Compulsive licking???

[deonk1]

Originally Posted by KendraE

Llapan... That is very interesting!! Op, I feel your pain as I too have a compulsive licker!! In fact, I once too posted a thread about it and received some very intereting responses... Never heard if it being a possible allergy though!! Mack does not lick himself... He loves to lick furniture... In fact just today, he left a HUGE wet spot in the middle of the couch! When we catch him in the act, a simple no will make him stop... I've just come to accept that licking is a part of who he is!! Good luck!

Yeah his skin flared up today licking was the worst the last two days, I'm leaning mostly towards an allergy. In talks with the vet now to figure out what they suggest.

[deonk1]

Originally Posted by gracielove

Do your pets have things like bully sticks to chew. Some dogs do have a nervous energy that can be helped with chewing.

Harley is not on a formal elimination diet, but he is only allowed kibble until I figure out what's bugging him. I do have several chew toys, he'll usually start under the covers with a chew toy and the switch to licking.

[deonk1]

Originally Posted by gracielove

Is there allergy testing for dogs? Maybe finding the source of the allergy would mean you could stop medicating you pet.

I know this was directed at the one suggesting benedryl, but yes there is allergy testing, but it is extremely inconclusive. I'm in the process of pricing 3-4 different tests and deciding which one is best, and also trying to figure out which of the many will be the most accurate.

I always wondered if the licking had something to do with his allergies (he has both stomach issues and skin issues currently, we're trying to resolve them).

[kdhawks]

Originally Posted by KendraE

Llapan... That is very interesting!! Op, I feel your pain as I too have a compulsive licker!! In fact, I once too posted a thread about it and received some very intereting responses... Never heard if it being a possible allergy though!! Mack does not lick himself... He loves to lick furniture... In fact just today, he left a HUGE wet spot in the middle of the couch! When we catch him in the act, a simple no will make him stop... I've just come to accept that licking is a part of who he is!! Good luck!

Mack sounds like Levi. Levi will lick ANYTHING -- he stops if you tell him to stop, but he always goes back to licking something. I've accepted that he just really loves to lick. We usually tell him to stop or re-direct his attention, but we've also designated a few things for "free licking" -- and he definitely uses those to self-soothe. The main thing he is allowed to lick anytime is a dog bed in the living room. Anytime someone comes over to visit, he gets really excited, says hi, and then runs to the dog bed so he can lick it and calm himself down.

[zelah]

I never thought of an allergy. Sophie will bite and lick herself til she has sores. I think I will call the vet tomorrow and ask what dose of benadryl to give her. Thanks for the insight.

[llapan]

Originally Posted by gracielove

Is there allergy testing for dogs? Maybe finding the source of the allergy would mean you could stop medicating you pet.

It's been so long ago, I can't remember what the vet said about the costs of allergy testing -- it was definitely available, but it was a long ways away from being cheap; and lilke human allergy testing -- you could test and test and test before you "happened on" whatever your doggie is allergic to. My vet is the one that suggested Benadryl instead; and it definitely works - it is a tiny tiny dose that I give Miss Kitty that does nothing to her except slow down her licking. (A bottle of Benadryl lasts me at least six months.) The Benadryl, at this small dose, doesn't make her sleepy or hyper or sick or anything. My vet said it was safe to continue dosing her with the Benadryl, and so I do. (I sometimes miss a day or two a week in dosing her -- so she's not getting it EVERY day; but I do have to be fairly consistent in giving her the Benadryl, or the licking kick starts back up.) I mix the baby Benadryl with her daily liquid vitamin, and she likes the taste. Now, if Miss Kitty had hot spots or places where she had licked down to bare skin or had flaky spots or any other obvious signs that allergies were plaguing her -- I would spend the money on testing her for allergies. But, since excessive licking is the only thing I'm trying to treat - I decided to pass on the expensive allergy testing. Again - I don't want to mislead anyone; Miss Kitty still compulsively licks SOME - mainly when she is sleepy. I think she is licking to "self sooth" herself to sleep on those occasions. BUT--without the Benadryl, her licking was definitely obsessive, occurring at all times of the day or night. Back then, I COULD temporarily distract her with chew toys or engage her in a play session, and I COULD command her to stop licking. But --what I hated about commmanding her to stop licking --although she would stop when commanded, most times it would cause her to move away from me so she could surreptiously start licking again. I love her cuddling with me -- I never want to do anything to drive her away from me -- have her looking for a "better" place to hang out !! So, I was happy to find out that Benadryl offered Miss Kitty some real relief from the need to lick--without me nagging her about that licking. Licking is her only annoying habit; I'm so happy we've managed to get it under control. So, Benadryl for everyone !! PS I absolutely forbid anyone from pointing me to an article suggesting that Benadryl causes doggie cancer. Do NOT go there !! Miss Kitty needs this stuff. It is the elixir of life, IMHO.

[deonk1]

Vet confirmed it's likely the allergies causing his licking. We're switching his food two weeks from now to try something else. See if he has a salmon allergy