What is corkscrew tail? Corkscrew tail, also known as screw tail or ingrown tail, is a vertebral malformation that commonly occurs in certain dog breeds. In this condition, vertebrae may be fused together or otherwise abnormally structured, leading to the tail taking on an abnormal shape and curvature.
Screw tail is due to a malformation of one of several vertebrae in the tail. It most commonly occurs in Bulldogs, who have a clear genetic tendency for it. The condition can also rarely occur in pugs, Boston terriers and Manx cats.
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.
“Screw tail” is a descriptive slang term for the corkscrew-like deviation of the tail most commonly seen in the English bulldog. This condition also has been called “ingrown tail” (Fig. 1). It is infrequently seen in French bulldogs, pugs, and Boston terriers.
The screw tail is caused by deletion c. 2044delC in the WNT pathway gene Dishevelled 2 (DVL2), which leads to a shift in the reading frame, premature inclusion of the stop codon and the formation of a truncated non-functional DVL2 protein that plays a role in Wnt signalling.
Corkscrew tail is an inherited condition. There is nothing that you can do to prevent your dog from developing corkscrew tail, but there are measures breeders can take to reduce the incidence of corkscrew tail in their litters.
Researchers have also discovered that humans indeed have an intact Wnt-3a gene, as well as other genes that have been shown to be involved in tail formation. Through gene regulation, we use these genes at different places and different times during development than those organisms that normally have tails at birth.
According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), a Frenchie's tail can be straight or corkscrew-shaped, but no matter what shape it is, it is naturally short.
Nowadays, people cut off dogs' tails for four main reasons: to conform to the breed standard, sanitary reasons, to protect the dog from injuries, and for cosmetic purposes. Breeders of purebred dogs often perform these surgical modifications to keep up with AKC standards.
A: Tail docking of some breeds may be based on a belief that their non-working members experience risks similar to working dogs; more commonly, however, it is to conform to a distinctive breed appearance or standard. Survey data indicate that preventive tail docking of pet dogs is unnecessary.
Straight Tail
When a Bulldog puppy is born, his tail is already starting to resemble what it will look like when he grows into an adult. According to the American Kennel Club, the straight tail and the corkscrew-shaped tails are the most desirable. A newborn Bulldog puppy' straight tail is soft.
This tail shape can be caused by vertebrae that have either fused or are wedge-shaped. The medical term for this condition is hemivertebrae. It's common in these breeds and not a concern as long as it effects the only the tail.
Sometimes referred to as “kennel tail” and “bleeding tail,” happy tail syndrome should not be confused with “limber tail syndrome,” another condition associated with an injured tail.
Boston Terriers are born with naturally short tails due to a mutated gene that causes the tail to grow unusually short.
Treatment of Stud Tail in Dogs
If your dog's stud tail is not infected, the veterinarian may decide just to use topical ointment and antibacterial shampoo. However, if your dog has any sign of infection, the veterinarian will most likely give him an antibiotic injection.
Any non-veterinarian who docks a dog's tail, or any veterinarian who docks for a reason other than the dog's welfare, is liable for prosecution. A maximum penalty of $14,375 applies for individuals and up to 5 times more for corporations. Dog tail docking is banned in all other Australian states and territories.
In the case of the Australian Shepherd pup, tail docking is a procedure that benefits the life of the dog. A shorter tail prevents potential breaking later in life and ensures a cleaner and more sanitary lifestyle for the dog and its owner.
However, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and British Veterinary Association (BVA) maintain that tail docking is painful and may negatively affect the development of a puppy's vulnerable nervous system. Additionally, poorly performed docking can lead to chronic pain.
While many dog breeds have traditionally had their tails docked, these 7 breeds are born without a wagger. They include the French bulldog, Boston terrier, Welsh corgi, and some lesser-known beauties, too.
The main reason why French Bulldogs are so expensive is that the breeding costs are extremely high. For Frenchies to reproduce, they require artificial insemination & c-sections, which will cost the breeder anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000. And that's on top of all the other breeding expenses!
The oldest known primates, dating back 66 million years, had full-fledged tails that they likely used to keep their balance in trees. Today most living primates, such as lemurs and almost all monkeys, still have tails.
Tails are used for balance, for locomotion and for swatting flies. We don't swing through the trees anymore and, on the ground, our bodies are aligned with a centre of gravity that passes down our spines to our feet without needing a tail to counterbalance the weight of our head.
It has been argued that human evolution has stopped because humans now adapt to their environment via cultural evolution and not biological evolution. However, all organisms adapt to their environment, and humans are no exception.
Although stud tail is seen most commonly in entire males (where testosterone presumably influences its development), it can occasionally be seen in neutered males and in females. The overactivity of the sebaceous glands predisposes to the development of feline acne.