[Dailydrool] Compulsive Licking--itch?

[Beverly Szaton via Dailydrool]

​What it sounds like to me is that he is working on a lick granuloma. From
my very limited experience what I believe is that it starts with a physical
thing-- an itch, some pain, etc.
Licking the spot, normal for a dog, releases endorphins which are nice
happy things that make us feel better. The licking helps. So he licks again
and he feels better, and again. And very quickly the spot heals but licking
becomes it's own reward and this is horribly difficult to stop. It is now
habit, and a fiercely tough one. I know show dogs that have to wear a cone
between shows so that they do not lick their legs and feet. Doberman
Pinschers are great at lick granulomas but I have seen them on a wide
selection of dogs.
Sometimes they also start in response to anxiety or boredom. You bandage it
until he forgets about it but sometimes even that doesn't work. If you want
you might have a dermatology specialist make sure there is no underlying
physical cause, like allergies. But slopping nasty goop on it, bandaging
it, or having him wear a cone are the only approaches I am familiar with:
by now there may be drugs available to help stop the activity. Good Luck.
MomPerson to Conley, MertaLou and Doc


bgszap2 at gmail.com
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