Why does my dog ​​go around in circles?

Surely you have noticed that many times our dogs place their own head on the wall, something that is quite rare and that denotes that something happens to the animal, although something else with which we can guide ourselves to know if our dog happens something, is if this start to go around in circles.

First of all, if when the dog starts doing this, we have to see if this situation has something to do with some reaction to a factor external to him, for example, if he is chasing something, if he is looking at the ceiling fan or something Similary. If your dog walks in circles without any outside interference, you should seek the help of a veterinarian, these being some of the causes why your dog walks in circles.

You must bear in mind that this attitude, when he has it as an adult, may not be as little worrisome as when he is a puppy. In fact, there are a few reasons why an adult dog can roll over and bite its tail. And these are:

Main causes

If your dog walks in circles without any outside interference, you should seek the help of a vetThese are some of the causes of why your dog walks in circles.

Health problems

Take your dog to the vet to rule out health problems, since if the dog is in pain, he can walk in circles to signal discomfort. Some diseases that our dog may be suffering are ear infections, eye problems or nervous disorders.

Advanced age

Like people, old dogs also suffer from senile dementia, this can cause disorientation or forgetfulness. The dog can then walk in circles as if it were lost, stare at doors or corners of the house and present alterations in personality.

You may forget where the food, water or where to pee or poop is because older dogs need to go to the vet more often to make sure their health is up to date, so remember to take good care of your older dog .

Related article:

Common problems in older dogs

Compulsive behavior

Many dogs have a compulsion for certain things and walking in circles is one of them. Loud noises, unexpected situations, or scares can cause this behavior.even the separation anxiety it can also contribute to this.

When your dog exhibits this behavior, try to remove what is leaving him stressed or change the environment. Try to distract him with a toy or something to eat and avoid stroking and "comforting" him, since you will be reinforcing this behavior and he will see that every time he does it, he gets a prize.

Exercise

Exercise is essential for the mental and physical health of the dog, since Dogs that don't get enough exercise can start walking in circles to ease frustration.

Consider taking him to a kennel to spend a few days a week playing with other dogs and expending energy and remember, do not fight with your dog when he starts walking in circles, as this behavior is a way for him to tell you that something is wrong. it's okay with him.

Anxiety

All these behavioral conflicts are included within the concept of anxiety, which is one of the main reasons why our dog turns on itself.

If your dog is too anxious, it is very likely that you will also notice other types of problems in his attitude., which usually translates into the constant nibbling of objects in the house, such as furniture, or you can hear them barking excessively.

These behaviors can also have a solution if we extend, as far as possible, their walks, so the dogs exercise more and in this way release all tensions and stress, to cope with the situation of being at home without so much anxiety.

Related article:

What happens if the dog is not taken for a walk?

Its race

Among the large number of aspects that can cause your dog to behave in this strange way, you should also take into account that each breed has some similar behavioral parameters and this can be the main cause of the circular turns that your dog makes.

This means that dogs of certain breeds tend to have some kind of predisposition to have this behavior, among which we can highlight the German Shepherds, who, in addition to being known for the fact that most of their specimens usually turn in circles, are also famous for making large holes.

Another breed that tends to have similar characteristics in a genetic way is the Bull Terrier, but in this particular case, they usually make a wider route in their circles and always at speed.
Psychological causes

When a dog performs this behavior, at a given moment it ends up internalizing it, losing the sense of why it is doing it. In other words, he does it as something usual in him, but without having to do with an exploration, or with the fact of looking for something in particular. It then becomes a tic of the animal that, although it is not a bad thing, it can become a habit that is not recommended, especially if it begins to hurt itself.

How much does this behavior take place? Well, it can happen when the dog does not have enough attention, that is, when he is bored, is locked up all the time, is stressed or anxious, does not have stimuli or simply does not play. In those cases, for them it becomes an escape route to do something different.

The problem is that, in many cases, it can self-mutilate or seriously injure itself by grabbing its tail. You can even fracture it. Therefore, experts recommend that if this habit is out of the ordinary, the best thing you can do is go to an ethologist to eliminate it from its behavior.

Physical causes

That a dog turns on itself and bites its tail can also have a reason for being of a physical nature. And, in this case, it may be important because it would affect your health. And it is that, some dogs, when they have anal gland problems, they develop this habit as a way to relieve themselves (since what they are trying to do is get to that area).

It can occur due to infections, intestinal parasites, etc. and among the symptoms, in addition to irritation and inflammation of the anal area, there will also be the appearance of itching. In fact, the image of a dog crawling on its butt may come to mind right now. Or it may be due to the dreaded fleas, which have nested in that area and produces such a need to scratch that it ends up biting to reach that area and be able to relieve itself.

In these cases, it is advisable that you take him to the vet to be able to evaluate what the ailment is and the reason why it occurs, in order to eliminate the problem and to stop this habit. Normally what you will do is a physical examination of the animal, as well as a palpation of the tail area to see if something has been broken. You may also have a blood test, a stool test, or both.

External causes

Have you seen your dog since puppy turning on itself and biting its tail and have you laughed? Have you done it multiple times and have you had the same reaction? Dogs go out of their way for their owners, and that means that if they can do something to make you happy, they will.

Therefore, it is common for some dogs to identify this activity with something good, and learn it as a trick to get your attention and at the same time make you smile, or give him something in return (a caress, a treat, etc.). Now, the risks of damaging your tail are significant. And even if you find this funny, you must ensure their physical health.

The solution is through an ethologist, since if the animal has made this behavior common for him, you need someone to correct this behavior if you are not able to do it yourself.

