06
Oct
An obsessive dog suffering from separation anxiety may chase his tail to help calm himself while his owner is gone. This is especially true for puppies who may not even realize that their tail is actually a part of their body but see it as a toy.
Fleas and ticks are common reasons that your dog might chase their tail and biting their back end.
Why does my dog constantly chase his tail. 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 action. Sometimes dogs chew their tails because theyre bored or curious about their tail. Other times a dog chewing their tail can be a sign of something more serious.
Here are a few of the most common. Oftentimes dogs will chase their tails because they are a bit bored. Its a way for them to have fun and expend some energy.
This is especially true for puppies who may not even realize that their tail is actually a part of their body but see it as a toy. 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.
Fleas and ticks are common reasons that your dog might chase their tail and biting their back end. The pesty parasites can cause irritation to the base of your dogs tail causing them to seem like they are chasing their tail when really they are just trying to bite their back end. Another reason why your dog may be biting or chewing at his tail is due to a canine parasitic infection.
Two of the most common culprits are fleas and ticks which many dog owners are familiar with and already take preventative measures. 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. The most common reason a dog will chase its tail is boredom explains Dr. Gabrielle Fadl DVM veterinarian and medical director at Bond Vet.
If a dog is not stimulated through moderate daily exercise toys and treats you furry friend may direct its attention to its tail out of boredom. 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. This could explain why your dog is licking or chewing on their feet or indeed chase their tail. If chasing their tail calms their heart rate down your dog will correlate that with feeling better and this means that theyll start performing the same action.
Its normal for puppies to chase their tails but not so much for adult dogs. As your dog matures she learns to distinguish her body parts by sight and loses much of her puppy playfulness. Some adult dogs might still chase their tails as a way to get your attention but tail-chasing in adult dogs tends to be a sign of a bigger problem.
Simply train your dog to chase his own tail and he can have all the limelight when these moments come around. Theres also the added bonus that this type of training will make it easier to train him to do a range of other things from heel to stay. While it is not usually common for a dog to chase their tail because of something medically wrong it does happen.
It could be that your dog has fleas or tapeworms. If this is the case you will notice them chasing their tail constantly andor they nip or chew at their tail. If you think its just harmless fun when your puppy chases his tail think again.
It could indicate a neurological problem or a serious case of boredom and it can escalate into more destructive activities like self-chewing. Stopping the behavior while hes still young is key.