Thanks for the reply.

My dog is not left at home without me all day. I own my own business and she is allowed to go with me, all day every day so I highly doubt it's some sort of psychosis. How would I go about getting her tested for food allergies? And, how wuld I find a vet who's REALLY good at this kind of thing? I've taken her to 3 different vets and while they are all reputable, none of them seem to be able to figure out what is wrong. I'm SO frustrated!

Thanks so much for the information you've already given me!

Where do you live? You need to go see a doggie dermatologist which shouldn't be a problem unless you live somewhere REALLY isolated.

Ask your vet for a referral. Don't hesitate to do it!

drphilvegasvet

I live near Atlanta, she has an appointment on Thursday with her current vet, I will ask for a referral then.

Thank YOU!

You shouldn't have a problem finding a dermatologist near Atlanta.

Wishing you the best of luck,
drphilvegasvet

In searching the web looking for a solution to the lick granuloma for my 11 year old Bichon Frise, Louie, I happened on atlhalfjap's correspondance with drphilvegasvet. I have been struggling with this problem for 8 years, and was desperate for an answer. I immediately requested a prescription of antibiotics from the vet, which Louie is now on. I also did what I have been putting off all these years as a last resort, bought a plastic collar, certain he would reject it. To my complete surprise, he put up a small struggle, but when I ignored it, he calmed down and wore it overnight and all of today.
I think this was the first night in at least 8 years that he has not licked his leg.I am so hopeful and appreciative that I happened on that letter. Please dont give up easily on the collar.I am just angry with myself for not trying it sooner. By the way, I am also putting benadryl salve on his sore and plan to walk him twice a day instead of once. I realize that he does not lick after a walk, he's too tired. Good luck, and thanks to the doctor. Sharon

Thanks for the kind words.

Lick granulomas are frustrating for everyone. I hope you find a patient veterinarian who is willing to guide you through the obstacles.

Good luck and take care,
drphilvegasvet

An update on Louie, it has been two and a half weeks, he is still wearing the collar around the clock, and taking an antibiotic twice daily,he has not been licking, or even trying to, and his legs are healing nicely. Best of all, he seems much more active than he's been in years. He has a period in the evening when he has playtime, very rambunxious, his old self. He does not mind the collar at all. I still haven't figured out why he licked. I almost dread taking off the collar, for fear he will start licking again.
I am very thankful to you for your excellant advise. Sharon

Glad things are going well with Louie. Don't stop the antibiotics too soon! Get those sores healed before you even think about removing the collar.

Take care,
drphil

I pulled up this web site after putting in a search for lick granuloma and I'm so glad your website popped up. I have an 8 year old lab that has the sore on his front leg that is just terrible. He even went in for surgery 3 weeks ago and the vet called and said it was so large now that he couldn't do the surgery. What I'm worried about are the little pockets that enlarge with blood (like little cysts) and this tiny little hole appears and it finally drains out. I've put bandages on his leg this week but I'm afraid I'm making it worse (looks worse anyways). I'm thinking it needs to AIR heal instead of being bandaged but he does quit licking it when he can't get to it. The size of this thing is 3-1/2 inches long and about 2 inches wide. He has been on antiboiotics for about 12 days and I swear I don't see any improvement so I began putting neosporan and Betadine on it, then wrapping with a bandage. Now I don't know if its just getting worse or if I made it worse trying to make it better. Me and rascal are going crazy about this thing. I actually have him wearing old long sleave cotton t-shirts of mine so the sore can get air instead of putting bandages on it all the time. 120 pound chocolate male labadore wearing a bright print girly t-shirt is quite cute, but you can actually see the blood and drainage that seeps out quite alot on the sleeve. The bandages now stick to the same areas, so when I remove the bandages they hurt him and they begin to bleed again after removal. Please tell me what else I can do for my dog. Thank you very much for putting this web site up.

Darline

These stories are sooo sad. Lick granulomas are very difficult problems but it seems like you are a great mom so I'll try to offer you some suggestions without the benefit of a full exam and prior history.

It is essential that he not lick at that area. This will be the hardest part of the therapy. The tshirt is a great idea, even if it is not the most fashion forward statement. Bandages are fine, as long as he leaves them alone and you change them frequently (sometimes as often as once daily). You might want to ask your vet about telfa pads which don't stick to the wounds (ouchless!).

12 days of antibiotics are not very long although I would expect to see SOME improvement, especially if he is not licking at that area. Which antibiotic are you using? I have kept some dogs on antibiotics for six weeks, although this is "extra-label" use in most cases.

If you are not getting enough information from your vet, then ask about a referral. If this turns into a chronic problem, then it can be impossible to clear up completely.

Good luck!!
drphil

Dear athalfjap and everyone else,

My dog is 1 year old Alaskan Malamute and she has the exact same symptoms. Only the vet gave me something to put directly on the sore and it didn't help. So I got her a head coller to see if that helps and she also looks at me to take the dang thing off.

The vet told me that when she licks the sore it becomes a bad habit, so I have to try to break the "Bad Habit". I resently discovered that if you give her a bath in warm water with baby shampoo and then after she air drys put baby powder all over her fur ( make sure you get the sore spot(s)) it seems to make the her feel better and not lick herself.

It should help you out.

Sicerely,

jol1987

Hi Everyone!

I have a 5 year old boxer named Chopper,lovely dog,but he licks and has Lickgranuloma,I took
dog to vet and he says sometimes when their thyroid
isn't putting out enough of whatever it puts out
they begin to lick,He gave me some thyroid pills and
that worked for awhile,but then he went back to licking,I now put an ointment on his paw called
resinol,when I put this on him,its a thick ointment
so it doesnt come off easily,and then I dress his
foot with a kids sock and then I tape this,and change
his dressing once a day in two days his sores were gone.