posted 07-16-2003 03:23 AM         

I really do not know what it could be, but if you think it is something to do with the new baby I do have one idea. If she is nervous, agitated or jealous because of the new baby perhaps trying a little bit of massage on your dog, it doesn't have to be but for a few minutes at a time. It may relax her and take away some of the nervousness, and in addition for those few minutes she will be getting your special attention. I have a book by a woman named Linda Tellington-Jones called Getting In TTouch, I have also been to one of her seminars. The book and the seminar were both based around horses, but I use these same techniques with my dogs sometimes and they melt in my lap. For that matter massage for a baby is a good thing too! (that is if you can stay awake long enough)I haven't done more than skim and pick through the book yet...but the few things I have tried from the book have seemed to have a positive effect on both the dogs and my horse.

posted 07-17-2003 01:30 PM         

here is some onfo I found hope it helps, down futher it talks about biting own tail. You should get your dog into the vet to help you with this
Honeybear

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Chewing Skin, Coat, or Tail

You have bought every chew toy you can find, but your pet seems more interested in licking and biting his own skin. He does it for what seems like hours at a time -- usually after midnight when you are trying to get some sleep. What's going on?

Dogs and cats sometimes develop allergies to pollen, fleas, or even foods that make them itchy. Since they are a lot more limber than people, they can easily use their teeth, along with their paws and claws, to deliver a soothing scratch.

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Fleas are a common cause of biting and scratching. For pets that are sensitive, just one or two bites are enough to cause problems, says Donna Angarano, D.V.M., professor of small animal surgery and medicine at Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine in Auburn, Alabama. "Dogs predominantly get fleas over their rumps, on their tails, and on the backs of their legs," she says. Cats get them in the same areas as well as on the belly. In fact, cats may develop what vets call bald belly syndrome, in which they lick and chew their bellies until all the fur is gone.

You can make some guesses about what your pet is allergic to by paying attention to where he scratches.

Dogs that are allergic to pollen, mold, or dust, for example, will often bite at their feet and legs. They may have itchy ears and weepy eyes as well, says Dr. Angarano. Terriers, retrievers, and Dalmatians are particularly susceptible to these types of allergies.

Although food allergies can cause itching almost anywhere on the body, pets with food allergies often chew or scratch at their ears and back end, Dr. Angarano adds. "We call this 'ears and rears,'" she explains.

If your pet is biting and licking at his tail, it could be because glands at the base of the tail are inflamed and tender. This occurs more often in males, which is why vets refer to it as stud tail.

Itchiness isn't the only condition that causes pets to bite their skin. Some pets suffer from a serious condition called obsessive-compulsive disorder. Like people who are obsessive about washing their hands, for example, pets may be obsessive about biting at their skin. They will lick and chew an area until it gets raw and sore, says Jacque Schultz, director of companion animal services for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, headquartered in New York City. This is particularly common in pets with high energy levels that don't get enough exercise or attention. They are easily bored and frustrated and will chew themselves merely to occupy the time, Schultz says.

posted 07-18-2003 03:42 AM         

Does she get plenty of play, and exercise? The massaging sounds a good idea, as it's giving her attention and love, which she just may need. Plenty of re-assurance.