Dogs are wonderful creatures and when they have the proper care and affection they are the best pets. There are often times where a dog will be susceptible to a disease or contract some type of disease. You may have noticed that some dog breeds are more inclined to be ill than others. One of the most interesting dog diseases or more accurately disorders is the Lick Granuloma. The lick granuloma is a disorder characterized by over licking a particular area. There are several reasons for this issue to occur.
The cause of lick granuloma has been linked to a genetic disorder and can be linked to insects. Dogs in some cases just keep licking an area such as a leg, groin, or tail until the hair has actually disappeared. When the hair disappears they begin to form little red bumps or lesions that become painful, swollen, and may bleed. In most cases it is thought that dogs suffering from lick granuloma is due to excessive cleaning by the mother as a puppy. In most cases if the granuloma is left alone for a few days it will scab over and then heal. There are certain breeds more susceptible to this behavior than other dogs. These breeds are German shepherds, Doberman pinschers, Great Danes, Labradors, and Irish Setters.
For the symptoms of a lick granuloma you should watch the behaviour of the dog. If the dog is concentrating on one area every day, and for more than a few minutes they may suffer from this disorder. You will also find that the dog’s leg, tail, or groin area will be loosing hair to where it becomes bald. The next symptom is going to be the formation of the lesion or sore. If the dog continues to lick in this area the lesion can begin to bleed. In some severe cases the dog has licked so rough in that area there has been bone fractures and nerve damage. Hopefully treatment and proper care have been sought before this occurs.
We mentioned two causes for this disorder. The other cause is physical rather than mental. This means you need to look for the cause of the symptoms such as lice, ticks, fleas, skin tumours, parasites, and allergies. Dogs that are susceptible to skin irritations and infections usually have lick granuloma disorder. So are there ways to prevent and treat this issue? Of course, the best prevention is to keep your dog well groomed and clean. If there are no bugs or parasites your dog will not suffer skin irritation issues. You can also make sure that as a puppy the dog is not over licking and the behaviour is stopped before it becomes a real disorder. For treatment you usually remove the foreign body causing the issue or take them to a vet or trainer for behaviour modification. This treatment method is subjective so it may not work for every dog.
Another treatment of course is treating the actual granuloma or lesion that has formed. In most cases you will need to keep the dog’s head away from the area until it is healed. Medication for anti- inflammation should be prescribed and given to the dog per the vet instructions. There are also medication drugs for mood altering that have been known to help stop the behaviour of over licking. You may also have to apply an antibiotic to the lesion to help it heal and avoid amputation of the limb. In severe cases a vet has had to remove the limb due to extreme infection, such as gang green.
Author Resource:-
Gerry Ronson produces many quality dog related articles ranging from all manor of subjects including health, training and care. His wealth of knowledge comes from over twenty years of experience working with dogs. In 2006 he set up a website selling dog supplies and dog beds. All of the products contained in the store have expert knowledge behind them and use the highest quality materials.
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