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There?s nothing quite like the welcome home you receive from our girl? as we try valiantly to get through the front door Hippie comes rushing to say hello ? her back end is practically off the floor because her long tail is wagging so hard its is going round like a propeller. She jumps up and it is very hard to stand our ground, but when someone is that pleased to see us it is an amazing feeling.

The other day though after the big greeting I noticed blood on the kitchen cupboards and on inspecting the dog I discovered the end of that long lashing tail looked like a paint brush that had been dipped in red paint.

I dipped her tail end in warm salt water and checked it out ? there was a scab, probably from an earlier injury, and she must have banged it on something whilst giving a rapturous welcome.

It soon stopped bleeding so I cleaned the cupboard doors and we got back to normal.

Another panic over!!!

But not for long ? within two days the problem had got worse to the point where the house looked like a crime scene ? obviously the more she wagged as it bled ? the more it was sprayed over walls doors cupboards and radiators.

Another vets trip was in order:-

She came back with her tail bandaged ? the instruction was to keep it on as long as possible and come back in a week. She was also sporting a big collar to stop her pulling the bandage off ? that was on the Friday. On Sunday the bandage fell off – and mindful of the vet?s warning that Hippie might have to have the end of her tail removed we were very careful of letting her wag her tail to greet anybody. What a nightmare that was ? eventually my daughter took her back to be rebandaged ? another bill but this time the bandage was there to stay ? for the week ??

Another trip to the vets saw it removed ? seemingly healed but because the skin is thin and damaged ? the slightest knock would start it off again, further discussion with the vet and we knew that if any of her tail was to be removed it would be more than just the end. The mere thought of her having to have many operations and just make it a little shorter every time was just unthinkable.