Why is my dog constantly biting his tail and eating his fur?

Question

My dog constantly bites at his tail and eats his hair. He has no skin irritation, or fleas, he only goes after his tail to pull the hair off and eat it. I've tried spraying his tail with a no chew spray I bought from Petsmart and I've tried vinegar, but nothing is stopping him. Do you have any suggestions? Pet's info: Dog | Golden Retriever | Male | neutered | 1 year and 3 months old | 65 lbs

Dr. Leigh, DVM · Accepted Answer

He could have allergies or his anal glands could be full. You should have your vet check his gland to see if they need to be expressed. It is common for dogs to chew at their tail when their glands are full. If not, you could ask your vet about putting him on an anti-histamine and/or a steroid to see if the problem resolves. If it resolves with treatment than he probably has allergies and may need to stay on an anti-histamine long term.

Why is my dog constantly biting his tail and eating his fur?

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