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In some cases tail-chasing may also be a form of idiopathic epilepsy says Dr. A flea tick or other parasite infestation can cause your dog to chase their tail in order to bite or scratch it.
Watching a dog chase her tail is undeniably entertaining but when she does it constantly it can get worrisome.
My dog chases his tail constantly. If your dog is obsessively chasing his tail your vet can check to see if there is an infection a spinal abnormality or other medical issue causing the. Watching a dog chase her tail is undeniably entertaining but when she does it constantly it can get worrisome. Some dogs with anal gland problems flea allergic dermatitis or other medical issues have been known to chase their rear ends.
Sometimes albeit uncommonly tail-chasing is a sign of obsessive compulsive disorder. Sometimes dogs will chase their tails because they are being bothered by worms or fleas or experiencing some other kind of medical issue. Genetics For reasons that we still dont really understand breeds like German shepherds and terriers tend to engage in tail-chasing more than other breeds even as they grow older.
In addition to anxiety and stress there could be many reasons why a dog chases their tail. These include the following reasons. If your dog is bored and feels like they are not getting enough attention and theyre not in the mood to assume themselves with toys theyll chase their tail to pass the.
Switch to a sensitive skin diet. If your dog is chasing their tail because of a food allergy you can try switching to a sensitive skin diet. This food will have a limited ingredient list or a novel protein for your dog.
Many times food trials will take 6 to 8 weeks before you see the full results. Any other problem with the dogs back end or the tail itself can lead to an obsessive preoccupation with that general area which may manifest as tail chasing. Consider issues such as an injury or problem with the tail itself or even joint or nerve problems in the lower part of the dogs spine.
I have had my dog to the vet and tested for everything. Nothing seems to be found wrong. He constantly and I mean all of the time chases his tail and chews on it.
He will also stare at his tail and whine at it. It is driving me so crazy I dont. If there are no visible sores on his tail yet he keeps going for this area then the most common reasons that he would do this are flea infestation and anal gland problems.
Unfortunately flea baths are not very effective against fleas so this certainly still could be his problem. If your dog seems to spend a lot of time biting chewing or licking his tail this usually targets the base of the tail and may occur for a wide range of reasons. Some of the causes for this are behavioural or habit-based while others have an underlying medical cause but either way biting the tail is usually indicative of a problem of some sort that needs to be resolved.
A flea tick or other parasite infestation can cause your dog to chase their tail in order to bite or scratch it. Visit your veterinarian for treatment options if you notice your dog biting. If your dog is incessantly biting his tail he may have some type of parasite infestation according to Dogster.
Such parasites may take the forms of fleas ticks or worms or a combination of pests. The base of the tail is an area along with the back of the head where fleas tend to congregate. An obsessive dog suffering from separation anxiety may chase his tail to help calm himself while his owner is gone.
Or your dog may chase his tail when he feels overcome with anxiety when a stranger approaches the house or during a loud thunderstorm. In some cases tail-chasing may also be a form of idiopathic epilepsy says Dr. Jennifer Coates a veterinarian in Fort Collins Colorado.
In some cases tapeworms causing itching around the anus can also lead to a dog chewing at the base of their tail. If fleas or ticks are causing your dog to bite their tail the best way to get them to stop is to treat them with medicated shampoos and other products that remove the ticks or fleas. However if your dog chases her tail regularly for attention then this can cover up illnesses that might cause a dog to chase her tail.
In other words if your dog chases her tail for attention but then develops an infection you would not notice a change of behavior and might miss the infection altogether. Because of this we recommend regularly checking your dogs tail for problems even she is usually. My dog constantly chases his tail and bites at his scrotum - Answered by a verified Dog Veterinarian.
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