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It can look alarming to us, but it surely’s widespread for canines to sometimes chunk themselves. Dogs will normally lick, chunk, chew, or scratch their pores and skin after they expertise a light itch. However, it’s nonetheless price taking note of canines biting themselves as a result of repetitive biting is normally linked with a well being situation.
Dogs can develop a behavior of biting themselves for a number of causes. It could be as a result of well being points like a pores and skin an infection or habits points like anxiousness or boredom. We’ll go over widespread points that trigger canines to chunk themselves and how one can assist your canine if their self-biting is attributable to a medical concern.
The 6 Possible Reasons for Dogs to Bite Themselves
1. Dry Skin
A standard motive why canines chunk themselves is because of dry pores and skin. Dry pores and skin usually begins to really feel itchy, which is able to trigger canines to chunk, chew, lick, and scratch the affected space. Dry pores and skin usually appears to be like flaky and will also be pink or infected. It may also result in hair loss and sizzling spots.
Dry pores and skin is normally an indication of an underlying well being concern. So, relatively than simply making use of an ointment to the affected space, it’s necessary to get your canine to a veterinarian for a correct checkup. A vet can do a bodily examination, diagnose the reason for the dry pores and skin, and supply a therapy plan to assist your canine recuperate.
2. Allergies
Itchy pores and skin could be a signal of allergies in dogs. Dogs could be allergic to quite a lot of issues, comparable to sure meals, mildew, pollen, and bug bites. Itchiness is among the commonest indicators of allergic reactions, however canines may also expertise a spread of different signs relying on what they’re allergic to. Along with itchy pores and skin, canines might have swelling, upset stomachs, runny noses, and watery eyes.
3. Skin Infection
Bacterial, fungal, and sometimes viral infections could cause pores and skin irritation that results in canines biting themselves to attempt to relieve the itch. Common pores and skin infections in canines embrace staphylococcal infections, malassezia (yeast) dermatitis, and ringworm (a fungal an infection).
Skin infections normally look pink and infected. In addition, affected areas can have pus-filled lesions, scaly, peeling, or flaking pores and skin, and hair loss. Yeast infections could be extra greasy and in addition normally have a musty odor.
Treatment for pores and skin infections will depend upon the kind of an infection. So, it’s necessary to seek the advice of your vet earlier than making use of any kind of topical ointment on them.
4. Parasites
Parasites can wreak havoc on a dog’s skin. Their bites could cause itchiness, irritation, and hair loss. Some canines may be allergic to flea bites, which is able to solely exasperate itchiness. Sarcoptic mange attributable to parasitic mites below the floor of the pores and skin results in intense itching.
Common parasites that dwell on the pores and skin embrace fleas, ticks, and mites. Your canine might attempt to alleviate the itchiness by biting and may also lick and scratch affected areas.
5. Arthritic Pain
Sometimes, canines might lick or chunk their joints if they have arthritis. The ache can really feel irritating to them, and so they might attempt to soothe the irritation by biting or chewing. Continuous biting can result in pores and skin points, together with irritation, hair loss, and sizzling spots.
Arthritis largely happens in older canines, however canines can get arthritis at any age. Along with licking at joints, arthritis might trigger decreased exercise, limping, and elevated irritability in canines.
6. Anxiety or Boredom
Sometimes, biting could be a compulsive habits for canines. Dogs that have excessive or fixed boredom can begin to have interaction in harmful behaviors or repetitive behaviors, together with extreme biting or licking.
More extreme circumstances of worry and anxiousness may also trigger canines to begin to chunk themselves repeatedly. Other signs of anxiety in canines embrace restlessness, pacing, extreme barking, and urinating in the home.
What to Do if Your Dog Is Biting Themselves
It’s regular for canines to chunk themselves often after they have an itch. However, steady biting normally signifies an underlying medical concern. So, it’s really useful to take your canine to your vet in the event you discover repetitive biting, particularly if it’s directed on the identical space.
Your veterinarian can carry out a extra thorough examination in your canine to determine what’s inflicting them to chunk themselves. Receiving an correct prognosis out of your vet will allow you to to supply the suitable therapy in your canine.
Many pores and skin points could be handled topically with medicated shampoos and ointments. Medicated shampoos usually comprise antiseptic, soothing and moisturizing substances. Your vet may prescribe topical steroids or antibiotics to assist scale back itchiness and heal broken pores and skin relying on the underlying explanation for the irritation.
Preventing Your Dog From Biting Themselves
It’s necessary to maintain your canine from biting themselves as a result of it will probably worsen the situation of their pores and skin and coat. Constant biting, licking, and scratching can result in hair loss, sizzling spots, and abrasions.
Make positive to stay to the therapy that your veterinarian prescribes to the very finish. It can take weeks for the itchiness to cease and for the pores and skin to heal fully, and never following via with therapy could cause the itchiness to return.
Many therapies for itchy pores and skin contain topical ointments. Your canine might attempt to lick off the ointment, so it’s necessary to maintain them occupied till the ointment dries and absorbs into their pores and skin fully. You can attempt to play together with your canine or feed them their meal after making use of the ointment to cut back the probability of licking and biting. If your canine continues to attempt to contact the affected space, they could profit from carrying an e-collar till the itchiness and irritation subsides.
Conclusion
Repetitive self-biting can rapidly complicate pores and skin points and worsen infections. So, it’s time to schedule a vet appointment in case your canine is biting themselves repeatedly. It’s additionally necessary to give you methods to forestall your canine from biting, licking, or scratching themselves in order that the affected space can heal as rapidly as attainable. Providing the correct therapy will help alleviate and handle intense itchiness and guarantee your canine’s situation doesn’t worsen from biting.
Featured Image Credit: Przemek Iciak, Shutterstock