Dogs have many behaviors that we as humans just don't understand, whether it's chasing cars, their seemingly inborn dislike for cats, or their desire to bite and chase their own tails. The last behavior can be particularly problematic; a dog who is biting its tail can cause lots of damage to itself if the problem is not addressed and handled promptly.
-
Fleas
-
One of the biggest causes of dogs biting their tails or anywhere else on their body is the presence of fleas or another biting insect. A dog cannot reach all of its body with its paws to scratch, so it will bite as a way of scratching. This type of biting is usually done in short bursts, in response to a bite or irritation on the skin. Fleas can be dangerous to a dog, so they should be taken care of promptly.
Fighting Fleas
-
Fleas are very resilient and are quite difficult to completely eliminate from a home and pet once they have invaded, but it can be done. The first task is to remove the fleas from your pooch either through a flea dip bath or through some medication. Secondly, you want to prevent more fleas from getting on the dog, which is usually done through a flea collar or flea medication. Next, you must remove fleas from your home. Foggers and flea sprays work best for this undertaking.
Canine Compulsive Disorder
-
Canine compulsive disorder (CCD) is a fairly common disorder that affects dogs for a few different reasons, such as stress or allergies. There have been university studies that have shown that certain breeds are predisposed to specific compulsive behaviors. For example, Doberman pinschers are more likely to suck their flanks than other breeds, whereas German shepherds are more likely to chase their tails. CCD can lead to many destructive canine behaviors like chewing on themselves or on furniture or other objects.
Preventing CCD
-
The prevention of CCD is quite difficult due to the fact that an individual dog will react to its personal environment and life events differently than another dog would. An event that could cause one dog to be compulsive could leave another dog completely unscathed. That being said, there are a few ways to try to reduce the possibility of onset, such as daily exercise, obedience training, stable home environment and frequent positive interaction with its owner.
Other Causes
-
There are many other possible explanations for why a dog would bite its tail. Some dogs will bite their tail as a game, which is a behavior especially common in puppies. Another reason is allergies: A dog will try to scratch at irritated flesh with its teeth. Finally, it's possible that the dog is suffering from some sort of dementia. If your dog is biting its tail and injuring itself, your best bet would be to take the dog to a veterinarian.
-