My dog is 4-year-old. He keeps licking his foot or biting his tail most of the time. When I try stop him, he bites me. He never bites otherwise. What should I do?
— Bhavna Shravan
Hi Bhavna,
If your dog is constantly licking or biting himself there could be multiple reasons – boredom, fleas or ticks, or maybe he is hurt or hurting somewhere. When a dog does not get sufficient exercise and mental stimulation, they are usually bored and end up scratching themselves or hurting themselves. Fleas and ticks or other parasites or maybe even allergies cause itchiness and irritations that dogs try to relieve themselves of by licking and scratching the specific areas. If he were suffering from something like arthritis, he would end up biting and licking himself hoping to get some pain relief. Whatever the reason, if left uncorrected your dog will end up hurting himself severely. Please consult a vet to rule out any medical issues.
Additionally ensure that your dog is sufficiently exercised and mentally stimulated so as to avoid boredom.
As for the biting response that he shows when you try to intervene, it is more of trust and respect issue. Your dog feels that you are either going to hurt him and you do not know what you are doing. You need to condition him to accept your care to ensure that he gets the medical attention he needs. If your dog is not really biting, but just protesting to make you stop coming near him, you can continue to approach him and check out his problem areas. This is very similar to grooming and brushing your pooch – he would be a bit vary at first, however when he understands that you are not hurting him and the activity is actually a good and comforting event, he will relax and stop protesting. Be very confident of what you are doing and approach him without any fear or weakness just as an experienced nurse would dress a wound. You can use a muzzle initially to avoid any bites, but even then, make it easy on him and encourage him with treats and comforting words to make him feel at ease and have a positive experience. If the problem continues, consult with a professional.
(Does your dog look anxious or tired? Write to our expert at pet.faqs@gmail.com)