Expert: Dr. Louis N. Gotthelf - 6/18/2010

Question
I doubt this is a disease, but my dog has a very small area on her leg joint where the skin is raw. It was red, appearing like it would if a human's skin was peeled off. It is only a tiny wound, not bigger than a half a penny. I treated it with some topical antibiotic ointment. She has been licking it which I know is common. I found this morning that the ointment,which was white in color, had stained her fur around the spot, and the wound itself is whiter too. I don't know if I'm treating it correctly or what it is for that matter. Thanks for your help!

Answer
This sounds like the start of a "lick granuloma."  This is a very common problem in dogs.  They lick because it feels good to them.  Try putting some Super Glue on this area several times a week to keep the dog's saliva off of the wound.  Sometimes I have to remove these with a laser to get them to heal.