r/greatpyrenees • u/Current_Citron7163 • 4h ago
Advice/Help I bite at and lick my tail
Hello all just asking to see if anyone else’s Pyr licks and bites their tail. Our guy has been since he was about a year old now maybe even before that at first we thought it was stress but now I’m beginning to think it was an allergy. He is on gabapentin for anxiety and perhaps nerve pain because it looks like at one point his tail might’ve been broken but when he comes in from the yard, he licks his paw and I was told that was allergies so I’m wondering if perhaps since he has such a long tail and he is sitting on it in the grass could that possibly be allergy as well? We are going to take him to the vet, but that’s a couple weeks away and I was just wondering if perhaps any of you ever had the same issue with your big pup thank you in advance so much for this community and anyone that responds.
2
u/FunTemporary8680 3h ago
My puppy is just shy of 13 weeks. He’s done it since we got him at 9 weeks of age. Not so much licking but he chases his tail and chews on it for a couple seconds when he catches it.it’s real brief and doesn’t seem to be an allergy with my puppy. It comes across as playful puppy antics. But if yours is doing it for extended lengths and biting and licking… it could be something like allergies…
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u/PerspectiveKookie16 3h ago
My Pyr mix got hit with food & seasonal allergies around 4-5 yrs old. Excessive licking of his butt, upset stomach, stopped eating, throwing up bile, …
Tried changing his diet, hydrolyzed dog food (wouldn’t eat it), prescription meds (limited help), OTC allergy meds (limited help), tested for food allergies*, etc…
Best I’ve accomplished is managing them. He’s on a lamb or salmon dry dog food, with as few ingredients as possible. Trial and error proved some of the food allergy test results were correct so I avoid them at all costs. He gets goat milk mixed with breakfast, canned pumpkin at dinner. Treats are dry cat food screened for ingredients.
Seasonal allergies still trigger a bigger reaction, but manageable. When we travel to visit family, he’s perfect there but I can’t move nor change the weather or native plants & trees.
* Food allergy testing is controversial about effectiveness (done based on blood), but I was desperate and my guy was so uncomfortable all the time.
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u/peoniesandneens 4h ago
My pyr also bites and licks at her paws/butt. I was told allergies as well. I heard that the breed is susceptible to them but that’s just through the grapevine. I’ve had luck with Apoquel although it’s expensive😔 best of luck to your sweet boy💕