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

Question

Why does a part of my puppy’s tail feel like hay? He seems otherwise healthy and shows no discomfort when I touch it. This occurred within the last month and he is chewing at it often. Pet's info: Dog | Labrador Retriever | Male | neutered | 25 lbs

Jessica Keay, DVM · Accepted Answer

Most likely the fur feels different due to his chewing on the area. Chewing in this area is most often related to an allergy and most often due to a flea allergy. Even if we don't see fleas crawling on the dog, a few bites can cause a severely itchy response that can last for weeks. I would recommend bringing Thor in for an exam to be sure that is what is causing his issue. The vet can prescribe effective flea prevention such as Nexgard, Comfortis, Bravecto, or Simparica (or another they may recommend) and may prescribe an antihistamine or other allergy medication. In the meantime you can put an e-collar on him to try to prevent him from biting at the area and causing further trauma. A colloidal oatmeal shampoo and creme rinse such as Epi-soothe can also be helpful to decrease itching, as can a fatty acid supplement which are available at your vet and at most pet stores.

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

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