Watching a dog chase their tail can be both cute and entertaining for us humans. Whether they do it at home or out and about in front of a crowd, it’s almost guaranteed to put a smile on someone’s face. However, did you know there may be an underlying reason that your dog chases their tail repeatedly? It can indeed just be a bit of fun but it can also be a sign that something else is up with your pooch. 

Have you noticed your dog start chasing their tail repetitively or more than usual? Let’s look at some of the reasons they might be doing this.

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It can be normal!

Breathe a sigh of relief, as tail chasing can be normal! It’s quite common for puppies to chase their tail as they are growing and learning what that thing attached to their body is. To them, it can look like another toy to play with and chase. Most puppies will eventually learn that their tail is actually just a part of them and grow out of this behaviour. 

Anal glands

Another reason your furry friend may show a special interest in their behind is if their anal glands are full. Anal glands are scent glands that every dog has on either side of their bottom; which are usually expressed when they pass normal faeces. Occasionally, whether it be due to a recent bout of diarrhoea or anatomical differences, these glands can become full. This can cause discomfort and irritation and they may need to be manually emptied. Anal glands can also become infected which can also be painful. 

Other signs of anal gland trouble can include scooting (where your dog drags their bottom across the floor) and nibbling or scratching around the bottom or tail. Your vet or veterinary nurse will be able to check these and empty them for your dog if required. Some dogs will need regular vet visits to have their anal glands emptied, whereas they may never cause trouble for others. 

Attention seeking

If you are a pet parent you will know just how clever our pets can be; as well as how quickly they can learn a specific behaviour. Just like learning a basic command such as ‘sit’, dogs can learn to chase their tail if they are rewarded for it. Tail chasing often elicits some sort of reaction from owners or people around them. And your dog will interpret this as something good.

If your dog isn’t used to being left alone or ignored, they might do anything to get attention or a response from you. And tail chasing can be a sure fire way of achieving this. If you think this might be the case with your pup, make sure you are taking time to stimulate or play with them every day. It may also be helpful to speak to your vet or a pet behaviourist if the behaviour is becoming problematic or difficult to stop. 

Compulsive behaviour disorder

Did you know that dogs can suffer from a similar condition to obsessive compulsive disorders in humans? This is known as canine compulsive disorder and it can cause abnormal, repetitive behaviour resulting from anxiety or stress. There is often no apparent trigger for these behaviours once other physical or behavioural causes have been excluded (Sueda, n.d.). 

One of the repetitive behaviours recognised as part of canine compulsive disorder is of course, tail chasing. There appears to be a predilection to German Shepherds, Bull Terriers and Australian Cattle Dogs. Stress and anxiety can make your dog resort to a coping mechanism that can become a repetitive behaviour that is then inadvertently reinforced by owners. For example, laughing or giving your dog attention or praise is likely to be perceived by them as a reward. This behaviour can then become ‘ingrained and uncoupled from the original trigger’ (Sueda, n.d.).

Compulsive disorders can only be diagnosed when all other possible causes of repetitive behaviours have been ruled out. We therefore call it a diagnosis of exclusion. Treatment consists of owner education, behaviour modification techniques and reducing stress. If you think your dog might be suffering from a compulsive disorder, you should contact your vet who will be able to help you rule out other potential underlying causes of these behaviours first. They will also be able to advise on how to reduce stress in your dogs daily life too. And they may recommend seeing a pet behaviourist. 

Pesky parasites

Unwanted visitors like fleas, ticks and even worms can spend much of their time living on the back end of an animal. Ticks and fleas especially like to hide and bite around the rump area, causing intense itchiness. Intestinal worms that migrate out of the anus can also cause irritation in the perineal region. Your dog might be scratching, nibbling or rubbing the area as well as chasing their tail if they are suffering from an infestation. Check their coat and look for any live fleas, flea dirt (black or dark coloured specs that turn red when wet) or ticks as well as visual inspection of their faeces for any obvious worms. Ensure your dog is treated regularly for both external and internal parasites. Or have a chat with your veterinary practice if you’re not sure; they will be able to provide you with the appropriate medications.

Medical conditions

Your dog may have a new found interest in their tail if it is causing them pain. Just like humans will rub a sore muscle or painful joint, a dog’s way of providing their own pain relief is often to lick, bite or rub at the area themselves. They can’t tell us if something is painful or where the pain is, so often this is the only thing that gives us an idea of what’s going on. It is possible for a dog to break or dislocate their tail as well as suffer from a condition known as ‘swimmers tail’ or ‘rudder tail’ (otherwise known as acute caudal myopathy). This is where the the tail becomes swollen and painful after trauma or over use. This condition is typically treated with rest and anti-inflammatory pain relief. But does require a visit to the vet to rule out other causes. 

If tail chasing has seemed to have come out of nowhere, or it’s getting more frequent, there’s a chance it could be because of something more serious. Infections, abscesses and even tumours of the peri-anal region may make your dog uncomfortable in that area. This can lead to tail chasing as well as biting and rubbing. 

Some neurological conditions can result in tail chasing too

It may come as a surprise that seizure activity can actually manifest as tail chasing in some dogs. Some dogs will chase their tail when they are having a ‘partial’ or ‘focal’ seizure that takes place in one part of the brain as opposed to the whole brain itself. Seizures can be caused by epilepsy but unfortunately could also be the result of other conditions too, such as a brain tumour, especially in an older animal. 

Allergies are another reason that your dog might be chasing their tail. If they have an underlying allergy to something (things like fleas, food or the environment), they might be biting or chewing their tail as a way of scratching that itch. 

I’m worried about my dog chasing their tail! What can I do?

Try not to worry or panic if you have noticed your pooch chasing their tail. There are many reasons that they might be doing it that are not serious and can be treated fairly easily. As you can see, there are so many potential causes of this phenomenon that it’s so important to pay your vet a visit so they can give your dog a full health check and check for any underlying conditions, it might simply just be a bit of fun after all. 

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