We don't always know how a dog got injured when it is brought to us for care. In fact, most of the time we don't have any idea what got them hurt in the first place. It doesn't really matter, we will help any dog that we can. In the case of Duk Dik, this was an injury the likes of which I had never seen before. Not exclusively anyway. ![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/kbv.animalwelf/23viCgiyZ5qhQxwa8VvgLnnSwqx1uJjsJB2F3eE7LWLzn38BTirbfHyFY81zpKidUH7o5.png) I am not going to speculate on what happened. It could have been a car, a fight, or animal cruelty. We were always going to help anyway but for many in our crew, this was the first time that they had learned that a dog's tail is actually bone and part of the dog's skeletal system. ![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/kbv.animalwelf/23wr5ZWfuatiR6mzpNJVvD7fCVrkHrn5yPwbjHjSNHAoDxiXgfvMkQr7na4ByTMijkBbV.png) it is very soft bone tissue that is similar to the vertebrate of humans in it's consistency but obviously not as vulnerable as a human spine. If a tail ends up getting cut, it runs the risk of infection just like a cut anywhere else would, but because there is bone there, there is a risk of bone infection and this can spread all up the dog's spine over time so we had to intervene after we realize that the cleaning and treating of the wound was not enough. ![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/kbv.animalwelf/23w2j7FCEnb7z9QrP1vWvQaVPo7bC8pKeSLWq3rjRJSSWAh8ujm8SZFF8htid565mhWdx.png) This is least graphic picture I have of the procedure but a fragment of the tail bone had to be removed in order to prevent infection that could move up the body into the pelvis and this would cause problem that could be extreme or perhaps inoperable. This wasn't a case of us needing to Go GO GO! But it was important for us to do this rather rapidly. We removed the infected portion and then had to put a rather silly looking cast on Duk Dik for a while and also prevent her from messing with it via the famous "cone of shame" that dogs wear for a wide variety of reasons. These days Duk Dik chills and is fine. A completely lost tail can actually mess up a dog's balance and I don't know why that is. I just know that it is true. Thankfully this has not been the case with Duk Dik and he just kind of chills, is very friendly, and even wags her little tail nub whenever people get nearby. ![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/kbv.animalwelf/242DC5qL8Bi7aGUo5DTb4LrtDGH17DTMUfM21GDsoUVCAGdRCU9qR5a3DLiv534Pqb2Aw.png) because of the surgery she stayed with us for a while and it was just 6 weeks. As I have said many times before we take great care during those weeks to ensure that the dogs (and cats) do not become completely dependent upon us because since we do not have the ability to keep all of these animals, we must return them to the places where we found them injured. Normally this is a temple and they are usually quite happy to get back there anyway even though to us it doesn't seem like a great place to live. Dogs have friends and social lives as well you know! Duk Dig was happy to return to her buddies after her little surgery-vacation with us and we check back in on her every now and then to make sure that the infection doesn't return. While tail wounds are quite rare on dogs, you should be aware that this is something that could become quite serious if left untreated. Normally dogs will take care of this wound on their own via licking, but it becomes a problem if they cannot reach it, which was the case with Duk Dik. Happy trails to you little buddy!

If you would like to see how you can help out or simply spread the word, please visit our website at

http://krabianimalwelfare.org

![21462758_174743779763179_4154543215066704521_n.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmXHEhXj4e6AzsbAJKsFo8csozuoq1uUcMSdFQTYifzi55/21462758_174743779763179_4154543215066704521_n.jpg) _{Krabi Animal Welfare is a charity run entirely by volunteers and are a registered non-profit organization in Thailand and the U.K.. We aim to relieve the pain and suffering of dogs and cats within Krabi Province.} เป็นผู้สนับสนุนรายเดือนหรือบริจาคครั้งเดียวได้ที่: http://krabianimalwelfare.org

Dog Bone :)