiotics long term, I thought it might be hormonal and go away when she has her first season,(she is 10 mths now).

Any suggestions?

cheers

Ann

It is very probably hormonal - you see it frequently in puppies, and it seems to clear up as they get older. It does happen in older dogs as well, usually intact males, when it's known as stud tail. Usually keeping the area scrupulously clean is enough to keep it under control; although it looks unsightly it never seems to bother the dogs.

Mac had a bald patch third way down his tail when he was younger. There was no sign of infection and the vet said "he was sitting on his tail and wearing the hair off ".

It did recover eventually without any intervention, so I would agree it's probably hormonal.

Cara had the same thing on her tail which eventually burst and it has never returned. Charlottes Whippet has a bald patch on her tail (she is 17 months old). We were told it is hormonal which seems to make sense as it appeared just after her 1st season.

One of my girls had it as well round about the same age, it just went away on its own.

One of mine had it , too , while growing up , no real infection , but bald , reddishscappy at times and unsightly - as I had heard of this before ( and the " stud dog tail " which is the same gland involved _ I didn't do anything ( perhaps some calendula tincture to keep it clean , you could alo use Befedo ointment if you can get it - I get it from Germany ) and over the months ( after the first heat ) it went away by it's own . Have seen those bald spots in quite a few adolescent deerhounds meanwhile - reminding me of akne in puberty....

Verena