My Dog Keeps Biting His Bum And Tail - Causes, What To Do & How To Stop It!

Have you noticed your dog chewing the underside of its tail or your puppy biting its tail and paws? As we’ve already mentioned, if your dog is suddenly chewing its tail raw and/or showing signs of compulsive behavior, this cannot be ignored! The most common causes of tail biting in dogs include:

• External parasites in dogs: It is possible that your dog has fleas or ticks nesting in its tail area. A dog will then bite this area excessively to get rid of the itch that these parasites can cause, trying to get rid of them entirely. If you analyze your dog’s tail correctly, you may also be able to see these little black visible fleas. Make sure to deworm your dog both externally and internally to get rid of these parasites and to avoid the appearance of additional skin problems. For more, we recommend taking a look at our article where we discuss everything you need to know about external parasites on dogs. Additionally, regular grooming and checks are beneficial in early detection.

• Wounds in dogs: Does your dog love to explore the outside world? If so, the reason why your dog may be biting its tail raw is due to a skin wound. We recommend checking your dog’s skin after walks to make sure that there are no present injuries. If your dog is suffering from an injury, biting must be avoided in order to prevent further infection. To help you stop your dog from biting its tail, we suggest taking a look at our article where we discuss how to stop your dog from scratching a wound. Remember, addressing the wound promptly can prevent complications.

• Anal gland problems in dogs: When a dog’s anal glands are not emptying correctly, it can result in various anal gland problems, such as inflammation, cysts, and other more serious diseases. Anal gland problems in dogs can cause great discomfort and pain to a dog, specifically in the bum area and base of the tail. If you are wondering, ‘‘Why my dog keeps biting his bum and tail?’’ Anal gland problems could be a possible cause. Dogs will scratch and bite this area to relieve themselves of discomfort and pain. If you believe that your dog is suffering from anal gland problems, we recommend consulting a veterinarian as soon as possible to treat the diagnosis accordingly. For more, read ‘‘Why does my dog drag his bum on the ground?’’ It should be noted that regular check-ups can prevent such issues.

• Skin problems: Dogs will bite their tails and other parts of the body when suffering from skin diseases such as fungus, scabies, or allergies. In this case, you can check the tail area for any visible red bumps, dry skin, or swelling. Consult a veterinarian if you notice the presence of abnormalities or if your dog biting doesn’t remit. For more detail, we recommend reading our article about skin diseases in dogs. In this regard, maintaining a clean environment can minimize skin issues.

• Herniated discs and other canine spinal problems: Dog spinal problems such as osteoarthritis and herniated discs will cause pain in the area, which a dog may try to get rid of through biting. If, for example, the problem is developing at the base of the tail or in the lumbar area, you may notice that your dog both scratches, licks, and or bites this area a lot more than normal. Additional signs of spinal problems include pain, stiffness, difficulty walking, and shivering. If your dog is showing any of these symptoms as well as the dog chewing the underside of its tail, we recommend consulting a veterinarian as soon as possible. Early detection can make a significant difference in the treatment outcomes.

The above-mentioned causes include the most common physical health problems which may explain why a dog chewing tail raw. We also recommend that, in the case of any obvious physical and/or psychological changes in your dog, that you consult a veterinarian as soon as possible.