Tail Licking and Bitter Apple - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Jacklynn · 03-20-2009, 12:27 PM

So our 3 year old yorkie Rainer sucks/licks her tail. DH researched it a little bit and saw that they often do it when they were taken from their mother's too early. The lady who we adopted Rae from (she is a member on here) got her from a puppy store so I would guess with 100% certainty that she was taken from her mother too soon. Well she licks/sucks it so much that her tail is basically raw. We've tried stopping her when she does it, but she just does it when we are not around. She has open access to water and food, and plenty of toys to chew on (though she refuses to play with toys... the only thing she will chew on is a bully stick haha).

So the other day we bought some of that bitter apple stuff. At first he made her stop, but now she just licks the stuff off! Does anyone else's yorkies do this? How do you get them to stop? It is raw on the underside and hair won't grow on her tail hardly at all. I even tried putting a cotton wrap on it, but it just slipped off of course.

It is like a bad habit that we can't get her to break. Is there maybe a nutrient she is missing? We feed her Wellness, both of the dogs love it and eat it right up.

Bing, if you see this- were you able to keep her from doing this? If you were, how did you get her to stop?

chachi · 03-20-2009, 12:30 PM

You may have to get a cone from the vet for her to wear for a while so she can get out of the habit of doing it

marcerella02 · 03-20-2009, 01:42 PM

yes it does sound like an anxiety/calming behavior. i agree with Chachi- i think she might need to wear a cone for a while to stop this- allt he licking could cause an infection or yeast infection which would make her so uncomfortable. I would go to the vet and see what they have to say.

SRD · 03-20-2009, 02:55 PM

hey girl, oh, Rainer's quite in the habit of chewing herself instead of toys.
we used to put hydracortisone on it and then wrap it up with doggie bandage. that worked well when we were around only! the cone idea is pretty good and now they have this soft type which is a lot more comfy (not sure if they would fit her though since she's so small), you could give that a try.
ps: we've tried bitter apple as well when she was a puppy, and it worked well for a couple months, after that she might have become immuned to it or something

Jacklynn · 03-20-2009, 04:04 PM

Thanks Bing, at least I know it isn't something in our house/environment that is causing it

It was so weird with the bitter apple, she had a weird look on her face at first when she tasted it, now she just licks it all away.

I may try to look for a super small cone (she is sooooo tiny) but how long would it take for her to stop, I don't want the poor baby to wear one for months

But at the same time I hate seeing her tail raw. I was really hoping the bitter apple would work.

Any suggestions for bitter apple alternatives?

marcerella02 · 03-20-2009, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jacklynn

Thanks Bing, at least I know it isn't something in our house/environment that is causing it

It was so weird with the bitter apple, she had a weird look on her face at first when she tasted it, now she just licks it all away.

I may try to look for a super small cone (she is sooooo tiny) but how long would it take for her to stop, I don't want the poor baby to wear one for months

But at the same time I hate seeing her tail raw. I was really hoping the bitter apple would work.

Any suggestions for bitter apple alternatives?

I think she needs to see a vet.

Jacklynn · 03-20-2009, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marcerella02

I think she needs to see a vet.

She actually has recently seen a vet. In which we spent over $500 getting her checked out and for medication (we are switching vets, that one is a little costly), she got antibiotics (for a skin issue she had) some medicated shampoo and she also needed some ear drops for an ear infection that she had. Thankfully the ear infection went away, and her skin issues were resolved as well - for the time being anyways. The vet commented on her tail being raw and said it was probably from her sucking/licking it, which we already assumed. She said just to watch her and make her stop when we see her doing it... but we aren't with her 24 hours a day, we do sleep and go to the store

(I work from home).

I was hoping the bitter apple would stop her from doing it so we wouldn't have to worry about it when we were sleeping and out of the house. But I'm thinkin maybe she likes the bitter apple

Jacklynn · 03-20-2009, 04:35 PM

The poor girl just has too many issues for being so bitty! Of course she probably has all of the issues because of where she came from. Bing, your Dolly doesn't have the skin and ear and tail sucking issues does she? I know Dolly came from a responsible breeder, so I'm guessing maybe Rainers issues are a result of where she originally came from

The antibotics and medicated shampoo have really helped with her skin issues, but I just can't get the tail sucking to stop

LDandPasquale · 03-20-2009, 04:38 PM

I think the cone is a good idea in combination with wrapping the tail ....it may break the habit. They sell soft cones at petco for i think 20$ Good luck..let us know how it goes.

marcerella02 · 03-20-2009, 04:57 PM

i'm not sure if this stuff still exists or if it is toxic to dogs.. but i remember as a kid i used to bite my nails- so my mom put soemthign on my finger nails- like a polish that tasted just AWFUL- but if you could wrap her tail and then cover the wrap in this bad tasting stuff.. that might do the trick.....

