Obsessive Licking

[Guest WYOwhy]

Background info:

Avery often favors his left hind foot. After many many exams, x-rays, and medical rabbit-trails this has been chalked up to an old track injury - barely noticeable in x-rays and only if you get just the right angle. Generally when he gets limpy (seems to happen in spring and fall as the weather changes) I give him glucoflex for a couple of weeks and then wean him off again. This seems to work just fine.

 

The new problem:

Suddenly, Avery has taken to licking his left hind foot. He knows "leave it" and will stop licking when I catch him, but he is sneaky and has managed to lick open a small wound and get it infected. The vet wrapped it last week and now he is on antibiotics. Avery is licking above the top of the vet wrap today. Arrg!

 

The questions:

Does this sound like allergies or something worse?

Could the adhesive from the vet wrap be bothering him now?

Should I unwrap the foot?

Should I insist on x-rays again in case he is licking due to pain (Cancer or Arthritis)?

Should I buy some more glucoflex?

Will glucoflex help with allergies - if it is allergies?

Should I try a benadryl?

 

Thanks in advance for all your help!

[Guest Gideon]

Duke does this too.

 

I brought him for x-rays and they showed an old track injury the vet says is now bothering hm as he's gotten older. He is weak in that leg and needs a pain killer every once in a while. Also, like Avery, this happens more in the Spring and Fall seasons as weather changes.

 

It sucks, I know.

[dbullwinkel]

Missy has been doing this for years!!! I have tried everything; foods, soaking, spraying with bitter apple, benedryl . Vet has checked her foot: nothing noticeable. She has not had x-rays, but I would also assume an old racing injury. (she has many). I do know that when she had her foot wrapped and licked it, I tried to put a boot on it..but she managed to pull it off. she is also able to get around one of those large collars! So , I can't offer any advice, only sympathy. Actually I am going to try and soak it with a little apple cider vinegar mixed in the water. who knows!

[IndyandHollyluv]

Boy, I sure can sympathize. My Indy, 10, is a serial toe-licker as well. Left hind foot. Licks in-between two particular toes until raw. Tried assorted yucky ointments, had foot x-rayed - nothing. No evidence of arthritis, cancer, or injury. Indy has some allergies and mild lumbosacral stenosis, so it could very well be itchy or numb and tingly. Don't know. He's also on Get Up & Go supplements.

 

Maybe he's bored and it gives him something to do? Sometimes I'm convinced it's just a neurotic fixation. The licking is cyclical, it seems. When he's hellbent on licking, I give him a Benadryl and put a footie or sock on and tape with paper first aid tape around the ankle (just below the top of the sock). I may have to do this for weeks at a time until he forgets about it. I change the sock daily and remove it when outside. But you're right they sure are sneaky. As soon as I remove the sock, Indy is right back at it.

 

As long as you've ruled out any medical problem ... I don't know what the solution is??

[Guest BleusysMom]

Couple of different thoughts....

First....when one puts a bandage on a Greys' foot---try putting a gauze pad between ALL the toes before the bandage....

Second....as for the LICKING.....ATROPINE EYE DROPS!!!!!! the Most useful little tiny white bottle with a red top, in a First Aid Kit! Must be gotten from a Vet, but it has a HORRIBLE TASTE, will make the dog froth at the mouth for a minute or two, BUT...it works! Drop can even be put In or On a wound-it is for eyes----and one application will last up to 2-3 days!!!!!!

 

My vet found out about it when she went on the internet World Wide vet topics....looking for a way to stop an animal from licking.....this little trick has even been known to SAVE A LIFE when Lick Granulosis becomes REALLY REALLY BAD!

 

Good Luck, Hope this helps.....

[Guest winli02]

Ok, I am gonna look into the eye drops.

 

Dilly did not race (but still could have an injury that has not yet been detected). for the past year, he has obsessively licked HIS back left foot. It has gotten infected, especially between the toes. I tried changing foods/avoiding treats to see if it was a wheat/beef/etc allergy and it only got worse. he has been on at least 4 different antibiotics to help with the infection. He has a biopsy to make sure it was not autoimmune. He most recently has been on steriods, which helped for a while but not as much now (and the side effects of drinking/peeing ALL the time is kinda rough). And all of this was after going to 2 different vets AND a doggy dermatologist.

 

BUT, his paw has never been X-rayed and I have never tried the eye drops. So thank you!

 

I still wonder if it is not more psychological, rather than medical. What I mean by this, is I think he started at it when he was bored in his crate during the day...it got infected, which made it worse, which makes him lick it more.

 

The other thought is whether it is something he is allergic to that he is stepping on.....but then WHY just one paw?

 

So I have no advice, but I DO know what you are going thru!!!!!

[Guest WYOwhy]

Thanks all. It helps to know Avery and I can join the crazy lickers club. What is it with back left feet?

 

As an update: I took the vet wrap off - it was REALLY bothering him and he had started to tri-pod hop instead of just favoring the foot a bit. Low and behold, under the vet wrap his toenails (which are not too long) had pressed into the skin of the toe next to them and created more little open sores. He immediately started to lick the dried blood from these sores, and I let him do this for a few minutes. Then I stopped him and made him wear one of his snow boots over that foot. I decided the advantage of his snow boot is that it is not tight around the foot and super easy for me to take off and put on. The disadvantage is that if he is determined, he can get it off too. So, we've been open airing it when I'm around to redirect licking and booting it when I'm not. His toes look better, I'm not having to stop the licking as often, and he is not taking his boot off. However, he is still limping.

 

Thanks again for your sympathy and advice!

[PatricksMom]

In Patrick, licking is a sign his arthritis is acting up, and I need to add in another medication (deramax added to his usual tramadol). That said, once he's gotten a small wound, he could just be obsessively licking because of that--you might try some bitter apple on top of the bandaging.