To Russ Hazzon: >While stroking his tail I noticed ... [what} appeared to be a break in the >tail that has already healed. Russ, that may have been a broken tail, or simply a malformation. This type of tail defect is fairly common in domestic animals and doesn't affect the animal. Basically it's a blemish, but is of little consequence to the animal. -- Bruce Williams, DVM, DACVP Department of Veterinary Pathology [log in to unmask] Armed Forces Institute of Pathology [log in to unmask] Washington, D.C. 20306-6000 (202) 782-2600/2602 [Posted in FML issue 1184]