BarbiesBabyJada · 03-20-2009, 06:10 PM

I know something that will...u might want to weaken it down but on humans if theres a sore they say to put cuyan on it ....but I don't know what it might do to her mouth because it is hot but not on sores

SRD · 03-20-2009, 06:57 PM

Rainer's old vet was telling me that I should have her on an fish based formula rather than meat based, because her skin issues could be due to allergies, and I had her on SOLID GOLD BARKING AT THE MOON, which is an fish based formula w/o corn and stuff but I did not see much improvement. we couldn't figure out what her allergies are if there is any! the tail licking thing I think it's probably bahavioral. what about put some clothes on her, she loved chewing her clothes which can keep the focus off of her tail!

Dolly's got some skin issues as well, she has an itchy spot that has not grow any hair on her shoulder since we got her, and we've tried some meds and the itching seemed to stop but no hair has grown back yet. and Dolly's just like Rainer, no interest in toys AT ALL, not much energy, a lap dog. and she just recently had a dental, her teeth are pointing at every direction, had to have a few extracted. with these lil ones, its just harder, give her some time, she will get better.

Jacklynn · 03-20-2009, 07:14 PM

She is certainly a lap dog! But we LOVE it. She is currently laying next to me sleeping

She plays with toys every once in a while, just not often -- doesn't bother us though

She does get excited about treats though... she certainly moves fast when she hears the treat bag. She loves walks too, and we enjoy taking her outside.

I just worry about her making her tail sore. I think we will try to get her a cone... if we can find one in her size! haha shes just so tiny I dk if they will have one.

hmm anyone know if they have allergy tests for dogs?

03-20-2009, 12:27 PM	#1
Jacklynn YT Addict Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Orlando area, Florida Posts: 477	Tail Licking and Bitter Apple So our 3 year old yorkie Rainer sucks/licks her tail. DH researched it a little bit and saw that they often do it when they were taken from their mother's too early. The lady who we adopted Rae from (she is a member on here) got her from a puppy store so I would guess with 100% certainty that she was taken from her mother too soon. Well she licks/sucks it so much that her tail is basically raw. We've tried stopping her when she does it, but she just does it when we are not around. She has open access to water and food, and plenty of toys to chew on (though she refuses to play with toys... the only thing she will chew on is a bully stick haha). So the other day we bought some of that bitter apple stuff. At first he made her stop, but now she just licks the stuff off! Does anyone else's yorkies do this? How do you get them to stop? It is raw on the underside and hair won't grow on her tail hardly at all. I even tried putting a cotton wrap on it, but it just slipped off of course. It is like a bad habit that we can't get her to break. Is there maybe a nutrient she is missing? We feed her Wellness, both of the dogs love it and eat it right up. Bing, if you see this- were you able to keep her from doing this? If you were, how did you get her to stop? __________________ Wrigley (1 year) Rainer (4 years)

03-20-2009, 12:30 PM	#2
chachi I Love My Yorkies Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana Posts: 37,147	You may have to get a cone from the vet for her to wear for a while so she can get out of the habit of doing it __________________ Chachi's & Jewels Mom Jewels http://www.dogster.com/?132431 Chachi http://www.dogster.com/?132427

03-20-2009, 01:42 PM	#3
marcerella02 Loved by Layla Donating Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 11,257	yes it does sound like an anxiety/calming behavior. i agree with Chachi- i think she might need to wear a cone for a while to stop this- allt he licking could cause an infection or yeast infection which would make her so uncomfortable. I would go to the vet and see what they have to say. __________________ http://misscanam.blogspot.com/ Layla 's Simon

