My Dog Keeps Biting His Tail (What Does This Mean?)

Is your dog biting his tail for no apparent reason? Well, it might seem like there’s no reason, but there could a hidden agenda behind it.

Our dog kids can’t talk, so they can’t directly tell us what’s wrong with them or how they feel. They do however, show us gestures of happiness, comfort, sadness and distress.

Sometimes they might do something weird or out of the ordinary, such as chasing or biting their tails! If it’s just a mere occasional matter then it’s definitely okay.

But if your furry friend keeps on doing the same thing over and over again, it’s time for you to step forward and find out what’s wrong.

That’s why today we’ll be talking about the reasons your canine might be displaying this odd behavior and possible solutions to why your dog keeps biting his tail.

There are some few common reasons why most dogs bite or chase their tails on a constant basis.

Let’s see what they are:

• Allergies and environmental issues.
• Flea problems. Worms and ticks can also be the cause.
• Some form of injury.
• Infections.
• Boredom, stress, anxiety.
• Impacted anal glands.

Now, let’s take a deeper look into why your dog keeps biting his tail!

Your dog might have a skin allergy that is causing him to bite its tail. Allergies can be environmental or from fleas or certain foods. Flea or ticks can cause irritation to the skin and make your precious pooch uncomfortable.

It’s a normal reaction to allergic rashes - your dog wanting to scratch, trying to relief himself from the constant itching!

This is one of the most common problems with our furry pets, mostly dogs. Your pupster might get fleas or ticks just by fooling around outside or playing with one of it’s infected canine friends.

It’s a common factor for our dogs to encounter fleas at least once in their doggy lifetime, no matter how hard we try to prevent it.

Therefore, if the fleas make contact with your dogs tail, your dog will undoubtedly try to scratch and bite his tail.

Also, be on the lookout for tapeworms, as they can cause discomfort in the anal region causing your dog to bite at the root of his tail. This would hurt your dog and cause him to whine.

Injuries to your canines hind area might go unnoticed at first glance, but can cause your dog to keep biting his tail. A fractured tailbone or hurt tail would cause your pup great distress, but they won’t be able to inform you.

This can lead them to chew or lick their affected area constantly to draw your attention to the hurt spot. It’s another way your furry friend lets you know that he needs help.

Infections happen when an open wound gets affected by bacteria. This could be the result of excessive scratching or an injury from something else. Therefore, if not treated promptly and properly, your dog will be susceptible to infections down the road.

So, be extra careful when something like that happens - take him to the vet immediately without wasting any time.

Our dogs also suffer from stress and anxiety issues just like us. Sometimes boredom can cause our four legged friends to act out and self-damage themselves.

Dogs that suffer from anxiety issues can bite their tails as a sign of distress, it might be their way of dealing with their issues - definitely not a good solution.

Also, lack of exercise or playfulness will make your dog bored and unhappy, which can lead to why your dog keeps biting his tail.

It’s another common reason for dogs to bite their tails. Anal glands are really important for dogs, kind of similar to our hands. They have a special form of a glandular fluid that helps them be familiar with a new dog.

This is the reason why they sniff their rear ends when they meet. If by any chance your dog is having an anal gland issue he might start to chew at it until it bleeds.

Sometimes a foul smell will manifest with the chewing.

We all want what's best for our pets, by acting quickly and taking care of the problem right away we can prevent our dogs from having health problems down the road.

Here are some of the possible solutions you can do to help your pet dog:

As we mentioned earlier certain foods could cause your dog to be allergic. To determine if that’s the cause, change your dog's food habits to see if that solves the problem.

Also, you can test for specific allergies with the help of your Vet.

If you figure out what’s bothering your dog, then remove those ingredients from their diet once and for all.

Does your canine have issues with fleas or ticks? Don’t worry, there are plenty of options for you to try out. You could try special dog shampoo made for only removing fleas. If you own a dog breed like husky, then this could be a problem.

These breeds have long hair that needs proper care. To prevent any damage to their coat you should definitely use a suitable shampoo. It will get rid of the flea problem and also make their coats soft and smell good.

If your dog is suffering from skin infections then you should check in with your vet right away. Skin infections are not something you can deal with lightly. You’ll need proper medication to make your dog feel all better like before.

No matter what causes self-harming behavior in your dog, it’s not good for their health. So, when you see this type of action taking place, you’ll need to discourage it.

You could teach your dog basic commands or use a training collar to stop them from biting at their tail.

Note: We always recommend you reward your dog for good behavior.

If you are a busy person with a full-time job, then it’s normal for your dog to feel bored and restless while you are away from the home. If boredom or anxiety is the reason for your dog to act in this strange way, then you should definitely change up your act.

Try to squeeze in time in for your pooch, play with him, take him for a walk, and give him lots of treats. Just make sure he is happy and healthy.

Why your dog keeps biting his tail might be for any reason. Whatever the cause is you should always love your dog and help him move on from this bad habit. As a “thank you”, you’ll get lots of love and affection in return.

About the Author: Hey there, I’m Emma Thompson, founder of The Pet Town, and I’m here to provide you with useful information about your precious pet. All pets deserve the best care, don’t they? But not all pet owners have access to the right products and tips for their pets. And the central core of my work here is to change that.