Debunking a canine myth

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Meghan Herron, DVM, DACVB, FFCV, discusses the real reason why dogs chase their tails, in a dvm360 interview.

Meghan Herron, DVM, DACVB, FFCV, senior director of behavior, education, and outreach at Gigi’s, a shelter organization in Ohio, presented a continuing education session on “Top 10 Behavior Myths” at the 2025 Fetch dvm360 Conference in Kansas City, Missouri. In an interview with dvm360 at the conference, Herron debunked a common myth about why dogs chase their tails.

The following is a transcript of the video:

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Meghan Herron, DVM, DACVB, FFCV: So, one of the myths that drives me crazy is that dogs spin, chase their tail, or they lick their paws because they're bored. Anytime a dog is paying extra attention to a body part, I need to know why. As a veterinarian, we need to put that medical cap on and say, ‘you're paying attention to your body,’ either because it itches, it hurts or it feels funny, and I need to rule out all of those reasons for that focus before I'm ever blaming some sort of boredom or behavior problem.

I've had dogs with hip dysplasia, Cauda Equina Syndrome, anal gland disease or impaction, and that's why they're chasing their tail. That's why they're running in circles, because it's uncomfortable for them. I've had it in Irritable Bowel Disease. They're putting focus on their belly. They're putting focus on that hind end. It has actually nothing to do with boredom, and it may not even be a compulsive disorder. A lot of people want to say, ‘oh, spinning OCD. Put them on the Prozac.’ Well, Prozac may be beneficial to some dogs who do have compulsive disorders. We really have to do our job in ruling out the medical reason for it first.

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For more coverage of the Fetch Kansas City conference, visit the dvm360 conference news page.

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