Hi Janet,
Do you have a chiropractor in the area, or do it yourself? If there are vertebral fixations there, chiropractic will go along way to relieving cord and nerve root compression and relieving the symptoms. We just saw one avulsion case today in our clinic, where simple chiropractic, acupuncture and Hypericum (St John's Wort) have restored normal hind limb and tail function. Response was immediate following therapy, so I'm pretty sure the chiropractic and acupuncture deserve much of the credit.
In your case, sedating BL 40 is crucial to do. If the pulse improves, then the dog needs to be treated from a Wind invasion perspective to get better. My first choice would be Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang (Du Huo and Loranthus Combination). For cord or nerve root compression in animals with that pulse and tongue presentation and where they benefit from BL 40 sedation, that's my top pick.
If the dog is deficient, leaving needles in for longer than 15 minutes will have a sedating effect (thus not changing the pulse for the better), unless you are constantly delivering a tonifying stimulus (e.g. 10 Hz low amplitude electrical current). Something to bear in mind. Your acupuncture may kick in within the next day or so, or you may need BL 40 to really effect some change. I don't use the tip of the tail, myself.
Good luck and let us know how it goes,
Steve