Retta

Any ideas on how to heal a lick sore? One of the owners of a dog I bred says her boy (will be 11 yrs old on March 2nd) has developed a lick sore. She says she has tried everything, but he is licking it raw. Two years ago she lost her husband and her Dobie pined so much, that he started this problem after she had a tumor removed in that spot. She is an elderly lady and is so worried about him, cause he is all she's got and loves him so much. It breaks my heart to have her go through this worrying. Does anyone have any ideas I can pass onto her?

Burns

Make sure there are no underlying medical causes such as hypothyroidism, arthritis pain, and do a deep skin scrape for demodex.

From what I've read on VIN about acral lick dermatitis (Dobes are very predisposed to this), is an obsessive behavior that usually requires the owner to either change their lifestyle (more exercise, give the dog a job to do, something to take its mind off licking), and possibly needing to give behavioral medications such as amitriptyline, fluoxetine, or clomipramine as a mood stabilizer. A lot of times long term antibiotics are indicated, and sometimes steroids to reduce inflammation (if needed).

Using E-collars usually just stress the dog out more and will only curtail the licking while wearing it - because as soon as it comes off, the licking starts back up again - sometimes even worse than before due to increased stress levels. Try a "redirect behavior" which you can cue whenever the dog starts licking. This behavior should be one which stimulates adrenalin release, so the dog gets the same "rush" he gets from the endorphins when he licks. Owners that correct the dog for licking (either verbal or with bitter apple, etc), which does nothing to simulate that endorphin release and may actually add to the stress that started the problem in the first place.

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DLS

Yes, you have to change their routines, give them something else to think about. An organic sea salt solution mixed with or without GSE {Grapefruit Seed Extract}and sprayed on the spot several times a day will help dry it up and prevent infection. Poor Old guy, give him a hug for me next time you see him.

Patches Mom

Sorry but when my old mutt Dusty had one years ago it was in a bad spot.Long bone on the back leg before the paw.One vet wanted to do surgery but I was scared as soon as he put weight on the leg the stiches would come loose. I made him a card board collar put duck tape on the inside around his neck. He wore it all summer when fall came no more lick sore.It worked he did not seem stressed wearing the card board collar. I told him how pretty his new collar was and made over how great he looked he seemed pleased with it.Good Luck

dogs4jen

Could you put Bitter Apple on it so it would taste lousy when he licked it? I haven't actually tried this, so I don't know if it would work.
Jen

melbrod

I don't know either, but I would think it would make him say, "what's this horrible stuff on my leg? Gotta get it off!!" It might sting or feel icky to him. We put a sock on our dog's leg (when we were around) and stepped up the activity and toys.

We always thought the initial licking spell was due to irritating cactus thorns acquired on a walk (we hadn't seen them), and that once the leg was irritated, the lick kept going.

Retta

She said she put all kinds of stuff like that on it, and he just licks it off. I as told by someone to spray it directly into the mouth. Ugggghh!! They won't lick at the sore as long as the taste is in their mouth, I guess, but would think they would start licking again once the "flavor" wore off.
Thanks for your input.

sebsyd

My daughter's dalmation had this problem. Her vet gave him a cortisone shot and steroids, but to no avail. SHe then wrapped it up with strips of a sheet soaked in bitter apple. He would try to eat the stripping off, but never managed to get it all the way off. She would remove it before bedtime and then would put an inflatable donut (eliz collar, but smaller) around his neck so he couldn't chew it at night. This worked out to be the best method for her. It took a month of changing his routine and adding different toys to stimulate him before he stopped.

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Linda H

My old girl that developed lick sores on her hind legs actually had CVI. Apparently the vertebrae compressing on the spinal cord caused a tingling in her rear legs.

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Desi-Doo

Zippy has one too. It's on his back leg. Sometimes I wrap vetwrap around it to keep him from messing with it. It has even healed a few times but he always goes back to it. Usually if I catch him licking it he will stop. My vet said that it releases endorphines when they lick it and it's a real hard habbit to break. I haven't given up though.