Help! My dog is chewing on himself!

There could be several reasons your dog is chewing on him or herself. Many of them are because of issues that need to be resolved. Fortunately, there are things you can do to help them feel better.

 

Does your dog have a problem?

Does your dog have a habit of chronically chewing some part of his body? Not just once in a while, but frequently.  Maybe that area is getting red, losing fur, or otherwise looking worse for the wear. As your dog's caretaker, it's important that you notice the details because it could be a bigger problem than just chewing.

I’ve seen our dogs chew on themselves from time to time. Like most people, we get busy and don't always pay attention, but I've been trying to notice the little things that can become big things and it often proves to be a good decision. An itch can sometimes be more than just an itch.

We know our dogs better than anyone else does, so we are the ones who are most likely to notice if something isn’t right. It is in our dog’s best interest for us to notice any changes in behavior or any new bumps, bruises, raw skin, etc.

Why is your dog chewing on himself?

If you've noticed that the chewing happens frequently or the site is not looking right, your dog may have a problem that you need to address. Figuring out patterns like location, time, etc. can be clues to solving the puzzle. 

Sometimes, the chewing only happens once or twice, and we can’t really identify a cause. Then there are the dogs that really “go to town” on it. Tails, feet, whatever, they chew and chew and chew. These are the chronic chewers that probably need some help.

Chronic chewing usually results in raw areas or fur damage or loss. But the original problem isn’t usually the chewing. The chewing can be a way your dog is trying to relieve whatever problem they have.

If your dog is chewing on a paw, leg or any other part of the body, you should probably pay attention. This behavior can often be the sign of a problem.

 

When our dogs have had chronic chewing issues

We have often rescued dogs.  They usually come with a history that we have to try and figure out.  One of those dogs, Lincoln, came to us as an adult dog that had been on the streets for some amount of time. He would chew on his feet or his hip sometimes. We observed this to happen when the weather would change or he'd been too active. 

We came to the conclusion, with the help of the vet and some diagnostics, that he was in pain.  Addressing his pain with medicine, cold laser, and reiki would apparently resolve the pain because he'd stop chewing.  

Then there was Janey, an elderly Australian shepherd whose family was having health issues and unable to give her the care she needed. When she first came to us, she chewed her paws non-stop until they were red and raw. She also had terribly matted, coarse fur and painful ear infections. 

The vet and I came to the conclusion that she had food allergies. Once we got her diet under control so that she wasn’t triggering her allergies anymore, her paws got much healthier, as did her ears and the rest of her. She would occasionally chew, but we suspect that was more out of habit.

Possible causes of chronic chewing

While researching the internet, I found some articles/posts discussing chewing and possible causes for it.

They mention:

• Parasites like worms or fleas could cause itching.
• Allergies, either food or environmental causes.
• Hot spots or other skin irritations.
• Pain, injury, or other discomforts.
• Anxiety, stress, or other emotional factors.

This list is certainly not all-inclusive and more than one thing can be going on at the same time.

Whether it's because of anxiety, allergies, pain, or something else, if your dog is chewing on himself, he or she may need your assistance to make things better.

 

Visit the vet

Taking a dog to the vet for a treatment plan is a great place to start. They can diagnose and treat many conditions, some of which might be life-altering or life-threatening, but they may not be familiar with alternative approaches. They also don't have the close relationship with your dog that you do.

A good vet will realize there could be alternative ways to treat a given condition and may help guide you in finding ways to make your dog feel better. Having a vet, a nutritionist, an acupuncturist and other health professionals on your team can make successful treatment more likely.

Other approaches to decreasing the chronic chewing

Hopefully you got some straightforward answers with simple fixes. Unfortunately, it can be more complicated than that. Sometimes talking to other professionals can lead to better results. For example 

• A dog trainer could help if the issue is behavioral
• A chiropractor, acupuncturist, or acupressurist could help if the issue is anxiety or pain-related.
• A nutritionist or herbalist could help if the issue is diet-related.

If you still have questions or something still doesn’t quite fit, you might find some trial and experimentation necessary. There are lots of resources online or in books that might help you sort out the chronic chewing issue your dog is having. Whatever you can do to help your dog will be progress.

You can help your dog feel better!

Bottom line, I’ve been down this path and it can be really frustrating. It’s easier to be patient when thinking about how my dog is going to feel better. Even if the solution isn’t complete, any relief from the discomfort helps. Have you dealt with chronic chewing issues with your dog?

What did you do and how did it work? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below.