My dog has dry, itchy skin on her tail. Why is she biting it?

Question

Hi. My dog has some dry skins and cuts on her tail. It is very itchy and she is itching and biting a lot. Do you know what this could be?? Pet's info: Dog | Collie | Female | unspayed | 3 years and 8 months old

Catherine Stecyk · Accepted Answer

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Itchiness in dogs, especially on the tail or tail base, can be caused by allergies, such as to fleas, food or environmental allergens. Other causes of itchiness include bacterial infections in the skin, mites such as demodex, and/or fungal infections. Please ensure that Cookie is on a consistent flea and tick preventative medication that was prescribed by a veterinarian. Flea medications/treatments that can be purchased from a food or pet store or online are not safe or effective in dogs. The house itself must also be treated for fleas, with very frequent vacuuming and even "flea bombing". If Cookie is already on an appropriate flea medication year round, I recommend having her examined by a veterinarian for an exam and skin scrape to evaluate for the presence of an infection and/or mites. I hope this is helpful!

My dog has dry, itchy skin on her tail. Why is she biting it?

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