Question:
I have a 1-year-old female golden retriever puppy (Cassie Jo) who chases her tail and catches it. Then she pulls out a chunk of hair. At first I thought she was just being playful, but with the frequency increasing, I thought she had a bug bite or itch of some kind. But I can see nothing when I look at the area closely. I would always respond to this with a "no" or "come." I am baffled by this behavior and would appreciate any insight you may have.
B.G., Ocean Pines, Md Jan 16, 2005
Answer:
Your dog has an obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) that needs to be corrected, because some dogs will eventually mutilate their tails to a point where an operation becomes necessary.First, rule out any possible physical cause with a veterinarian, who will check for such triggers as impacted or infected anal glands and fleas.Then try re-motivation/behavior modification by shaking a can of keys (or nuts and bolts) to get her attention when she starts to chase her tail, then giving her a chew toy or old knotted towel or rope to chase and tug on with you.Does Cassie Jo get out to run, play and be with other dogs? Boredom and confinement often result in self-mutilating OCDs, a common and tragic problem in many zoos and laboratories that house carnivores, primates and other animals in small cages and barren environments.UPDATE ON CANINE BLOATLarge, deep-chested dogs are prone to bloat, an extremely painful, acute and often fatal disease in which the stomach suddenly distends and the victim goes into shock.Purdue
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