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Dogs and licking: how to help your pet

06 February, 2012 07:16:00 Delanie Flanegan

Photo ©: © Nikolay Pozdeev - Fotolia.com

Our pet care expert, Delanie Flanegan, tells us about dogs and licking this week - why they do it and how to treat lick sores.....

Dogs and licking: causes of lick sores

Lick sores or lick granulomas can be caused by a variety of things such as insect bites or an allergy but surprisingly a common and overlooked cause is boredom.

Your dog may lick himself to relieve tension, and as the action makes him feel good he will soon fall into the unfortunate habit of licking. These sores can normally be found on the lower leg which is easy to reach. The sores at first will look red and even shiny but will soon become thick and raised.

Lick sores should always receive medical attention from your veterinarian

Your vet will probably treat your pet with antibiotics for any secondary infection and may also prescribe an ointment to help with the pain and inflammation.

You could take the following first aid steps until you can get to your veterinarian:

If there is hair around the sore clean it away with a blunt nosed scissors (you may need to muzzle your pet as lick sores can be painful).

Because lick sores can become infected easily, it is a good idea to clean the area. You may use ordinary soap and water but an antiseptic liquid soap is better. Remember to use cold water as this relieves the itching.

Over the counter cortisone cream may help to treat lick sores and so would an antihistamine. Stop your dog from continuously licking by putting a cotton sock on his leg so that it covers the sore and tape it with Elastoplast.

Prevention is always better than cure, so find out what caused your dog to start licking

If boredom is the culprit then you can try suitable toys to stimulate him (your vet or vet shop can help with this). If you have the space, a companion may be ideal but remember that nothing will make him more happy than some personal time spent with you each day!

About the author

Delanie Flanegan is a qualified dog groomer who has held management positions at the SPCA. She has also bred and trained German Shepherds and been involved in equine livery and schooling.