My rescue dog bites his tail and runs in circles. Is this normal?

Typically when dogs chase their tails in an obsessive manner it is because they have excess energy they need to burn off. When Jerry starts this behavior try to redirect his attention to something else that would be a better outlet for his energy like playing ball or going for a fast paced walk. If you think Jerry is doing this because his tail is painful or irritating him, then you may want to take him to the vet to be checked out. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

At that age, he's exploring and figuring things out and just having fun! With an older dog, I'd be worried about it being more of an obsessive compulsive disorder if it was very frequent or hard to distract him from, but it's normal behavior for a baby.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Riki. I would consider asking his veterinarian about a medication trial on him as he seems to be displaying signs of a compulsive disorder. If he is injuring himself or exhausting himself by this behavior, that is not normal. If his veterinarian is not comfortable prescribing psychotropic drugs, then he may need to see a veterinary behaviorist. I hope this information helps!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This can be a classic sign seen with flea allergy dermatitis. If he is otherwise doing well, you can go ahead and start him on a flea preventative. I like Bravecto and Frontline though there are many products available in the market that are also good. If there is no improvement or he actually has a wound associated with this, have him evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment. He is adorable! Have a nice day!

I am sorry to hear about Jake. I would be concerned he could have either intense itching or pain near his hind end that is causing this behavior. The base of the tail/hind end is a common site for flea bites. I would recommend a visit to the vet for an examination. They can check for fleas and skin infection (some dogs will get a skin infection secondary to flea allergy). They can also check for pain and neurological abnormalities that may cause these signs.

This type of behavior can be from anxiety, sure. But it is best to rule out a medical reason first. I have seen dogs do this behavior when their anal glands are full or impacted. I have seen them do this with urinary issues (like a UTI). Sometimes it is phantom pain from arthritis (in the tail). My suggestion would be to have Ruby evaluated by your vet before just assuming it is a behavioral issue. Just my opinion. If CBD makes her too mellow, and you want to try something else first, my suggestion would be to try a natural calming collar or something like D.A.P. (pheromones). If this doesn't help then talk to your vet about other options. ( # ) ( https://www.entirelypets.com/dapdogappher.html ) Best wishes!

No it would be unusual for an older dog to start chasing his tail - he may have a source of pain or discomfort which is causing him irritation. I recommend you get him assessed by your vet and consider acupuncture if no obvious reason is found