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My dog won't stop licking his tail and barking. What should I do?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Labrador Retriever | Male | unneutered | 3 years and 7 months old | 50 lbs

Why is my dog excessively licking his tail and barking

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Lauren Jones VMD

Veterinarian

Published on August 24th, 2021

There are several possible explanations for Rocky's tail licking and barking. If he's licking under his tail, it's possible that he could have full anal glands or worms. If he's licking at the top of his tail or the tail base, it's more likely that he's itchy from fleas or underlying allergies. It's possible that he's barking because he's agitated from being itchy or overstimulated from something else. Regardless, I think it would be best to take Rocky to your vet for an exam that will be able to assess the integrity of his skin and also to check his anal glands. Excessive licking can damage the outermost protective skin barrier, which can allow skin infections to develop, so it's best to get these issues addressed sooner rather than later. I hope that everything goes well!

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Other Answers

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    Answered By Lauren Jones VMD

    Veterinarian

    Published on May 25th, 2017

    I'm sorry to hear that Marley is so itchy. Some of the more common causes of licking near the tail include fleas or full anal glands. Be sure that Marley is receiving a high quality flea preventative (such as Nexgard, Bravecto or Advantix) regularly. When some dogs become excessively itchy and lick a lot, skin infections can develop and may require antibiotics or medicated shampoos for treatment. Anal glands are scent glands that usually empty with a bowel movement, but sometimes need to be manually emptied. At this point, I recommend taking Marley to the vet for an exam to assess the situation and determine the cause of this issue so that he can be treated appropriately. I hope that he's on the mend soon!

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    Answered By Jessica Desrosiers

    Veterinary Technician

    Published on March 3rd, 2020

    It could be there is something causing itching such as bacteria, yeast, parasites, etc, or there is an issue instead with the anus/anal glands that Teddy is trying to get to instead. If the area looks red, irritated, wounded or has hair loss, having your vet take a look in person is best to have any issues treated. Placing an Elizabethan (cone) collar on Teddy can also stop him from being able to lick which may reduce irritation and stop the habit.

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