[lisatodd]

this is not yorkshire terriers but a study done long ago regarding tail injuries....
very interesting

FREQUENCY OF TAIL INJURIES
During the autumn of 1990, when the dogs were between 12 and eighteen months old, we received replies to our interview investigation regarding 44 litters. The investigation included 299 individual dogs (142 dogs and 157 bitches). It then became apparent that tail injuries had occurred in 23 of these litters. 81 individual dogs had suffered from tail injuries. This compared to approximately 27% of the whole investigated group. Dogs were somewhat more affected than bitches.

In the autumn of 1991, the same dogs were now 24 to 30 months old. This time we received replies from 26 litters. To make it more true, we picked out these 26 litters from the 1990 investigation, and collated the material separately. We were then able to compare the changes within the same group between 1990 and 1991.

In 1990, the group of 26 litters consisted of 191 individuals. In 1991, 179 of these were still alive. Of the 26 litters, 16 had received tail injuries in 1990 and 23 litters in 1991. In 1990, we found 72 individuals with tail injuries, corresponding to 38% of the group. In 1991 the number of tail injured individuals had increased to 92, corresponding to 51% of the group. The number of tail injured dogs had increased by more than 30%.

It could now be established that the male dog had received somewhat more injuries. If one were to transfer the above increase of 30% of tail injuries into the larger investigation group, the 44 litters from the 1990 investigation, we would end up with an increase in frequency of tail injuries from 27% in 1990 to 35% in 1991.

OCCURRING TYPES OF TAIL INJURY
The kind of tail injuries which occurred during 1990 and 1991 respectively were on the whole the same.

Bleeding and damaged tail tips, the last 10cms of the tail. Light, medium and severe injuries. On occasion it has been very difficult for the injuries to heal.
Infected and inflamed tails.
Lameness injuries and so called water tails.
Broken tails.
SEVERITY OF TAIL INJURY
The tail injuries were graded as light, medium or severe, for each individual dog in 1990 and 1991. It was established how the tail injuries had changed between the two years:

15 had improved
37 were unchanged
47 were worse
The degree of severity appears to be linked to: