Crooked Tails - Vet response

[saungier@mindspring.com]

I forwarded some of the Ridecamp digests with the questions about crooked
tails to my favorite Chiropractic DVM here in Va - Fay Witherell.  Fay's
practice is nearly entirely chiropractic/accupuncture/holistic and she has
the best eye for seeing a problem without any rider explanation that I have
ever seen.  She is located in Central Va. and is open to questions.
I am attaching her reply.

Sally Aungier, VA

Fay writes:
About crooked tails:
If the actual tail is crooked - bent or kinked - this is hereditary and
there is nothing to do for it and it shouldn't be a problem.  However, some
tails are crooked because they have been broken.  There is usually nothing
to do unless you set it at the time of the injury, but whatever caused the
fracture can well have caused chiropractic damage at the same time, which
can, and should, be treated.  The hereditary crooked tail are seen often in
dogs and I have seen them in cats. miniature pigs and other species.
Now we come to horses CARRYING their tails crookedly, off to one side.
These almost always have chiropractic problems.  The apex of the sacrum will
almost always be off to one side.  This is often secondary to the pelvis
being tipped higher on one side.  This usually accompanies the lumbars being
to one side, and so on up the horse's spine.  These are all problems that
are usually very responsive to chiropractic adjustment.  Unfortunately,
chiropractic is not part of the standard veterinary education.  Some vets
have a pretty good idea of it and will at least have a good sense of when to
refer to a chiropractor but many are still uninformed.
Here is a basic list of definite indications for chiropractic problems:
Carries tail to one side, sensitive to any grooming, cold backed, shortness
of stride in any leg, reluctance to take one lead, unexplained reluctance or
resistance, stops during the ride, stumbles, short strided (some are
diagnosed with navicular or other degenerative condition and then respond to
chiropractic adjustment) saddle doesn't fit in any way (Deb, a saddle
pinching at the withers will definitely affect the whole back because the
horse will always be compensating in its movement to get away from the
pain), bucking, rearing, high head carriage, teeth problems (may cause
compensatory chiropractic problems, or may be secondary to them), tries to
throw rider onto one diagonal, rides in a horse trailer, takes a fall or
slips and catches its balance to avoid a fall.
I'm sure to have forgotten something but that should get you started.  Just
add anything the horse does
that you don't really understand.
Unless trained in chiropractic, a vet cannot know how to evaluate a horse
for chiropractic problems, and neither
can a massage therapist.  There are a few short cuts being taught but I
would strongly advise using someone certified by the American Veterinary
Chiropractic Assoc.  Their course is excellent and is open only to licensed
veterinarians and chiropractors.  Human chiropractors should not work on
animals unless they have been certified because there are anatomical
differences that make it dangerous to use on animals some of the moves
commonly used on people.  Other techniques are taught that are specific to
animals. Simply due to the effects of carrying foreign weights on their
backs while they do athletic things, and the fact that very few of those
"weights" sit perfectly straight in perfectly straight, perfectly fitting
saddles, most horses should have regular chiropractic care.
I hope this gives you an oversight.  If anyone has any questions they can
email me at energyvet@cstone.net or call me at 804-589-2004.


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