Obsessive Licking

[Samc]

Recently, Bailey has started licking a couple of spots, one on his right front leg and on one of his hind legs. Not all the time, mostly when he lies down either for a nap or at night. The front leg has a dime sized area where the hair is licked clean to the skin. I have seen where it is possible there is an allergy, skin infection, etc. I was wondering if there is anything such as obsessive licking and what might be done for it? (some breeds have similar "quirks")

Otherwise my boy is well adjusted, well exercised and properly fed.

Thanks,
Samc and Bailey

[chachi]

What does he eat? It could be a food allergy

[kalina82]

Originally Posted by Samc

Recently, Bailey has started licking a couple of spots, one on his right front leg and on one of his hind legs. Not all the time, mostly when he lies down either for a nap or at night. The front leg has a dime sized area where the hair is licked clean to the skin. I have seen where it is possible there is an allergy, skin infection, etc. I was wondering if there is anything such as obsessive licking and what might be done for it? (some breeds have similar "quirks")

Otherwise my boy is well adjusted, well exercised and properly fed.

Thanks,
Samc and Bailey

some dogs can have OCD and licking is one of the symptoms. It could also be allergies, skin infection (prior to licking or because of licking), it could be out of boredom, and it could be out of habit. Morgan chews her feet sometimes while she's lying down and i tell her to stop.

first i would take him to the vet for a skin scraping to see if its allergies or mites or something like that. And also to see if its infected. If its no to all these things then its either out of boredom, habit or OCD. best way to deal with this is to distract him with something else. Or put something on his legs to deter him from licking like bitter apple, solid deoderent, ben-gay, or vicks vapor rub.

[Wylie's Mom]

What is he eating? It could be a food allergy; could also be a particulate allergy (dust, seasonal etc). If it might be fungal, he would need a skin scrape from the vet. You could try redirecting him in the mean time - with a nice tasty chew toy or something.

[Yorkiekids]

It could be allergies. I'd make a trip to the vet to see what he/she thinks.

[SANDYSAND]

A little bit of licking is considered normal for dogs, but if it is excessive, there is definitely something wrong. If your pet is eating a good quality dog food and has normal stool production, then there is no vitamin or nutrient deficiency at play. Medical reasons could include viral infections, liver disease, anal gland infections, skin disorders, or other painful conditions. A visit to your veterinarian will help determine if your dog is suffering from any of these conditions.

In most situations, what you are describing is an obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) like those seen in humans, such as nail biting or constantly washing your hands. The cause is usually anxiety, although it may be genetic. Doberman Pinschers are prone to sucking on their skin and causing lick granulomas (thick open sores), while German shepherds and bull terriers will compulsively chase their tails.

Obsessive licking is commonly associated with other nervous behavior, such as separation anxiety or noise phobias. One of my dogs licks her feet excessively any time I start packing for a vacation. The more suitcases I pack, the more aggressively she licks. She also freaks when large trucks pass on the street. OCD can be expressed as any repetitive behavior, and is just a cry for attention. Often it occurs just when we are preparing to leave for work or when we are using the telephone--any action that takes attention away from your pet may provoke the licking.

It would be helpful to videotape your pet while you're away to see if the licking continues when he is alone. Often owners never actually see the pet licking themselves, and yet they have saliva stains up and down the front legs (a rusty, red discoloration). By giving attention, be it negative or positive, we reinforce the behavior. In other words, we would do best to ignore it altogether. Of course if it is severe, you will need to get involved and usually that requires using drugs combined with behavior modification. For separation anxiety we like to use clomipramine, fluoexetine, and the tricyclic antidepressants used in humans. Of course, these need to be prescribed by your vet.

If your pet suffers from separation anxiety, behavior modification is achieved by changing the way you leave the house. For example, try changing the door you leave from if possible, using the front door instead of the garage. Try changing the order in which you eat breakfast, get dressed, clean up, etc. Dogs observe and measure everything we do. By watching us repeat the same rituals every day they can tell if we are going out for the entire day or just out to get a newspaper. Try and outsmart them by altering the pattern.

Since licking is a cry for attention, it may mean your pet is not getting enough. Make an attempt to provide more exercise, more play time, and more love if you're not already doing so.

[Samc]

Thank you all for taking the time to present good information. Bailey is not lacking for attention, exercise, diet, etc. He is an "only child" so you get my drift...........

I will keep an eye on him to see if I can denote a pattern to this (if there is a pattern) It may be I am his hypochondriac human and making more out of this than really is.

Love to all,
Samc and Bailey