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Subject: Tail Chewing

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Klynn7

Blaine, MN

MH
Posts:84

04/23/2010 9:51 AM
Does anyone have any suggestions on stopping tail chewing? Stella's tail wasn't doc'd very well leaving exposed skin where the hair isn't growing. I noticed her chewing on it yesterday and it looks like this isn't a new habit. I'm hoping that if she stops the hair will start to grow over. Thoughts?

-Korbey Randi Stella "We long for an affection altogether ignorant of our faults. Heaven has accorded this to us in the uncritical canine attachment." -George Eliot

pixie bee

MH
Posts:3914

04/23/2010 10:15 AM
The bare tail is not from a poor docking.I have not seen one liver tail that had hair growing on the tip,I've seen long hair grow over the tip,covering it. White tips do grow hair tho. Not sure why she is chewing it,I heard a few times that tail chewing could be worms.Is it possible she injured it and is now paying attention to it? Put on some peroxide,some Neospoen if it's open and try to keep her away from it. A healing wound can be very,very itchy. Francine

"Time with my dogs clears my mind, renews my faith, and lets me see the world as it is. My only regret loving dogs as I do, is the misery of their early departure." Robert G. Wehle

JoeyBean

Albany, NY

MH
Posts:280

04/23/2010 10:27 AM
How funny about only white tips grow hair! I was about to comment that joey's tail is fully haired but it is white. There was another thread a few posts down saying a bare tail was from poor docking though....

pixie bee

MH
Posts:3914

04/23/2010 10:50 AM
I didn't read that thread. I'll go there now and see what they say.

"Time with my dogs clears my mind, renews my faith, and lets me see the world as it is. My only regret loving dogs as I do, is the misery of their early departure." Robert G. Wehle

erikacarrillo User is Offline

La Honda, CA

MH
Posts:229

04/23/2010 10:57 AM
Try spraying some bitter apple on the tail to see if it will deter her from chewing on it.

Klynn7

Blaine, MN

MH
Posts:84

04/23/2010 11:12 AM
Thanks guys. Randi has a white tail and has the hair so it's interesting that the liver tails don't grow the same way! Good to know though. My husband wanted to get it re docked but I don' t want to. We aren't going to show her or anything so there really isn't any reason to. Good call on the bitter apple spray. I'll try that tonight.

-Korbey Randi Stella "We long for an affection altogether ignorant of our faults. Heaven has accorded this to us in the uncritical canine attachment." -George Eliot

Texas Belle User is Offline

Austin, TX

MH
Posts:6748

04/23/2010 11:31 AM
Klynn7 - Get your vet to check her tail. That is what Belle's tail did and she would chew it and it would break open. It turned out that when the tail was originally docked the breeder cut the tail in the bone instead of between bones. So her tail was staying constantly irritated. My vet said that happens sometimes. He fixed the problem by redocking her tail when I had her spayed and she has never had a problem again. She has a liver tail and she now has hair on her tail. Thinner at the tip, but definitely there is hair there. I also posted on the other thread, because I have two liver tails and one white in my gang, and I checked that both my girls (one liver and one white) have hair. I will check my boy this weekend when we are training, but I am pretty sure his liver tail is almost completely covered in hair with maybe only a very small sequin size spot on the tip with no hair.

Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna) Yellow Rose GSPs "A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato

zodiakgsps User is Offline

NW PA

MH
Posts:1059

04/23/2010 11:36 AM
Poor docking can definitely create chewing issues, have seen it many times over the years grooming in Std Poodles, Cockers, etc. Vet can remove nub of bone left (rough end irritates as it rubs skin) and solve issue if that is indeed what is causing it. You can tell by feeling usually. When walkng along, will she suddenly whirl & bite at it as if a bug bit her???

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