Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Labrador Chewing Tail (Bleeding and hair loss)

My 5-year-old Labrador Retriever, Blacky, has been chewing her tail for the past 4 days. I'd never noticed her biting her tail until I saw a small patch of hair missing toward the base of her tail. I thought maybe something had bitten her. I kept an eye on it, and I still never noticed her biting it. Then, I finally noticed she was the one  biting her tail. Now, there's a larger patch of hair missing and there are tooth marks on her tail. I'm definitely taking her to the vet, most likely tomorrow. For now, I've been wiping it off with 50/50 water & peroxide. Then I put on some Neosporin. She had a cone from a previous surgery that I tried putting on her, but she somehow always reached her tail. What could be causing this chewing? It looks really nasty and she's VERY sensitive to me touching her tail. After washing it off and applying the Neosporin, she'll run from me and it'll take a few hours of her warming up to me again until she'll re approach me. She's very good about not licking off the Neosporin though.
Pictures: [Graphic]
1st day I noticed:
http://i46.tinypic.com/2cxymxi.jpg
http://i47.tinypic.com/jsyl8w.jpg
Today:
http://i47.tinypic.com/28jaash.jpg
http://i48.tinypic.com/34hi16h.jpg
http://i50.tinypic.com/dv248.jpg
2 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
462827 tn?1333168952
While your at the Vet, make sure they do a skin scrape to rule out Mites......In my experience, your Vet will probably say Allergies.....Don't accept that until mites are ruled out......If a skin scrape is negative, then I'm going with A Flea allergy that has now become infected due to the chewing......Ask about Antibiotics.....Good luck & let us know what you find out.....Karla
Helpful - 0
974371 tn?1424653129
Tail chewing can have many causes from fleas to a possible bug bite, a skin problem going on to anxiety.  If the treatments at home aren't working you should have it checked by your Vet.  
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Dogs Community

Top Dogs Answerers
675347 tn?1365460645
United Kingdom
974371 tn?1424653129
Central Valley, CA
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Members of our Pet Communities share their Halloween pet photos.
Like to travel but hate to leave your pooch at home? Dr. Carol Osborne talks tips on how (and where!) to take a trip with your pampered pet
Ooh and aah your way through these too-cute photos of MedHelp members' best friends
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.