Last Week: HOW TO Treat Your Dog’s Excessive Gas
Your dog has a painful, red lesion on his leg that he can’t stop licking. Is it a hot spot? Maybe, but it might be lick granuloma, also frequently called acral lick granuloma (ALG), acral lick dermatitis (ALD), and acral lick furunculosis (ALF).
According to ThePetCenter.com, a lick granuloma usually starts as a small sore on the skin, which a dog continues to lick, thus preventing the wound from healing and worsening the condition. What exactly is it? PetPlace.com and MarVistaVet.com report that it’s a raised, ulcerated lesion that generally appears on a dog’s front legs or ankles.
“These lesions are prone to infections, which make them itchier and itchier, which then leads to a self-perpetuating cycle of itching and licking,” PetPlace.com continues. “The term ‘acral’ refers to the peripheral portion of an extremity.”
The causes for lick granuloma are a little trickier to pin point down and can be allergies, foreign bodies, mites, arthritis, etc. There are also strong possible psychological reasons as to why dogs lick such wounds such as these so obsessively.
“It is thought that the act of licking causes the release of endorphins (chemical substances which provide a sense of well-being) in the dog’s brain,” reports PetEducation.com. “The dog soon learns that licking brings about this pleasant feeling, and keeps on licking.”
According to PetEducation.com and MarVistaVet.com, there can also be psychological factors, such as:
Boredom
Stress
Separation anxiety
Lengthy confinement
Addition of a new pet or human houseguest
Loss of owner or absence of a family member
Moving to a new home
To determine the proper treatment, the veterinarian needs to determine the root cause of the problem. The 
doctor will likely ask you a series of questions, such as when the licking started, and also conduct diagnostic exams and skin tests.
Treating the underlying condition is only part of the healing process, though. To truly recover, a dog needs to stop licking the sore. To do that, a series of precautions are typically put into place, such as fitting your dog with an Elizabethan collar, applying bad-tasting liquids to the skin, and administering antibiotic.
MarVistaVet.com finds the following treatments to be the most effective:
A long-acting cortico steroid injection helps reduce the itchy sensation.
Special wraps covering the wound allow healing to take place (though, at first, often an Elizabethan collar is important to keep your pet from bothering the wrap.)
Some veterinarians prefer specially mixed topical to reduce inflammation in these areas.
Many lick granulomas may require a minimum of three weeks on antibiotics to clear the skin infection.
In conjunction with the physical treatment, your veterinarian may choose to prescribe antidepressants, something to reduce stress or to treat obsessive/compulsive disorders. If necessary, a canine behaviorist or trainer may need to be consulted to make a complete recovery.
Find A Vet HOW TO articles are intended for informational purposes only. You should always consult with your veterinarian about any health issues affecting your dog.
PHOTOS: my-pet-medicine.com, vetblog.co.uk
Category : HOW TO
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