Why is my dog chasing his tail, lethargic, and losing tail hair?

Question

Toby (English bulldog) is chasing his tail and acting somewhat lethargic. Pulled a LARGE amount of hair from his tail area. Should we see vet? Pet's info: Dog | Bulldog | Male | neutered | 1 year old

Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA · Accepted Answer

Poor Toby! Yes, this does sound like something that needs a vet visit. It sounds like his rear end is bothering him for some reason - the two most common causes for this are anal gland problems or flea allergies. If he isn't already on a good quality flea medication like Nexgard or Bravecto, this is the first thing I would suggest. If you're positive that he doesn't have fleas, then your vet will need to check his anal glands to see if they are overly full or infected - this is a common cause of discomfort in this area. In that case, the glands will need to be expressed, and he may need antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medication if an infection is present.

Why is my dog chasing his tail, lethargic, and losing tail hair?

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