Less relevant causes

The fact that your dog is walking in circles is not always a sign that should capture our attention with concern. There are pets that can be seen with a good countenance and are happy, but they also perform these types of movements, without this meaning something harmful, but rather a matter of normal behavior.

Surely you already know all the behaviors of your dog and if you know that it is in good health, but if he is a little nervous in general, it is very possible that he runs in circles by way of excitement, because something is generating a particular stimulus.

This situation can be exemplified by the excitement that most dogs usually show when we go to throw a ball at him to fetch it. We will see that the stimulation that this generates in the dog is such that it will turn in itself, by way of anxiety and joy at interacting with you and playing.

It is very small

Just as we tell you that in advanced ages, the turns in circles of a dog can be a reason for health problems, it should also be noted that If your puppy begins to turn on itself you should not worry so much, as this does not mean a bad thing, but the play capacity of your little pet.

Small dogs usually have the playful reflex of chasing their tail, and in the attempt to reach it they will turn on themselves several times, to one side and to the other. This does not represent a pathology and you will easily realize that it is a game.

The walks in circles of our dogs do not mean anything bad, as long as they do not become repetitive enough to mean an interference in their life.

What to do if my dog ​​is older and walks in circles?

The behavior of walking in circles can go unnoticed at an early age when, as we mentioned before, everything is part of a game. But if your dog is older and walks in circles, it is surely a well-known pathology called Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome.

In order for you to understand the close link between this canine disease and the aging of dogs, we can point out that this disease is very similar to Alzheimer's, which humans usually suffer from in advanced age, and the list of symptoms that our dogs suffer from is very long. You may suffer from it, but one of the most common is precisely making circular movements.

Dogs of advanced age that suffer from this disorder cannot be cured, as it is progressive and inherent to age. But there are various treatments, some natural, such as a change in the dog's routines, to adapt them to better cope with the disease and in other cases, the administration of certain drugs is usually used.

Why doesn't my dog ​​stop walking around the house?

You can find yourself in many situations where your beloved can not stop going around and around your house. This, which was previously an unusual behavior in him and now catches your attention, can be caused by various causes, many of them completely natural, but others may have to do with problems in their health or well-being that you should treat.

That is why We recommend that in the first instance you eliminate all the doubts that you can eliminate yourself. Check that it does not go around looking for an object that has been blocked somewhere or hidden behind a piece of furniture, something that usually makes them look around.

If you find the problem there, you have already cleared the doubt of a disease. But if the turns around your house persist, then it is recommended that you visit a veterinary specialist, to obtain an accurate diagnosis.

My dog ​​turns on himself and bites his tail

Possibly this situation is the one that should worry you the least, because dogs usually do this, especially if they are puppies and are in the middle of exploring. It is also not strange that these rotate before being thrown somewhere. It is something they do normally.

Why does my dog ​​walk sideways and also in circles?

Consulting with a veterinarian against these problems is the first thing you should do, but If your dog walks sideways and circles, it is very likely that he is suffering from some type of ailment or condition.

Among the inconveniences that this lopsided gait can mean, there can be a problem of intoxication, which makes it perform involuntary movements, as well as it can be related to a herniated disc in the dog, which makes it difficult for it to walk.

Disoriented dog, could it be a cause of why he walks in circles?

When our dogs are middle or old, their neuronal tissues can deteriorate, giving rise to the aforementioned Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome. The decrease in these neurotransmitters makes the dog appear disoriented, something that can become more acute with age.

This disorientation can be one of the direct causes of walking in circles of our mascot.

Senile dementia, could it be a cause of why you walk in circles?

Senile dementia indeed is one of the frequent causes why dogs have this behavior. This occurs in advanced ages and is usually more sudden in dogs that are large, due to the fact that they age earlier.

Senile dementia in most dogs is very common between the ages of 10 and 11, but in large dogs it can occur after 7 years.

Possible diseases that make my dog ​​walk in circles

In addition to all the behavioral conflicts that we mentioned, there are also other diseases or disorders that can make your dog walk in circles and they are the following:

• Brain trauma
• Intracranial tumors
• Hydrocephalus
• Drug reactions
• Poisonings
• My dog ​​turns on himself and bites his tail

Possibly this situation is the one that should worry you the least, because dogs usually do this, especially if they are puppies and are in the middle of exploring. It is also not uncommon for these to rotate before being thrown somewhere. It is something they do normally.

My dog ​​turns and falls

Your dog's loss of balance it may be due particularly to a problem in your inner ear, which is usually referred to an infection. There you will see this manifestation as a sign of complaint about pain.

Another cause can be Vestibular Syndrome in dogs. A condition that usually occurs in elderly dogs and has many symptoms, among which are the sudden falls of our pet.

The dog shows a system in which the vestibulo cochlear nerve and the inner ear work together, connected to different parts of its central nervous system, called the Vestibular System.

The non-correct functioning of any of these parts is what gives rise to Vestibular Syndrome, which can occur in dogs of any age and finds causes in acute otitis and Hypothyroidism, presenting an infinity of symptoms.

Among these symptoms are a tilted head, disorientation, loss of balance, difficulties eating, defecating or urinating, drooling and irritation of the nerves of the inner ear and walking in circles among many others.

When this could be a cause for concern circling

As we mentioned before, a consultation with the veterinarian is always necessary, to know if walking in circles is worrying or not. In the event that, as a result of this symptom, they find a picture of senile dementia and vestibular syndrome and all the inconveniences that these can bring with them, that would be the problem of greatest concern and accurate and fast treatment.