Agressive Tail Biting - Bald Spot

[mikkehla]

Help! Honeygirl has agressively been biting at the base of her tail, so much so that it is now bald and her skin looks horrible. There are these dark spots on her skin that I don't know what they are and if they are from her biting or if they are a skin problem or bug bite or what. She is treated with Advantix montly for fleas and I use VitaCoat Plus on her food which has helped her coat tremendously.

I don't know what is causing this and what I can do about it but I know the poor girl is suffering!

Has anyone seen anything like this?

[mruffruff]

Looks like a 'hot spot'. My dog Scruffy has one on his back right now. I trimmed the hair, washed it and applied some aloe gel. The hard part is keeping a dog from licking it. Scruffy's spot seems to be responding, but if it gets any worse I'll have to put an elizabethan collar on him.

[Catlady711]

Kinda looks like a skin infection to me, hard to tell in a 2D picture though.

If it was my dog I'd be making a vet appt. Even if it's nothing serious they can give your dog something to help stop the itching so she's more comfortable.

[AllAmericanPUP]

I'd make a vet appt. and have it checked out.

could be a hot spot, skin infection or an allergy

[mikkehla]

Update! Took honeygirl to the vet to see what was up with her skin. Apparently she is allergic to something, which is no surprise since my apartment is under construction right now and there is plenty of saw dust and other construction related stuff around.

Since part of her tail is a little infected, she was given a cortizone shot to help alleviate the itch immediately and we have prednisone and an anti-itch spray to use. I have noticed that she has stopped itiching dramatically over the last 24 hours.

Thanks for everyone's advice!

[mruffruff]

Update on Scruffy:

The aloe worked very well. Of course, I really think the kid's T-shirt is what helped most. He couldn't lick the spot any more, but could still use the doggy door.

I think he's going to be living in T-shirts! (I cut out the chest area and added ties for his leg.)

[RipplingWaves55]

Neither of my three dogs have ever had something like that - I'm not a professional but try to look around pet stores for creams, to grow her fur back. Wash the bald spot with soap and water, and praise her, give her treats to occupy her - and if it's bothering her to where she won't stop biting it, you'd probably have to put a elizabethan collar on her, so it prevents the biting.

Hope it works! Prayers to your Honeygirl..