My dog keeps biting his tail for hours; why is he hurting himself?

This could be behavioral, but he could also have a neurological problem or infection of the viol's gland on the tail. He will need a veterinary exam to rule out medical problem first. If there aren't any you can then address the behavioral issue. You should, in any case, keep him from reaching and biting his tail and thus avoid self-mutilation.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Storm. I recommend that he sees a veterinarian. He may have a skin infection known as a hot spot. His veterinarian will examine him and then prescribe medications to help him feel better. If this is a recurrent issue for him, then longterm management strategies should be discussed. In the meantime, place an E-collar on him to prevent any further licking. I hope this information helps!

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to see Riku is having problems. Without better pictures I would initially guess that fleas are the problem. They typically cause skin problems of the tail, rear end, and up the back. It may be that Riku is allergic to flea bites and sometimes we don't even find a flea on the pet. I would advise seeing your vet and having them work through this case. They can assess a good diagnostic/treatment plan based on physical exam findings and history. Some of the areas look moist or starting to get infected. Your vet will direct the appropriate treatment plan. Good luck Riku!

Poor guy. This sounds like he may have a common condition called “happy tail” and likely injured the end of his tail due to hitting it on hard surfaces. Another possible cause is a fungal infection, but typically this causes hair loss as well. The hair needs to first be shaved to get a better look at the skin and also allow the area to be cleansed antiseptically and apply topical ointment or spray if needed. Oral antibiotics will also likely be needed if the infection is deep. This would be best taken care of by visiting your vet. Proper wound management is essential for wounds like this to heal well and since it is the tail area it already proves difficult to shave without causing further harm. Your vet will be able to do this quickly and efficiently and also be able to provide a prescription for antibiotics which is often needed for tail wounds to prevent the infection from seeping into the bone and causing further issues. Until you can get Louis seen, you can clean it with Betadine diluted 50:50 with warm water. Best of luck with your pet Louis and his tail wound. I hope this heals well soon! Take care.

There are a number of [bitter sprays]() and anti-chew sprays which can be applied directly to the pet to prevent [licking](https://www.petcoach.co/article/why-does-my-dog-keep-licking-himself), but these are seldom successful in compulsive issues. I would be concerned that there may be an underlying source of discomfort or anxiety causing him to do so much damage to himself. I strongly recommend you get a full physical check up including his anal glands, hips and spine. Consider complimentary therapies such as [acupuncture or chiropractic care](https://www.petcoach.co/article/7-natural-treatments-for-dog-anxiety) to treat pain or anxiety. A [certified veterinary behaviorist](https://www.dacvb.org/search/custom.asp?id=4709) may be required to address behavioral concerns once medical causes have been ruled out.

Hello, sorry to hear about Jaxx. This can be associated with abnormal sensation at his tail either due to an old injury or something such as flea bites. This may also be associated with abnormalities of her anus, such as impacted anal glands or an anal gland abscess. More rarely, this may be associated with a main neurologic disease such as a seizure. Hope this helps and best of luck.

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!