The position of a dog’s tail can often mean many different things, from excitement to fear to anger and even illness.
Pugs are no different from other dog breeds in this respect, as their little curled tails can often be just as expressive despite their shortness. So, what does it mean when a pug’s tail is in the down position?
When a pug’s tail is down, it can often mean they are unhappy, ill, or scared. Their tails will usually be curled up and wagging when they feel happy or excited, so if it uncurls and hangs down, this is typically a sign of negative feelings.
So why exactly do pugs do this with their tails when they feel down, sick, or scared?
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at pugs and what they tell us with their tails, so keep reading to learn everything you need to know about this topic.
What Do Different Tail Positions Mean?
As mentioned earlier, a pug can communicate various feelings through its tail’s position or a.ka. Pug tail language.
This includes when they’re happy, scared, feel threatened, or even when they’re sick. So, what do all the different tail positions mean?
When a pug’s tail is curled and wagging, they are excited, happy, or energetic. You’ll notice that their tail comes up over their rear in one tight curl, and it will wag from side to side rapidly.
The perkiness of their tail will almost always mean that they are feeling a positive emotion or ready to play.
A pug’s tail pointing down, limp, or uncurled can mean a few different things. The first is that they are feeling unhappy. This could result from feeling threatened, getting hurt or injured, or even from illness.
When a pug is sick, its tails will usually uncurl and hang limp, so if you notice this behavior, you should determine the source of its unhappiness.
A pug’s tail may also hang limp when they’re adolescent. Usually, young pugs will not have fully curled tails yet, but instead, their tails will sit flipped upon their backs and lay more or less straight.
This should usually sort itself out as they age, but they may need extra help if the pug tail problems persist past seven weeks.
Other Meanings of a Pug’s Tail Being Down
Even though the main reason a pug’s tail is held down is that they are unhappy, scared, sick, or hurt, there are also other reasons they may hold their tails this way.
Some of these other meanings are signs that they are extra tired, want to retreat and be alone or have a sudden decrease in appetite and energy. While some of these issues may not seem serious, they should be brought to a vet’s attention if they persist for more than a few days.
When taken to a vet, they may determine that the cause is simply a “limp tail.” This happens when the bone at the base of a pug’s tail becomes injured or damaged, making it painful and difficult for the pug to hold their tail up in the curled position.
A series of x-rays from a vet will normally diagnose this problem. Using anti-inflammatory medications, pain meds, and bed rest will often help the issue resolved, and the pug will return to its normal self in a short while.
What Does It Mean When a Pug Holds Its Tail at a Funny Angle?
Sometimes, you may notice that pugs hold their tails slightly to the side or at a funny angle. While this could indicate injury to the tail, it may not always be because of this.
The most common reason a pug may hold their tail at an odd angle is that its anal glands have enlarged and swollen. This causes their tails to sit at a weird angle, which may be off to the side or even a bit more horizontal in orientation.
This issue is usually best handled by a trained vet or groomer, who can express the enlarged glands and relieve pressure on the area. This is especially true if the pug’s glands have been enlarged for an extended period, as this can cause an increased chance of infection.
After the discomfort of the enlarged glands has been resolved, you’ll notice the pug’s tail steadily return to its natural position. With no pain or discomfort from enlarged or swollen anal glands, they’ll be able to hold their tails up with no issue.
Final Thoughts
Pugs are a special breed of dog with an unusual type of tail. It curves up and over the back of their bodies in one or two tight curls and typically doesn’t wag as wide or erratically as the tails of other types of dogs.
However, despite this, a pug’s tail can be just as expressive as other dogs’ tails. They can tell you a lot about how they’re feeling based on the position they hold their tail at.
When a pug’s tail is held down or hangs limp instead of pointed up and curled, you can be sure that whatever they feel is negative. This position can mean they’re sad, uncomfortable, exhausted, sick, scared, or injured.
While it can be natural for a pug to hold their tails down from time to time, you should try to determine the source of its discomfort if this behavior persists.
To do this, bringing your pug to a trained vet may be best. They’ll be able to determine if something is wrong with your dog physically, such as injury or infection to their tail or surrounding area.
We hope this article has answered all your questions about a pug’s tail! Don’t forget to check out our other Chinese dog breeds articles for more exciting dog facts!
