[bipolarmedstudent]

So, for a few years now, my dog has been having major issues with trichotillomania. He yanks out all the hair from his tail with his teeth. He is a long-hair dog, but he is tail is almost completely bare because he pulls so much. We tell him to stop, and sometimes he stops for a few seconds, but he always starts again. He can't control himself. It reminds me so much of my own hair-pulling. It's crazy!

And when it gets really bad, he even chews the skin of his tail until it gets all red and raw and even bleeds sometimes. Again, reminds of me of how I pick at my scalp.

What's really weird is all this started a few years ago. He never did it when he was younger. We've taken him to the vet numerous times, checked him for allergies, etc. We've put him on antihistamines and even expensive anti-immune drugs, nothing helps. And he has the same behaviour whether he is at my parents' house or at my house, so it's not something in his environment that's irritating him.

I really think my dog has developed trichotillomania/dermatillomania. I wonder if it's possible that he learned it by mimicking me?

Anyone else have a pet that has weird OCD behaviours or excessive grooming behaviours?