Hi, I am new to the site and hope someone can help with an issue I have with Olli my ESS.

He is 11 months old and for the past two weeks he has started chewing the end of his tail, he has drawen blood twice now, ( I should say his tail is undocked) he wont let us near it to have a look, and if we he just starts biting it again.

He is fed on James Wellbeloved as has a delicate stomach.

Has anyone else encounted this problem, he goes to work durn the day with my partner and is only ever left for a couple of hours at a time, even then hes not on his own, hes either with out Lab Ben or has his kong or buster cubes.

I have checked him for flees ect.

thank you

could it be anal glands ? I had a dog who used to eat away at his tail when his anal glands were blocked.

Thank you for your reply.

I never thought of that, our Lab has had a few problems with his, but he never chewed the tip of his tail.

Managed to get a look at it there, its very red and crusty, think the little ones going to have to go to the vets tomorrow.

Thank you again for your reply.
Lesley, Ben and Olli

He could have mites that you cant see.

mites come to mind here too.

I would bath his tail in hibiscrub and put thornit inbetween his toes and ears as a preventative measure. I imagine the vet will treat with antibiotics .

Roni

Hi all,

Had Olli at the vets today, He thinks he has had a previous sore bit which as its been healing has become itchy and of course Olli have tried to stop it itching making it worse.

Its not infected and his solution well a sock over the end of his tail taped on, the poor dog is going off his head, I have lost count the amount of times I have taped the sock back on!!!!

We have to go back next week and if that hasnt worked he will try a splint!!! last option is to remove the end part of his tail.

Does anyone have any ideas of what else I could try to cover his tail with, as the sock is no good, its making him chase his tail even more.

All ideas welcomed, I dont want him having to have his tail docked, I like my boy with his tail.

Many thanks
Lesley & Olli

Bitter apple spray, or some other safe oral deterrent, over the tape. Don't spray directly on as it will freak him, but spray amply onto a cloth and wipe over taped/sock area. Hopefully, a mouthful og this will put him of tail nippery. But, ask your vet first, just to be safe.

Just a curious question, but why would spraying something on his covered tail, freak him???  I use sprays on my dogs all the time (Coat Conditioners, Tarific Sprays, etc) and my dogs have never freaked.  I wonder if it would cause more panic, for the owner to actually touch the injured tail with a cloth, because you would have to add pressure to the cloth while trying to apply it, compared to a quick spray, and its done and over with.

childrens sock would be a little bit tighter but he will probably get it off during the night so an elizabethan collar or a smart collar (below) is probably the only other option for his own good. rather than loose the end of his tail.
Also with a collar you would be able to leave it uncovered enabling it to heal much quicker.

http://www.hyperdrug.co.uk/Smart-Collar/productinfo/SMARTCOLL/

Hi,

Thanks for all the advice, I going to to the vets to collect a collar, explained the sock thing just wasnt working, he did say spraying it would be ok but safest bet is a collar.

Thank you again for all the advice, this site is great.

Lesley & Olli

Sorry Impish, I didn't mean it would freak all dogs. It's just that this dog- info from another post on him- may be going through a skittish phase and sounds quite reactive at the moment, so I didn't want to suggest something that might panic or worry him.