[Dailydrool] tail down

[R Groves]

A simple way to explain some cases .. the more serious of which becomes the
"drunken rear end" or "drunken sailior" syndrome

 

As the spine is the sheeth for the spinal column and nerves send their
signals to, through, up and down, that column, as the column becomes
inflamed, damaged, or squeezed, it causes nerve endings to be unable to get
their signals to the brain, and conversely the signals from the brain back
down the column to cause action or reaction.

 

When we're happy, we smile .. we smile bigger when we are even happier than
happy .. and so forth . you can be happy on the inside, but if the signal is
not getting from your brain to the muscles in your face, around your lips,
eyelids, lifted forehead, etc.. then your face won't show the expression
you're feeling..

 

so to the hound.. they naturally have their tails up.. they wag when they
are happier, and the wagging gets more intense generally the more happy and
excited the hound.. 

 

So.. cut off some communication.. and their smile reflex.. the tail..
doesn't wag as much . doesn't curl upward as much.. cause the signal doesn't
get back there well enough to have the brain's motor coordination realize .
"hey.. our tail isn't curled enough so send that 'curling' signal to the
muscles of the tail" .. etc.. 

 

Cut off some of that communication, and they might be a little disjointed in
their gait, or get a little clumsy, or may even have their rear give out on
them for a second. 

 

Maybe an over-simplification, but that's the general idea. 

 

There are other times, that the tail might actually be "sprained" or "sore"
or has suffered trauma from hitting something, being stepped on, pulled..
etc.  The general grumpiness of a hound would be explained if they are
feeling the general spinal issue (somewhat like 'old age' on our creakie
bones, and sore muscles.. etc)

 

-Robert

 

 

From: dailydrool-bounces at dailydrool.org
[mailto:dailydrool-bounces at dailydrool.org] On Behalf Of asdaymil at aol.com
Sent: Wednesday, May 19, 2010 10:26 PM
To: dailydrool at dailydrool.org
Subject: [Dailydrool] tail down

 


Can someone please explain to me why bassets get a "cold in their tails".
This week my 6 yr. old came to me with his tail down.  Seems to have some
difficulty running and in general seems uncomfortable.  Why does this happen
and what can we do about it? 

 

Annette in NJ

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.dailydrool.org/pipermail/dailydrool-dailydrool.org/attachments/20100519/63c482e8/attachment-0002.htm>