<p>A close friend has a rescue dog, they have had her for several years, but this past year they have been fighting her licking a hot spot. It is so bad she is getting a serious granuloma.</p>
<p>She was on some meds which are like prozac for dogs plus steroids plus antibiotics. For awhile those seemed to work, but no longer do.</p>
<p>Does any one have any ideas to try? There have been big changes in their lives, they moved to a new city and they had a baby. The licking began before the baby though.</p>
<p>She just seems worried and stressed, they are wondering about giving her to a sister who has acreage to see if that would be better for her, but they don’t want to give up</p>
<p>what is the dog eatting? Sometimes it comes down to the dogs diet.</p>
<p>I know my toy poodle when she was five started haveing siezures (for about 8 mins each). Found out what it was: dog food. Removed it, and no more siezures, she’s been free for about 5 or so years now. She now has a diet of whatever we eat: chicken and rice, hamburger and veggies, she loves her veggies :)</p>
<p>She is now 13 and the vet is very happy with her diet :)</p>
<p>I hate to say it but this dog may need a new home unless they can devote more time to it. I had an American Eskimo I raised from birth. He was a high energy, super smart but slightly anxious dog. As he got older he would like his foot. Ended up on doggie xanax which helped some. I am self employed and ended up starting to take him to work with me to minimize his time alone. That helped immensely but when we would go out of town the problem would return. This dog is stressed and needs an owner who can spend the time to work with it. IMHO. YMMV</p>
<p>I know several people with dogs that develop lick-granulomas easily. (They all happen to be golden retrievers with allergies, but okay…) AT ALL TIMES WHEN THE DOG IS NOT SUPERVISED, the dog wears an Elizabethan collar (also known as the Cone of Shame). </p>
<p>Agree with dmd the collar can help. For some dogs the collar creates additional stress which is why I am concerned that the dog is spending too much time alone. The collar may work but may also add stress.</p>
<p>The mom is home all day, but does have a baby under age 1, so that causes extra anxiety. The dog adores the baby, but it is one more person for the dog to worry about and protect, apparently. I don’t know which collars they have tried, I will pass that on.</p>
<p>I just had to put my lab to sleep last weekend but I have the answer for you!</p>
<p>My dog would lick her foreleg incessantly when I was gone. The vet said it was comparable to a human biting their fingernails. I tried EVERYTHING! Every bitter spray (she loved all of them!), the eliz. collar (they can’t live in this), etc. Finally I found the solution and my vet even recommends it to her other patients:</p>
<p>Have them tape the area with athletic tape (the material kind - not the paper kind that can be chewed off). It is important to tape it very loosely going around the leg - the tape will stick to the fur so be sure it does not restrict the leg at all. This method worked for me for many years! When I first put the tape on - my dog started licking her other leg so I put the tape on that leg too! You have to change the tape every few days when it gets dirty. I would leave the tape off sometimes for weeks at a time but if I noticed her licking again - back on goes the tape!!!</p>
<p>Also - if the area is raw they can put a little antibiotic ointment on a gauze pad under the tape until it is healed!</p>
<p>If any topical meds are attempted, take or let the doggie be outside for the first 30 minutes after application. Or use that time as maximal play-time with the dog. </p>
<p>That;ll distract him enough to let the med soak in well to the skin.</p>
<p>Our dog was diagnosed with diabetes. The first symtom we noted was foot licking, the second was excessive thirst. The first test we had done was inexpensive and came back negative. We got a second opinion and diabetes was diagnosed with a more conclusive blood test but by that time cataracts had begun forming and hair on her back was falling out. With insulin and cataract removal sugery she lived a few more good years but I wish she had been diagnosed earlier and she should have been. A test for ketones alone was not comprehensive. She was a labrador and she had us for 13 wonderful years.</p>
but I have the answer for you!</p>