Why is my dog whining, tail chasing, and licking his tail base?

Considering your description he is either try to defecate something (whose passage may be painful) or he has a problem with his anal glands (severe inflammation or infection). It is possible as well that the pain is coming from the lumbosacral area. Unfortunately without checking him, it is not possible to give you more specific advice at his stage (unless you send us more descriptions or pictures of the area). Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation (where you can post pictures ) if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

I am sorry rascal is not feeling well. I would recommend taking him to a veterinarian to determine the cause of discomfort with the tail. Dogs have glands inside the rectum called anal glands that can cause inflammation and irritation. I would recommend having a vet examine these glands to make sure they are not the problem. Also skin allergies or fleas can cause irritation. You can try an over the counter anti histamine to decrease inflammation. Hope that helps and he feels better soon.

The most common things that could cause this behavior are flea bites around the back or tail, anal sacs that are full and itchy or infected, or a tail injury. You can check for fleas by combing the fur with a fine tooth comb. If you see fleas on the comb then give a bath and apply a flea prevention product. If you see him scooting I recommend your veterinarian express the anal sacs to empty the fluid and see if there is an anal sac infection. You can feel his tail and if there is a tail injury there will be one area that is more sensitive. Usually tail injuries will heal without treatment over a few days. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Savage.

I think Max might have a problem with his anal glands, two scent glands located to the sides of the anus that can get impacted and turn into proper abscesses ( localised infection ). I would recommend that you have him checked over as it can be quite uncomfortable ! He will need some antibiotics and pain relief .

Poor guy. I would be concerned about his anal glands being full, or him having a superficial bacterial or yeast infection at the base of his tail. For either issue, a quick vet visit should give him a lot of relief. Even if it started as a an anal gland issue, he may have caused a superficial infection with constant licking and now need a medicated bath or even oral antibiotics. I hope that helps and that he's back to normal soon!

She could have a tail sprain causing discomfort or skin irritation in that area. An anal gland infection would be another possibility. If she is that painful I would recommend seeing your veterinarian for an exam to determine what’s causing the pain.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Charlie. This is typically a sign there is a problem around that area. Dogs when they have an area that bothers them they lick it a lot. Licking around this area could be due to impacted and/or infected anal sacs, fleas, or intestinal worms. Without seeing him in person, I can't say for certain. The way to know for certain is to have him seen by a vet. The vet can diagnose what is causing this licking and can treat it, such as expressing his glands, prescribing flea medication, or giving him a deworming treatment. I hope this helps!