03-20-2009, 02:55 PM	#4
SRD Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Orlando Posts: 490	hey girl, oh, Rainer's quite in the habit of chewing herself instead of toys. we used to put hydracortisone on it and then wrap it up with doggie bandage. that worked well when we were around only! the cone idea is pretty good and now they have this soft type which is a lot more comfy (not sure if they would fit her though since she's so small), you could give that a try. ps: we've tried bitter apple as well when she was a puppy, and it worked well for a couple months, after that she might have become immuned to it or something __________________ Mommymy princesses Shorty & Dolly

03-20-2009, 04:04 PM	#5
Jacklynn YT Addict Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Orlando area, Florida Posts: 477	Thanks Bing, at least I know it isn't something in our house/environment that is causing it It was so weird with the bitter apple, she had a weird look on her face at first when she tasted it, now she just licks it all away. I may try to look for a super small cone (she is sooooo tiny) but how long would it take for her to stop, I don't want the poor baby to wear one for months But at the same time I hate seeing her tail raw. I was really hoping the bitter apple would work. Any suggestions for bitter apple alternatives? __________________ Wrigley (1 year) Rainer (4 years)

03-20-2009, 04:35 PM	#8
Jacklynn YT Addict Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Orlando area, Florida Posts: 477	The poor girl just has too many issues for being so bitty! Of course she probably has all of the issues because of where she came from. Bing, your Dolly doesn't have the skin and ear and tail sucking issues does she? I know Dolly came from a responsible breeder, so I'm guessing maybe Rainers issues are a result of where she originally came from The antibotics and medicated shampoo have really helped with her skin issues, but I just can't get the tail sucking to stop __________________ Wrigley (1 year) Rainer (4 years)

03-20-2009, 04:38 PM	#9
LDandPasquale YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Massachusetts/Florida Posts: 2,614	I think the cone is a good idea in combination with wrapping the tail ....it may break the habit. They sell soft cones at petco for i think 20$ Good luck..let us know how it goes. __________________ LD that's me and Pasquale "If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving is definitely not for you!"

03-20-2009, 04:57 PM	#10
marcerella02 Loved by Layla Donating Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 11,257	i'm not sure if this stuff still exists or if it is toxic to dogs.. but i remember as a kid i used to bite my nails- so my mom put soemthign on my finger nails- like a polish that tasted just AWFUL- but if you could wrap her tail and then cover the wrap in this bad tasting stuff.. that might do the trick..... __________________ http://misscanam.blogspot.com/ Layla 's Simon

03-20-2009, 06:10 PM	#11
BarbiesBabyJada YT Addict Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 257	I know something that will...u might want to weaken it down but on humans if theres a sore they say to put cuyan on it ....but I don't know what it might do to her mouth because it is hot but not on sores

03-20-2009, 06:57 PM	#12
SRD Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Orlando Posts: 490	Rainer's old vet was telling me that I should have her on an fish based formula rather than meat based, because her skin issues could be due to allergies, and I had her on SOLID GOLD BARKING AT THE MOON, which is an fish based formula w/o corn and stuff but I did not see much improvement. we couldn't figure out what her allergies are if there is any! the tail licking thing I think it's probably bahavioral. what about put some clothes on her, she loved chewing her clothes which can keep the focus off of her tail! Dolly's got some skin issues as well, she has an itchy spot that has not grow any hair on her shoulder since we got her, and we've tried some meds and the itching seemed to stop but no hair has grown back yet. and Dolly's just like Rainer, no interest in toys AT ALL, not much energy, a lap dog. and she just recently had a dental, her teeth are pointing at every direction, had to have a few extracted. with these lil ones, its just harder, give her some time, she will get better. __________________ Mommymy princesses Shorty & Dolly

03-20-2009, 07:14 PM	#13
Jacklynn YT Addict Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Orlando area, Florida Posts: 477	She is certainly a lap dog! But we LOVE it. She is currently laying next to me sleeping She plays with toys every once in a while, just not often -- doesn't bother us though She does get excited about treats though... she certainly moves fast when she hears the treat bag. She loves walks too, and we enjoy taking her outside. I just worry about her making her tail sore. I think we will try to get her a cone... if we can find one in her size! haha shes just so tiny I dk if they will have one. hmm anyone know if they have allergy tests for dogs? __________________ Wrigley (1 year) Rainer (4 years)