Lick dermatitis also called lick granuloma in
dogs is a condition which develops as a result of excessivechronic licking.
The act of licking causes the release of endorphins
(chemical substances which provide a sense of well-being) in the dog's brain,
the dog soon learns that licking brings about this pleasant feeling, and keeps
on licking. There can also be psychological components, such as boredom,
stress, and separation anxiety. In other situations, the act of licking may be
an underlying cause for the licking including allergies, skin mites, fungal
infections, arthritis, trauma, foreign bodies, tumors, and neurological
disease.The area of licking usually occurs on the front part of the lower leg,
often over the carpus or metacarpus. The constant licking causes inflammation
in the skin, over time the skin in that area becomes thickened because the dog
continues to lick and the area can not heal and may become red, raised, and
ulcerated. It is likely that the licking and the inflammation also cause the
area to be itchy, which causes more licking, and starts an itch-lick cycle.
Often, along with a lick dermatitis there will be a bacterial infection in the
skin. The moisture from the licking can cause overgrowth of the normal skin bacteria
and this can increase the itchiness.
Your dog seems to be doing a lot of licking on his feet or legs, look closer and see if you find an area where the hair has been removed and the skin is starting to look thickened, red, and irritated. The best thing to do is to have your dog examined by your veterinarian. Your veterinarian may ask you questions such as when the licking started, whether your dog licks all the time, during certain seasons or only when he is alone. The answers to these questions will help determine if there is an underlying cause. Your veterinarian may also recommend some tests, such as a skin scraping, a fungal culture, or a skin biopsy.
In cases the act of licking may have a psychological cause, your veterinarian may recommend a trial of an anti-depressant medication. The bacterial infection in the skin will be difficult to get the dog to stop licking so that the area can heal. In these cases, long-term antibiotic therapy (often for as long as 4 months) may be needed, but until the bacterial infection is resolved. Effective therapy for a lick dermatitis will vary depending on the underlying cause for the licking, but with proper treatment, your dog will be much more comfortable. In addition to treating the underlying cause, to properly heal, it will be necessary to stop the lick cycle. To do this, medications may be given, bad-tasting liquids could be applied to the area, or Elizabethan collars used to physically prevent licking.
Your dog seems to be doing a lot of licking on his feet or legs, look closer and see if you find an area where the hair has been removed and the skin is starting to look thickened, red, and irritated. The best thing to do is to have your dog examined by your veterinarian. Your veterinarian may ask you questions such as when the licking started, whether your dog licks all the time, during certain seasons or only when he is alone. The answers to these questions will help determine if there is an underlying cause. Your veterinarian may also recommend some tests, such as a skin scraping, a fungal culture, or a skin biopsy.
In cases the act of licking may have a psychological cause, your veterinarian may recommend a trial of an anti-depressant medication. The bacterial infection in the skin will be difficult to get the dog to stop licking so that the area can heal. In these cases, long-term antibiotic therapy (often for as long as 4 months) may be needed, but until the bacterial infection is resolved. Effective therapy for a lick dermatitis will vary depending on the underlying cause for the licking, but with proper treatment, your dog will be much more comfortable. In addition to treating the underlying cause, to properly heal, it will be necessary to stop the lick cycle. To do this, medications may be given, bad-tasting liquids could be applied to the area, or Elizabethan collars used to physically prevent licking.
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