Dogs constantly amuse their owners with playful antics, and one of the more classic routines many dog owners find comical is a dog chasing its tail. There are many reasons why your dog might be chasing its tail. However, when the tail chasing turns into tail biting, that can be worrisome.

So, why do dogs bite their tails?

While a dog chasing its tail can be pleasurable to watch, it could mean something else when it becomes a habit. Compulsive canine behaviors like tail biting often signal potential issues. This post will cover the common reasons why dogs bite their tails and how to stop your dog from biting its tail.

Why do dogs bite their tails?

There are many reasons why dogs bite or chew their tails. If your dog is biting its tail too repetitively, he is likely not having fun. Here are common causes of canine tail biting:

1. Parasitic infestations

One of the common reasons dogs bite their tails is parasitic infections. Fleas, ticks, mites, and some internal parasites that migrate out of the rectum cause great irritation and an itching sensation that dogs cannot resist. Dogs are especially allergic to the saliva of fleas and ticks.

When the rear or tail starts itching due to infestation, your dog reacts by scratching, licking, or biting the itching spot to comfort itself and get rid of the parasite. When the infestation goes undiagnosed, your dog could bite the affected spot until it breaks its own skin.

Tapeworms and roundworms can cause discomfort around the anus, which the dog feels compelled to chew. Repeated biting or chewing can lead to whining.

Whatever the infestation, the good news is that there is a treatment to remedy it. Sprays, shampoos, treated baths, and medicated collars work well to prevent external parasite infestations. Your veterinarian can prescribe the right medications for tapeworms, roundworms, and other internal parasites that cause itching in the area surrounding the dog’s anus.

2. Allergies

Like humans, dogs can have allergies that cause their skin to be very itchy. Sometimes when you see your dog biting its tail, it could be doing so to ease discomfort caused by an allergic reaction.

While many things can cause allergies in dogs, the two primary causes are food and environmental allergens. Different foods, like poultry, wheat, potatoes, and some vegetables, as well as environmental allergens, like pollen, dust, mold, and dander, can cause allergic reactions in dogs. Some dogs can be allergic to the products the owners use.

Whatever the cause, allergic reactions are severe in puppies compared to mature dogs.

If you suspect your dog has an allergy, take him to the veterinarian and have him checked. Your veterinarian will help you identify the allergen and prescribe or recommend a mitigation measure. Proper dieting can go a long way to preventing some allergic reactions.

3. Stress and anxiety

Dogs need a lot of physical and mentally stimulating activities to build muscle and maintain good mental shape. When your dog gets bored or feels anxious, it can manifest in some destructive behaviors like tearing up your shoes, chewing your pillows, or biting its own tail to ease his condition.

Some dogs also feel anxious when new guests visit and may start chewing their tails to get your attention. If your dog doesn’t have any underlying health condition that could be causing its tail to itch, he could be stressed.

4. Impacted anal glands

Dog’s annal glands play a critical role in helping them mark their territories – they produce a strong-smelling fluid for territorial marking. If the glands do not secrete the fluid for whatever reason, they may get clogged and impacted.

Impacted anal glands can lead to severe discomfort, triggering the dog to chew the tail or around the anus to soothe the irritation.

If you suspect your dog’s anal glands are impacted or clogged, it is imperative to contact your vet immediately and have him checked.

5. Hot spots

If your dog is constantly chasing his tail and biting it repetitively, he might be having a hot spot. Simply, a hot spot is an open wound that develops due to repeated scratching or chewing. It turns out that your dog will lick, scratch, or bite it even more frequently.

Because of the exposure to elements, hot spots increase susceptibility to developing secondary infections. Interestingly, you don’t have to be super keen to notice them. Patches of matted hair, lack of hair, blood, scabs, and red, irritated skin are tell-tale signs of hot spots. If you see any of these signs, call your vet to tend to the issue before it exacerbates into something worse.

Your veterinarian will help you identify whatever is triggering the hot spots and prescribe the right medication.

6. Injured tail

Injured tails — fractures, abrasion, dislocation, or laceration — can cause a lot of pain and discomfort, and pups with long tails are more prone to tail injuries. Because dogs cannot speak out about whatever they are experiencing, your dog might want to bite the tail to ease the pain. Your dog might also bite the tail as a way to communicate to you whatever he is suffering.

Any injury can be a serious issue and requires immediate attention. This is very important because biting an already injured tail can strain the tissues and aggravate the situation. As a pet parent, be keen to notice any communication your dog is passing and work with a knowledgeable vet to address the problem.

7. Hormonal imbalance

Hormonal imbalance in dogs can trigger many reactions, one of which is tail biting or chewing. For instance, inadequate thyroid hormone and excessive cortisol increase susceptibility to skin infections, which can affect the tail area. If the tail develops bald spots, it starts itching, which can cause the dog to start biting it to soothe itself.

Symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder in dogs

Whether your dog is stressed, having a skin infection, or simply seeking your attention, there are a host of symptoms to look for. If your dog is repetitively chasing, biting, or choosing its tails, here are some of the things to look for to know what is causing it to act compulsively:

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  Repeated scratching
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  High chase or prey drive
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  Presence of blood, pus, or matted hair due to injuries or infections
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  Swelling
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  Red, irritated skin
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  Unsettledness
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  Unusual whining
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  Inflammation of the skin
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  Gnawing
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  Unusual foul smell from the rear end
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  Scooting

The symptoms vary depending on what is troubling your dog. Whatever the underlying issue is, it is imperative to call your veterinarian or take your dog to the vet for checking. This is vitally important, considering that even small infestations or seemingly light infections can quickly get aggravated by repetitive biting or chewing.

Remedies for tail biting

First, you must identify why your dog is biting its tail. From there, you can figure out the best treatment and remedy for the problem. All the remedies are aimed at correcting the dogs’ behavior so that it stays comfortable and healthy. Generally, finding the best solution to prevent your dogs from biting tails will depend on various valid reasons. Still, the main determinant for a better solution is the underlying cause of biting.

Working in coordination with a veterinarian will help you ensure that you have determined the actual reason behind your dogs harming their tails. The vet will also help you follow the treatment and remedy steps appropriately to deal with the behavior successfully.

Here are some remedies and treatment procedures to help keep your dog from biting its tail.

1. Change the food you give to your dog

When you diagnose that your dog is suffering from allergic reactions after eating a certain meal, and it ends up biting its tail, it is essential to change the meal plan. Determine the actual foods that cause allergic reactions and remove them from the dog’s meal. With the help of your veterinarian, you can do an allergy test or a food sensitivity test to find out the exact cause of the allergy. The vet can then recommend a special meal plan and diet based on the test results. If you adhere to this plan, you will see results in a very short time. Your dog’s tail-biting behavior and skin will change when they no longer feed on meals that trigger allergies.

2. Eliminate parasites

You can easily notice your dog biting its tail when it has parasites. In this case, you will have to deal with the parasite infestation. You can easily get several treatments for ticks and fleas and try them on your dog and the dog’s bedding. Washing the bedding is another important aspect in ensuring you eradicate the fleas and other parasites that might be hiding there.

If other pets in your home are also affected by the parasites, it is important that you subject them to treatment. Otherwise, they will still spread those pesky creatures to your dog, and the bad behavior may return. Also, consider cleaning the areas where your animals sleep and the entire home if the infestation is extreme.

3. Use medication to treat the behavior

There might be a number of underlying conditions within your dog’s body that makes it bite its tail. For example, your dog might have generally dry or flaky skin, which is the reason why it bites the tail. In such a case, there is a need for oral or topical medication that will help a dog get back its normal skin.

There are times when your dog will bite its tail because of a hot spot. Administering a topical solution will help reduce the itchiness on your dog’s skin. If your dog suffers from a skin infection, antibiotics, anti-itch, and steroids will help relieve the skin, and your dog will stop biting its tail.

4. Deal with anxiety and boredom

Your dog might be biting its tail because it is bored or anxious. If your vet diagnoses anxiety and boredom as the cause of your dog’s behavior, it is important that you help the pet manage the anxiety. One of the best ways to manage stress and boredom in dogs is to ensure they get enough exercise and receive adequate mental stimulation and affection.

Generally, destructive behaviors will reduce whenever the dog feels that all its stimulation needs are met. You can also train your dog to chew and bite when allowed. Train it to only bite or chew toys, bones, or a served meal.

5. Apply a bitter spray on the dog’s tail

You can keep your dog from biting its tail by applying a bitter yet safe spray on the tail so that it will not feel comfortable when chewing. Make sure that the spray you use is not poisonous and is soft enough not to cause itchiness on the tail. You should also check to ensure the spray’s ingredients won’t cause any allergic reaction to your dog, especially when ingested. In case of allergic reactions after applying the bitter spray, you will need to find a better way to deal with the dog’s behavior. You can always try different sprays or ask your vet to recommend another effective remedy.

Conclusion: Is dog biting behavioral or an issue of concern?

Dogs give much attention to chasing, biting, and chewing their tails. While they might be having fun, sometimes it could be something different. If your dog is repetitively chasing and biting its tails, it might be afflicted by many problems, so don’t always assume it is the playful nature of pets. Dog biting becomes an issue of concern when what seemed normal behavior starts interfering with the dog’s quality of life.

Whatever the reason, if your dog is biting its tail too repetitively, it is imperative to call your vet and have the pet diagnosed immediately. Some causes of the compulsive disorder can quickly aggravate, turning to even worse situations that put your dog’s life at risk. If you are a pet parent, hopefully, this post will help address any usual dog biting.