Why is my puppy chewing his tail and it feels rough like hay?

If your dog is not currently on any medication for fleas, this is the first thing I would recommend - chewing at the tail, in particular, is very common for dogs with flea problems. If fleas are not the issue, then he may have some other skin problem causing burning and itching in this area, such as a seasonal allergy or a bacterial or fungal infection. Less commonly, chewing at the tail can also be a sign of a nerve problem like lumbosacral stenosis, or a stress-related compulsive behavior. I would recommend having Charlue examined by a vet to determine the problem and get him started on appropriate treatment - usually, antibiotics and steroids or anti-inflammatory drugs are needed to resolve this kind of problem.

Check your dogs for fleas. This is a typical area where fleas congregate. If you have not done so, start flea prevention on all of your dogs and regularly vacuum your house and furniture as well as non-carpeted areas, wash bedding in hot water. If the itching does not stop after a few days (after using flea prevention), take your dog to a vet for an exam as there may be other causes such as a fungal or bacterial or mite infection.

Poor Girl! Without seeing her in person, it is impossible for me to know what caused it. It could be fleas. Mange usually causes hairloss on other places like the feet and face. She likely has an infection from chewing. I would first put a cone collar on her to prevent the chewing. I would then start her on Benadryl twice a day to help decrease the itching. If it isn't improving, I would have your vet take a look. Your vet will likely want to put her on antibiotics and possibly stronger allergy meds to help it heal. I hope this helps! https://www.petcoach.co/canigive/dog/benadryl/

It looks as if your dog has a skin infection, most commonly caused by an allergy or fleas. The allergy could be a due to a protein in Rocky's food or an environmental allergy like to dust, pollens, grasses, etc. The allergy causes your dog to itch and chew at the skin which breaks down the skin barrier. This then leads to infection. Rocky will need antibiotics to help clear up the infection and possibly an anti-itch medication like Apoquel, Atopica, or Cytopoint to give some relief while the infection clears up. Since Rocky seems to continually have this problem he may need to be on an allergy medication long term. A medicated shampoo may be beneficial as well. I would also recommend he be on a good flea control too. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck!

Unfortunately, you can’t tell the cause of the rash just by looks alone. It’s possible this is related to fleas in the environment or that this is an allergic reaction. This could also be related to hypothyroidism. I recommend to discuss treating him with a good flea product like Simparica with his veterinarian. If you must use an over-the-counter product, use Frontline. This is still a good product but there are some resistance with fleas. Make sure to protect the area from any licking or scratching with an Elizabethan collar. You can wash the area once a day and rinse it well. Start him on an omega-3 fatty acid supplement. If this does not start to look better within a week or if it starts to get worse, have him examined by the veterinarian. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Poor Buddy! It sounds like this area is itchy for him. This itching can be caused by [fleas](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/flea-infestation-1/), [mites](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/mange/), [ringworm](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/ringworm-1/), or [allergies](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/canine-allergies/). If he isn't up to date on his [flea treatment](https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-do-i-pick-the-right-flea-and-tick-product-for-my-pet/), he will need a spot on treatment, such as Advantix, or a prescription oral flea preventive, such as Bravecto, Nexgard, Simparica, or Credelio. You will need to disinfect the environment as well. If he is up to date on his flea treatment, I recommend taking him into your vet for an exam. Your vet can do blood tests, skin scrapings, and use a Wood's lamp to diagnose allergies, mites, and ringworm. Once the cause of the itching is found, your vet can prescribe the appropriate treatment. I recommend taking him into the vet today or tomorrow. He will also likely need an [E-collar](https://www.petcoach.co/article/e-collars-for-cats-dogs-types-of-collars-and-diy-options/) (cone) to prevent him from biting at that area until he sees the vet.

It sounds like Vexa has either a hot spot or fleas. You must make sure to protect the area from chewing as this will only make it worse. Have her wear an Elizabethan collar at all times. You should wash the area daily and rinse it well. You can also apply a dab coconut oil to the lesion twice daily. If this does not start to improve within a few days, have her seen. You should also treat her for fleas using a good product such as Simparica. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.