Hello all,

I am having a new issue with Raven that just started this week. Raven started chasing her tail and although it was amusing at first I then saw her biting at her tail and pull out a chuck of fur and eat it. I took a closer look at her tail and i noticed its starting to get patchy and ragged looking almost like someone took scissors to it and snipped sections randomly. Its not bad yet but if she continues it will be and I have no idea what is causing this behavior. Any help, insight or advice would be greatly appreciated.

I would take her to the vet. Could be an allergy of some sort..does she have fleas??

She doesn't have fleas and we haven't changed her diet. I have no idea if its medical or behavioral. It just started this week though. She isn't chewing at her paws. Im at a loss. I have a vet app on Sat.

I haven't ever had this problem before, so I don't have anything concrete to tell you.. But most of the time people who's dogs have this issue either have an allergy to something or are developing hot spots. I would just do some research of your own on the great wide web and see if you can come up with anything. Until then, try to keep her away from her tail; easier said then done, I know.

I've been having this issue with Korra too...the whole white tip of her tail is gone...sigh. It started when I had to keep her in for a bit because she got her nose good and ripped up and infected and shit, I think she was just bored, honestly. I have seen her reach back to to her tail and a simple "no" will stop her. I feel like it's just a nail-biting sort of habit for her now. But I don't know, maybe she has an allergy- her diet hasn't changed, but she eats such a wide variety of stuff, I wouldn't know if she's developed a particular allergy. I suppose I could start cutting out certain proteins (can't be grains, she's grain free). She's not licking her legs or paws though, to me her tail doesn't so much seem bother her as it just being a fun pastime.

Here's an old thread on tail eating:
https://www.itsahuskything.com/t2783-zoey-is-eating-her-tail

Which was solved with a Nylabone, so I've been trying more toys/chews when I'm out, but she doesn't do much when I'm gone- won't even finish a PB center bone fully. I wonder if she's developed some anxiety and that's why- which is strange seeing as it started just a finals were wrapping up and now it's summer and I'm home/adventuring with her a lot more, but she was fine all year during school.. I'm hoping she'll cut it out.
Or maybe I haven't found her magic chew yet. Sigh.

That was a very scattered post..sorry, but know you're not alone!

I have an update. Went to the vet on Sat. and she seems to thinks based on Raven's age and breed that it is a behavioral issue that could turn into a nasty ocd problem in not corrected quickly. The vet thinks that Raven gets enough exercise but not enough mental stimulation and is bored or frustrated. She recommended trying a puzzle feed ball, so Raven has to work at getting her food, as well as having training sessions and jobs at home for Raven to do. We got the puzzle feed ball and a flexi-bowl to make frozen treats she has to work out.
If these steps dont work the next would be adding Harmonease which is supposed to help manage stress behaviors and if that doesnt work the final step would be prescription drugs like prozac, which to her is a last  resort.
So far we havent had any more tail chasing or biting. She likes the puzzle ball, its messy though! I am hopefull that she'll continue improving without having to use medication.

All of the suggestions here are wonderful, in my studies, what I see in most tail eating cases, it is tapeworms in the tail. It is worth the vet to take a gander just to be safe. Sadly, this is the reason why you will see a lot of dogs who have their tails cut off (done when they are puppies) to prevent this all together.

 tape worms are an intestinal parasite.

Her vet checked her tail no fleas, no injuries like cuts or fractures and as far as she could tell no hot spots. Raven hasn't been chewing her paws or excessively scratching. So far its doesn't seem medical but behavioral.

Okay maybe not tapeworms... grr. My brain is butter after an afternoon nap. Some form of internal thing in the tail.... bleh, sorry for confusion. Thanks for the brain kick Katie, your a gem lol