Hi Everyone,
My friend got a 2 year old SBT from a rescue kennels 2 weeks ago. He is in good health and has regular exercise, but when he is in the garden he constantly chases his tail. It has become very dry and he will not let you touch it. He is also licking his belly and hind legs, which have also become very dry and bald. She has taken him to the vets and they have said there is no problems with him.
Has anyone else had this problem or does anyone know what she can do to stop this?
Thanks in advance
Lou

It may be a food reaction - what are you feeding him?

Hi Digger,
Have just rang her and asked, she said when she brought him home from the kennels he was eating Pedigree but he stopped and became v.picky about what he was eating so she moved him on to Butchers but for the past couple of days he hasn't been eating that so she has been giving him cooked chicken. I think the Pedigree and Butchers he was eating was wet food.
Thanks for answerings so fast
Lou

Hi,

Maybe its a 'stress' thing.  Staffys do not like being in kennels and if hes been in there a long time maybe hes feeling a little unsettled?  I would just give it time for him to settle in and make him feel loved and maybe as he starts to feel better he wont feel the need to do this. 

My staffy chases his tail but this is a play habit. 

Good luck.

Would that be Butchers dry or tinned?

Try some gold bond powder to stop itching

Could be food related or possibly environment - does she use any cleaning agents etc on areas where he's lying (indoors and outdoors need to be looked at)?  Tail chasing could just be an acquired habit through stress or boredom following confinement in kennels but the irritation on legs and tummy sound like possible allergic reaction.  Teri :)

Like Brigham I would suggest stress as a possible  cause too

Staffys are very prone to skin disorders. It could be a food allergy or many dogs are prone to grass allergies. I would say that this sounds like a nervous thing though. I would speak to the kennels to see if they know when it developed.

It could be something called Acral lick dermatitis. There is no known cause for this but it does normally only affect the legs but I guess it could have spread. My understanding is that its when a dog continually licks itself until sore, bald and dry for no apparant reason. I think its a sort of obsessive compulsive disorder so you may need the help of a bevahiourist.

Not sure about the licking but Staffs are occasionaly prone to becoming a little obbsesive ie tail chasing it become a habit and they continue - a bit like you possibly biting your nails. You can stop them but saying "No" and distract them with a toy - game whatever - Good luck though a friends Staff chased his tail all his life and died aged 15&1/2 still liking a little tail chase now and again. ;)

Hi
Thank you all for answering, will pass on everything you have all said to her. Will tell her about the cleaning products because I think she has been cleaning where he sleeps as he has messed a couple of times in the house.
Digger it was tinned Butchers he was eating.
Does anyone have any ideas what would be better to feed him on, as I think he is still only eating chicken?
God, think she will go crazy if she has another 13ish years of tail chasing :)
Kazz, did your friends staffy chase his tail all the time? He does it everytime he goes outside, and when he is inside he licks and chews it.
She's at the vet again today anyway so maybe they may be able to help her. I'm sooo glad my dogs have calmed down now and I don't have anything like this to worry about :)
Thanks again everyone who answered :)

Hi!

My 2 Staffies are both on Eukanuba complete for active dogs. They are VERY healthy and everyone comments on their coats. You may need to mix it with a bit of tinned food or chicken to make it appear less dull than it actually is though :-) My 15 month old pup is FOREVER chasing his tail...he does it at least twice a night and goes so fast he ends up spinning on two legs!! We do not stop him as we beleive it is a play thing, he does it after we have had a play with his toys after tea mostly, or when he gets over excited. I personally don't think it is anything to worry about in itself...but i would wonder about the licking etc.. my pup also does lick his tail a LITTLE (only if he manages to catch it!) and occasionally his legs, but never to a degree where I would worry about any skin irritation. He has a white coat, so i think any sensitive areas would be obvious :-)

Hello Its a common problem in bull terriers if they are bored/stressed. Licking and chewing and chasing tails. It may not be this. Worth a thought though